The Bed Keeper: Chapter 1: Born This Way

NEW! 02.25.13: This portion of The Bed Keeper is now available as an audio presentation on Blog Talk Radio with additional commentaries:

Born This Way

"Homosexuality is a choice."

"Homosexuality is unnatural."

"Homosexuality is caused by bad parenting."

"Homosexuality is an abomination to God."

"Homosexuality is an evil spirit."

"Homosexuals should be put to death."

"Homosexuals will burn in hell."

We have all heard these statements as a centuries-long debate has raged in societies all over the globe in regards to the cause of homosexual sexual orientation. It may be surprising then to discover that Jesus had revealed its cause more than 2000 years ago right after He visited with Moses and Elijah during His Transfiguration:

1 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the part of Judea that is beyond the Jordan;

2 And great throngs accompanied Him, and He cured them there.

3 And Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one's wife for any and every cause?

4 He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

7 They said to Him, Why then did Moses command [us] to give a certificate of divorce and thus to dismiss and repudiate a wife?

8 He said to them, Because of the hardness (stubbornness and perversity) of your hearts Moses permitted you to dismiss and repudiate and divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been so [ordained].

9 I say to you: whoever dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

10 The disciples said to Him, If the case of a man with his wife is like this, it is neither profitable nor advisable to marry.

11 But He said to them, Not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those to whom [the capacity to receive] it has been given.

12 For there are eunuchs who have been BORN incapable of marriage; and there are eunuchs who have been made so by men; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves incapable of marriage for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let him who is able to accept this accept it. Matthew 19:1-12

In verses 11-12, we see Jesus exempt three types of eunuchs from heterosexual marriage. The question then becomes, "what is a eunuch?" Even more specifically, "what is a born eunuch?" Let's start with some of the "official" definitions of eunuchs, as published by authoritative Christian resources, and we’ll begin to see the inadequacy of these definitions when compared to what we know of eunuchs as defined by both God in Isaiah 56, and by Jesus in Matthew 19:

Strong's Concordance: 2134

εὐνουχίζω [eunouchizo yoo•noo•khid•zo/] v. From 2135; TDNT 2:765; TDNTA 277; GK 2335; Two occurrences; AV translates as “make eunuchs” twice:

1 to castrate, to neuter a man

2 metaph. to make one’s self a eunuch i.e. by abstaining (like a eunuch from marriage)

These definitions cover the traditional (but limited) definitions most church clergy will offer when asked what a eunuch is, but these definitions only cover two types of eunuchs; those castrated, and those who choose to abstain from marriage and remain celibate. But Jesus mentions 3 types of eunuchs.

"Born eunuchs" could not have been castrated, because nobody is "born" castrated. Castration is a procedure, not a birth condition.

"Born eunuchs" could not have been celibate, because nobody is "born" celibate. Celibacy is a choice, not a birth condition.

"Born eunuchs" could not have been heterosexual, or Jesus would not have exempted them from the heterosexual marriage model.

Logic would dictate that if "born eunuchs" are not heterosexual, are not castrated, and are not celibate, then gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are the only people group in the world for which "born eunuchs" can apply. But let's not jump to conclusions. Let's also take a look at more definitions of eunuchs from Strong's Concordance:

Strong’s Concordance: 2135

εὐνοῦχος [eunouchos /yoo•noo•khos/] n m. From eune (a bed) and 2192; TDNT 2:765; TDNTA 277; GK 2336; Eight occurrences; AV translates as “eunuch” eight times.

1 a bed keeper, bed guard, superintendent of the bedchamber, chamberlain.

1a in the palace of oriental monarchs who support numerous wives, the superintendent of the women’s apartment or harem, an office held by eunuchs.

1b an emasculated man, a eunuch.

1b1 eunuchs in oriental courts held by other offices of greater authority, such as held by the Ethiopian eunuch mentioned in Ac. 8:27-39.

1c one naturally incapacitated

1c1 for marriage

1c2 begetting children

1d one who voluntarily abstains from marriage

Let’s take a closer look at 1c and 1c1. What does "one naturally incapacitated for marriage" mean if not a reference to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people? Even people who are born with genital defects or who are physically injured can marry. Even people who do not procreate and have children can marry. So what does "one naturally incapacitated for marriage" mean, if it does *not* refer to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender people?

Let's turn to the official definitions of eunuch from another authoritative Scriptural reference guide:

Easton’s Bible Dictionary

Easton, M. (1996, c1897) Oak Harbor, WA Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Eunuch — literally bed-keeper or chamberlain, and not necessarily in all cases one who was mutilated, although the practice of employing such mutilated persons in Oriental courts was common (2 Kings 9:32; Esther 2:3).

The Law of Moses excluded them from the congregation (Deut. 23:1).

They were common also among the Greeks and Romans. It is said that even today there are some in Rome who are employed in singing soprano in the Sistine Chapel.

Three classes of eunuchs are mentioned in Matt. 19:12.

So, even though it distinctly states here that there are three classes of eunuchs mentioned in Matthew 19:12, it fails to define what those three classes are. It also omits any reference to the eunuchs God prophesied about in Isaiah 56 in reference to overturning the ban Moses had put in place. And let's look at yet another authoritative Christian Bible study resource:

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

Translation of: Theologisches Worterbuch zum Neuen Testament (277) Grand Rapids, Mich. W.B. Eerdmans

1. Outside the NT eunoúchos is used not only for men but also for castrated animals and for fruits or plants with no seed or kernel.

2. Castration is alien to the Greeks but is found in the Near East. Eunuchs here are overseers of women and confidants of rulers, often in places of power. Eunuch priests play a role in many cults; perhaps the idea is that of assimilation and dedication to the deity.

3. The OT forbids the castration of men or animals as contrary to the Creator’s will (cf. Dt. 17:16ff.; 23:2ff.). The desire for a healthy cultic order may play some part in the prohibition, yet the prophets insist that God’s boundless love covers eunuchs too (Is. 56:3ff.). The OT term sārîs denotes a military or political official as well as a eunuch (cf. 2 Kgs. 25:19). The LXX rendering eunoúchos may imply emasculation but does not have to do so. By the time of Jesus, Hellenistic influences strengthen a more lenient attitude toward eunuchs in some circles, e.g., in Herod’s court, where Josephus tells us the three chamberlains were eunuchs.

4. Rabbinic Judaism, however, insists on the duty of marrying and having children. In view of this Jeremias believes that Paul must have been a widower (though cf. 1 Cor. 7:7).

5. Jesus transcends the rabbinic view by differentiating three groups of eunuchs (Mt. 19:12): those who are so from birth, those who are castrated, and those who emasculate themselves for the kingdom’s sake. In the latter case the sense is obviously figurative; the reference is to those who renounce sex in order to focus on the higher goal of the kingdom, as Jesus himself does. The gospel affirms the natural order but may require its denial for the sake of the new and higher order.

6. In Acts 8:27ff. Is. 56:3-4 comes to fulfillment as the eunuch of Queen Candace comes to faith and is baptized.

7. The early church mostly takes Mt. 19:12 figuratively (though cf. the young Origen) and excludes from the ministry any who are castrated except through no fault of their own (cf. canons 21ff. of the Apostolic Constitutions). Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1995, c1985).

Once again, even through this lengthy explanation that clearly states Jesus recognized 3 different types of eunuchs, it fails to provide 3 different definitions. So while I appreciate the "official definitions" of eunuchs, even these continue to support the definition of "born eunuchs" as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

So let’s turn to other Scriptures where eunuchs are mentioned to see if we can define "born eunuchs" by the contextual use of the term, and allow Scriptures to interpret Scriptures for us.

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures used in this book are from the Amplified Translation of the Scriptures. It translates the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic languages in which the Scriptures were written, by using a system of brackets and parentheses to include additional English words necessary to accurately convey the entire meaning of the original words used. In translations such as the King James Version, Scriptures were translated by choosing the best singular English word to convey the meaning of the original manuscripts, and provides a word-for-word translation. By comparison, the Amplified Translation adds as many English words as are necessary in order to convey the entire meaning of the original manuscript, and provides a "complete thought" for "complete thought" translation as you read along, so you don't have to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar to comprehend the original words used.

The first time the word “eunuch” appears in Scripture is in Deuteronomy 23:1, where we learn that Moses banned 1 of the 3 types of eunuchs Jesus mentions from the congregation of the Lord:

1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD. (King James Version)

The Amplified Translation confirms this refers to eunuchs:

1 He who is wounded in the testicles, or has been made a eunuch, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord.

It's important to note that it is the only time in Scriptures that the word "eunuch" is clarified as meaning, "He who is wounded in the testicles, or has his privy part cut off." This means that the only people Moses really "banned" from church were those not physically intact and unable to produce children, hence making them ill suited to growing the new Jewish faith. In true exclusionary fashion, people began to assume that every time the word “eunuch” appeared in Scripture, it was referring to a castrated male.

However, if we look at another use of the term "eunuch" in Scriptures, we find a prophecy from God Himself in Isaiah 55:11-56:12 regarding eunuchs, and discover that some eunuchs aren't even male, but are female:

Isaiah 55

11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 56

1 Thus says the Lord: Keep justice, do and use righteousness (conformity to the will of God which brings salvation), for My salvation is soon to come and My righteousness My rightness and justice) to be revealed.

2 Blessed, happy, and fortunate is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold of it and binds himself fast to it, who keeps sacred the Sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, The Lord will surely separate me from His people. And let not the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

4 For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths and choose the things which please Me and hold firmly My covenant—

5 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial and a name better [and more enduring] than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to minister to Him and to love the name of the Lord and to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it and who holds fast My covenant [by conscientious obedience]

7 All these I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

8 Thus says the Lord God, Who gathers the outcasts of Israel: I will gather yet others to [Israel] besides those already gathered.

9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour, all you beasts (hostile nations) in the forest.

10 [His] watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, they love to slumber.

11 Yes, the dogs are greedy; they never have enough. And such are the shepherds who cannot understand; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his own gain, from every quarter [one and all].

12 Come, say they, We will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink! And tomorrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure.

Friends, these passages warm my heart and encourage my spirit! We see the Lord telling us through Isaiah that no eunuch should say “I am a dry tree” because to those who keep His Sabbath sacred, choose the things which please Him, and hold firmly to His covenant, He will give a memorial in His House and within His walls, will give us a name better and more enduring than sons and daughters, will accept our offerings on His altar, will make us joyful in His House of Prayer, and will give us an everlasting name that will be not cut off!

Discovering these Scriptures was a shocking revelation as I realized that by God referring to eunuchs as "sons and daughters" that some eunuchs are indeed female. That tells me that even though most Church Shepherds define the word “eunuch” as a “castrated male,” we see that could not possibly apply to “all” eunuchs. Some must have been female, or God would not have referred to some as "daughters."

This is also one of the few times in Scripture that God's children are called "sons" and "daughters," and not simply "sons," which means that God must have an important distinction to make here, and as we'll see, indeed He does!

Another important part of this passage of Scripture that really caught my eye was Isaiah 56:7 where God says His House will be called a House of Prayer for ALL people. As so many Christians continue to exclude gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from even the very notion of being Christians, we realize that God's House of Prayer is not yet a House of Prayer for all people. This provides yet another clue into whom the eunuchs are that Scriptures refer to.

Yet another clue is the reason for God giving us this prophecy at all, which He tells us in Isaiah 56:8 is because "The Lord GOD, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him." (King James Version)

So in determining "what a eunuch is," it is just as easy to ask "what is the church not?" It is *not* a House of Prayer for all people--at least not yet. The only group of people the Church excludes nowadays is gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. If we look at whom the Church was excluding back in Deuteronomy 23:1 (eunuchs), and who the Church is excluding in modern days (LGBT people), we begin to see really clearly that God is talking about one and the same. While God overturns Moses' ban against eunuchs in the congregation in Isaiah 55:11-56:8, it would only become effective after the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Notice in Isaiah 56:4 God says his prophecy pertains only to eunuchs who "take firm hold of His covenant." The first question I asked myself was "does this mean the Old Covenant or the New Covenant?" If it was the Old Covenant, it would include Deuteronomy 23:1 where Moses banned eunuchs from entering the congregation of the Lord. If God is saying that eunuchs WILL be included in His House of Prayer, then the covenant He is telling us to "take firm hold of" cannot be the Old Covenant without keeping the ban on eunuchs from the congregation in effect. Clearly then, this is a reference to God's New Covenant, Jesus Christ.

Let's look more closely at a few more aspects of this prophecy. Notice that God says He will "give us an everlasting name that shall not be cut off." Recognizing there is only One everlasting Name in Scripture, I believe God gives us the name of Jesus as we obey Christ’s commandments, which would conclusively dispel the myth that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people cannot also be Christians.

We also see God promise to give us "a memorial in His House and within His walls." When I think of a memorial, I think of the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials in Washington, DC, so at first glance it seems God is promising some sort of a physical structure being built in each church to honor eunuchs. But recognizing this Scripture is a prophecy about the New Covenant--written about 750 years before Jesus was born--I have come to believe this memorial is a reference to Holy Communion, which all Christians partake of as a memorial to the Lord's Last Supper.

To verify this, let us recall God's prophecy to eunuchs where we see the connection between the everlasting name given to eunuchs (Jesus), the New Covenant, and this memorial:

For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths and choose the things which please Me and hold firmly My covenant—

To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial and a name better [and more enduring] than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. Isaiah 56:4-5

Now let us compare this prophecy to Jesus' words during the Last Supper:

Then He took a loaf [of bread], and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and gave it to them saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.

And in like manner, He took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament or covenant [ratified] in My blood, which is shed (poured out) for you. Luke 22:19-20

If indeed the eunuchs God prophesies about in Isaiah includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, this is the clearest verification yet that gay people can indeed be Christians, but that’s not what traditional Church teachings had taught me. So somebody was lying, and I know it wasn’t God.

Let’s look now at the Church's role in this prophecy from Isaiah 56:2 where God says:

"Blessed, happy, and fortunate is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold of it and binds himself fast to it, who keeps sacred the Sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

I believe "the man who does this" refers to eunuchs (i.e. gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people), and the "son of man" is anyone in Church leadership (i.e. pastor, bishop, deacon, priest or lay person) who helps God's house become a House of Prayer for All People.

As the largest body of Christian believers in the world, I also believe this prophecy points to the rise of a Pope who will eventually revise and extend the lessons about eunuchs currently contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, (the official collective of Roman Catholic doctrines and teachings). Currently, the only information the CCC contains on eunuchs applies only to 1 of the 3 types of eunuchs Jesus mentions in Matthew 19:11-12 (those choosing to abstain from marriage):

1618 Christ is the center of all Christian life. The bond with him takes precedence over all other bonds, familial or social. From the very beginning of the Church there have been men and women who have renounced the great good of marriage to follow the Lamb wherever he goes, to be intent on the things of the Lord, to seek to please him, and to go out to meet the Bridegroom who is coming. Christ himself has invited certain persons to follow him in this way of life, of which he remains the model: "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."

Notice there is no attempt to include or define the "born eunuchs" Jesus taught us about. Was this an intentional omission? I find it hard to believe the Catholic Church "accidentally" forgot to mention "born eunuchs" in light of the fact they are a teaching of Jesus Himself, although I realize how including "born eunuchs" would contradict the Catholic Church's stated position that only heterosexual men and women are included in God's Divinely Created Order. I hope the Catholic Church will soon revise and extend the remarks contained within the CCC to reflect a more comprehensive reflection of what Jesus Himself taught us on the matter.

As this message becomes more widely available to the masses, I predict the Church (both Catholic and Protestant) will begin to usher in this new move of God as their eyes are opened to their own responsibility for the knowledge of God that is contained in His Word, and begin to realize the benefits of what God seems to be showing us in this hour, which I believe is a new and enlarged view of His Divinely Created Order, that includes eunuchs born so from our mothers' wombs…for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven!

As wonderful as this news from Isaiah 55:11-56:12 is, God also gives us another revelation concerning this prophecy, saying basically that it will take time to open Church leaders' eyes to these truths about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender believers, and explains why:

[His] watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, they love to slumber. Yes, the dogs are greedy; they never have enough. And such are the shepherds who cannot understand; they have all turned to their own way, each one to his own gain, from every quarter [one and all]. Come, say they, We will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink! And tomorrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure. Isaiah 56:10-12

While this passage seems to describe the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, it also accurately portrays the modern Christian Church's attempts to keep these prophecies--as well as the eunuch teachings of Jesus Christ--concealed from the general public. It accurately describes the lavish lifestyles many Christian leaders lead, and accurately portrays their refusal to include gays to (perhaps intentionally) prevent the return of Christ, so they can continue to maintain their earthly power.

To give the benefit of the doubt, I try to see them simply as the "shepherds who cannot understand." I do not believe most of them are bad people. Rather they seem simply unable to understand that by including His eunuch prophecy in Scripture, God is instructing His shepherds to include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in His House of Prayer for ALL people. After hundreds of discussions with pastors on this issue, the thing I realize that they truly don't understand is how to go about including us without their parishioners thinking that the shepherds were going against Scripture. It is after all, difficult to explain all this in a 45 minute sermon.

In Luke 24:44, Jesus says, "...everything which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

So it begs the question is: Why doesn't the church ever teach on eunuchs or this prophecy when both are prophetically important to the return of Jesus Christ? We'll find the answer has already been given to us by God Himself, in the last verses of His prophecy regarding eunuchs:

10 [His] watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, they love to slumber

12 Come, say they, We will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink! And tomorrow shall be as this day, a day great beyond measure. Isaiah 56:10-12

If ever there was a laser accurate description of what so many Church Shepherds have become throughout Christendom by "turning to their own way," each one to his own gain, from every quarter, [one and all], this is it.

Even more sad to note is that so few Church Shepherds help keep the Christian focus on the return of Christ, instead basically saying, "And tomorrow shall be as this day..." as if they have given up all hope that Jesus is ever returning. In too many churches throughout Christendom, sermons have become self-help messages designed to help congregants get rich quick so they can "feel" blessed, instead of focusing on the eventual return of Jesus wherein we will "be" blessed by being resurrected unto the eternal life He died to give us all....and wasn't that the point?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (King James Version)

Then I caught another revelation: If God’s Word is true (which I believe it is), this meant that Christ could not return to the earth until God’s House becomes a House of Prayer for all people, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. This meant that by the Church refusing us full inclusion in houses of worship for all these centuries, they were going against God Himself. This also means that the profound implications of this prophecy will be the centerpiece of not only The Bed Keeper, but as we’ll see in many Scriptures throughout this study, this prophecy itself is a centerpiece of God’s Word, and is referred to throughout the Scriptures over and over again.

We see Jesus quote it when He says, “My House shall be called a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves,” when He cleared the temple in Matthew 21:13 and Mark 11:17.

We also see it referred to in Jeremiah 7:9-11:

9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,

10 And [then dare to] come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My Name, and say, [By the discharge of this religious formality] we are set free!--only to go on with this wickedness and these abominations?

11 Has this house, which is called by My Name, become a den of robbers in your eyes [a place of retreat for you between acts of violence]? Behold, I Myself have seen it, says the Lord.

What could have blinded these church shepherds? Why (as we have discovered) is there such a glaring absence of a definition of "born eunuch" within the authoritative Christian Bible study resources?

Other Questions The Church Can't/Don't/Won't Answer:

If the born eunuchs of the Bible that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 19:11-12 are *not* the same as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of today, then who are they, and how do we get them to church in order to make God's House a House of Prayer for ALL People? (Isaiah 55:11-56:12)

Why is the church not actively seeking out the offerings and sacrifices that God promises to accept on His altar from eunuchs? (Isaiah 56:6)

Why is the church not a House of Prayer for all people already? (Isaiah 56:7)

Why is the ban against eunuchs in the congregation put in place by Moses (Deut. 23:1) and then overturned by God (Isaiah 55:11-56:12) and Jesus (Matthew 19:11-12), with proof of the ban being overturned with the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch? (Acts 8:29-40).

Why does the Body of Christ not teach on eunuchs when they are so vitally important to fulfilling a prophecy from God Himself, and when the entirety of the Holy Trinity is directly tied to God's plan for eunuchs? (Isaiah 56:1-8 FATHER), (Matthew 19:11-12 SON), (Acts 8:29-40 HOLY SPIRIT)

Why did Jesus even bother mentioning eunuchs in Matthew 19:11-12?

Who are the people the Holy Spirit prophecies through Paul to Timothy who would be "forbid to marry" in the last days if he is *not* referring to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people in 1 Timothy 4:1-3?

Who are the "unmarried people and widows" Paul says should get married in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 even after he re-affirmed heterosexual marriage, if they are not the same as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people of today?

The only people group in the world that answers all these questions are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender individuals.

While I remain open to other interpretations, none have come forth in more than 30 years of study that would encompass all that we already know from Scripture about eunuchs, and without contradicting these definitions, (or other passages of eunuch Scriptures). The bottom line I have found from every clergy and lay person I have ever spoken to about this over the years is the same: they have no alternate explanation of what a born eunuch is, because there is none.

Often they realize this is true, yet are unable to risk their personal reputation as a "true" Christian, their ministry positions, and their weekly tithing intake to actually admit it. The Christian Church has demonstrated itself as thus far unwilling to reveal this information to the masses, and we'll explore why in the next chapters of The Bed Keeper. We'll discover that it's far more than simply human men being unable or unwilling to see or accept this message. There is also a strong spiritual force at work; a spiritual force that is determined to prevent the return of Christ by keeping most Christians unaware of the meaning of born eunuch. Born eunuchs have a vital prophetic role to play in breaking that spiritual stronghold of darkness over the Church once and for all. It's nothing to be frightened of, but it is something we must be aware of in order to stand against it.

I am confident The Bed Keeper will give the entire Body of Christ a fresh look into the importance of including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in every church, and will realize that the return of Christ is dependent upon our inclusion. The more people see what I've been sharing from Scriptures here, the easier it will be for parishioners and shepherds alike to begin taking steps to include us in their own church.

While this book is an attempt to help Church Shepherds understand that born eunuchs are the same excluded group of people today as we were in Jesus’ day, I also hope to illustrate that Jesus goes on to teach us that it’s because of the priests who reject knowledge. Hosea 4:6 says:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.”

One last point to make in understanding that eunuchs and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are one and the same can only be made by putting Jesus’ words in context of the message He was giving at the time. So let’s back up to the words He spoke just prior to teaching about born eunuchs, from Matthew 19:1-12:

1 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the part of Judea that is beyond the Jordan;

2 And great throngs accompanied Him, and He cured them there.

3 And Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one's wife for any and every cause?

4 He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate).

7 They said to Him, Why then did Moses command [us] to give a certificate of divorce and thus to dismiss and repudiate a wife?

9 I say to you: whoever dismisses (repudiates, divorces) his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries divorced woman commits adultery.

10 The disciples said to Him, If the case of a man with his wife is like this, it is neither profitable nor advisable to marry.

11 But He said to them, Not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those to whom [the capacity to receive] it has been given.

These are the same passages of Scripture that most well meaning supporters of one man/one woman marriage often quote, but they always leave off the exemption Jesus made regarding eunuchs. Of the four gospels, Matthew is the only disciple that records Jesus’ teachings about eunuchs, so it can be somewhat understandable that many people have not heard about them. Aside from listening to the “shepherds who cannot understand,” this singular mention in Scriptures can lead people to think they are complete and correct in their assertions that Jesus ordained one man/one woman marriage only.

However, as we have more closely examined God’s Word, we have already seen that is clearly not the case for every person. Obviously, since Jesus is talking about marriage between a man and woman, He is pointing to "heterosexual" marriage when making these exemptions for eunuchs. That would make the most accurate definition of "eunuch" as someone who was “born incapable of heterosexual marriage.” It fits every eunuch Scripture and it fits all the definitions provided by authoritative Christian sources at the beginning of this chapter, especially "one naturally incapacitated for (heterosexual) marriage."

Suddenly this makes sense on many levels, as we see clearly that Jesus was saying His teaching about heterosexual marriage did not apply to all people, further indicating that Jesus knew that not all people are heterosexual when He said, "not all men can accept this saying, but it is for those to whom the capacity to receive it has been given."

This is the strongest proof yet that Jesus indeed was aware that some people in God's Divinely Created order were what we today refer to as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, making His teaching on born eunuchs the only "proof" any Christian needs to accept that gays are indeed born this way!

Many Church Shepherds would respond by saying some people are “born with deformed genitalia” or are “hermaphroditic,” or are “intersexed,” meaning they had characteristics of both male and female reproductive organs. But regardless of the typical definition they could use, it would still not render eunuchs as being “incapable of heterosexual marriage.” Even injured people can marry. Even people with genital defects can marry. And even celibate people can marry. But when describing born eunuchs, Jesus refers to involuntary conditions that by birth, renders a person incapable of heterosexual marriage, not incapable of sexual expressions.

For the purpose of this study, let’s just say that born eunuchs at least includes those of us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, and does so honestly. To be clear, when used in Scripture, the term “eunuch” does not always mean “gay,” but I also believe The Bed Keeper will reveal Scriptural support for those of us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to be encouraged in the hope that “all” means “all," and that we too are included in the promises of God, including being made joyful in His house of prayer for “all” people!

While there are still many churches who do not see eunuchs as portrayed in this book (or even in light of Scripture), there are still many others who diligently strive to learn how to better minister to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people (and their families) in their congregations. I believe this book will help. For now, I say we should keep the faith, Brothers and Sisters! As this message from God’s Word gains more exposure, I believe it will eventually begin to soften hearts, open eyes, and begin to open more widely, the Door to His House.

At the end of the day, these passages of Scripture truly have a profound meaning to the entire Body of Christ as it pertains to the return of Jesus Christ Himself, and the important prophetic role He has assigned to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people (working in harmony with the Church) to help remove any man-made barriers that continue to prevent God from bringing this prophecy to pass. In the next chapters, we'll begin to find out how!

Frequently Offered Explanations:

In double checking my interpretations of these Scriptures, I have participated in various focus groups; some made of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and some that were comprised entirely of heterosexual, fundamental, and Evangelical Christians who vehemently oppose the eunuch Scriptures as foundational truths from the Bible. Listed here are the most commonly offered explanations as to who the born eunuchs in Scriptures were, and follow up responses that I have found continue to either be ignored or otherwise go unanswered. I hope it helps to prepare those who are gay Christians to understand what they will come up against when explaining these passages to fellow (and often times hostilely opposed) fundamental and/or evangelical Christians, and be prepared to respond from a Scripturally accurate perspective:

"Born eunuchs are born with birth defects regarding their genitalia"

RESPONSE: If this was the case, what then would prevent them from heterosexual marriage? Infertile, sterile, injured and otherwise physically impaired people enter into heterosexual marriages all the time. Their ability (or inability) to perform sexually or procreate presents no impediments to their marrying heterosexually. (And how would this ability or inability be determined prior to marriage)?

"Born eunuchs were castrated or the born eunuchs were celibate”

RESPONSE: Jesus already covered these two types of eunuchs, by including those made eunuchs (castrated) and those who choose to be eunuchs (celibate). But He also mentions a third type of eunuch, those BORN eunuchs.

"Born eunuchs are heterosexual, because all people are born heterosexual.”

RESPONSE: If this was true, then why did Jesus say in the King James Version of Matthew 19:12 they are "born so from their mother's wombs?” Also, why would He exempt them from the male/female marriage paradigm? Finally, this would indicate that God created Adam and Eve with the DNA programming necessary to give birth to eunuchs through their descendants, or NO people would be "born" eunuchs.

“We cannot lump together three entirely different classes of eunuchs. Homosexuals (be they male or female) are quite different from bisexuals or transgender, who, in turn are quite different from each other. People who are capable of normal sexual intercourse (male to female), such as bisexuals cannot be "born eunuchs;" the same goes for transgendered persons who are capable of normal intercourse.”

RESPONSE: Actually in relation to bisexuals, I usually have nothing to say except they should marry one person and live a faithful and monogamous marriage relationship, as all Christians. If they choose to marry a person of the opposite gender, I think it correct to say, they would not be considered a born eunuch, provided that this choice includes a natural sexual desire for the person they marry. However, if they choose to marry a person of the same gender, then I believe it would be Scripturally accurate to say they would still be considered a born eunuch. As for the transgendered, I cannot think of a group of people who fit the "Born Eunuch" definition better, except perhaps the intersexed. So again, I would continue to believe it to be Scripturally accurate to consider them as "born eunuchs."

“Born eunuchs have no capability of reproduction, no sex drive, and no desire for women, and therefore have no faculty for engaging in sexual relations.”

RESPONSE: This is partially true, but only applies to having sexual relations with the opposite gender. It does not preclude the sex drive or desire for people of the same gender.

"Born eunuchs were born into slavery.”

RESPONSE: That is an inaccurate definition of born eunuch, and slaves were never barred from marriage. The Torah explains that slaves under Hebraic Law had to be freed after six years:

If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. Exodus 21:2

If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. And when you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. Deuteronomy 15:12-13

In light of these Scriptures, even if a person was born a slave, this would not make him necessarily also a born eunuch and therefore incapable of marriage, and if it did, it would only be for a period of six years, after which time the slave must be freed.

Further, the Torah recounts examples of married slaves, which would contradict the term eunuch as being incapable of marriage:

If the man was married when he came, his wife was to go with him. Exodus 21:3

If born eunuchs who were born "incapable of marriage" were slaves, then why would Exodus 21:3 (only three verses into the whole of Jewish Law) show that a married slave's wife must depart with him upon his release after six years?

So suppose they were born into Roman slavery? Roman law at the time actually permitted eunuchs to marry women, so Jesus could not have been discussing them, because He said that the Born Eunuchs He spoke of were incapable of heterosexual marriage and exempted them from the male/female marriage paradigm.

So suppose they were born into African slavery? Many American owners of slaves of African descent actually made their slaves marry and have children to produce more slaves, and after 15 births, a woman was entitled to be freed.

So in no case do we see any connection to Born Eunuchs Jesus refers to (who were born incapable of marriage) and slaves who were permitted--and often encouraged--to marry under Hebraic and Roman Law, as well as under American and English ownership.

“Born eunuchs are "dedicated from birth for the kingdom of God"

RESPONSE: If this was true, why then would God in Isaiah 56 say that only the eunuchs who keep the Sabbath sacred, choose the things that please Him, and take firm hold of His Covenant (Jesus Christ) would be acceptable in His House of Prayer for ALL People? If these born eunuchs were born "dedicated to the kingdom of God," it borders on saying that these eunuchs had no need of repentance, and that ALL eunuchs would be included in God's House of Prayer for ALL People, without the qualifications God lays out.

“You cannot twist Scripture to justify the sin of homosexuality and being born eunuch is no license to sin homosexually”

RESPONSE: AGREED! However, it is not a twisting of Scripture that I believe leads to confusion over this issue, but a lack of Church teaching on who Born Eunuchs are. Even a born eunuch is given no license to sin, and none are born sinless, or none would be required to "keep the Sabbath sacred, choose the things that please God and take firm hold of His Covenant" as God said would be necessary for those included in His House of Prayer for ALL People.

“Born eunuchs cannot marry, therefore they must remain celibate.”

RESPONSE: Not according to the Apostle Paul. Compton's lists 1 Corinthians 7:8 as a reference to eunuchs when Paul refers to them as "unmarried people and widows," which hearkens back to God's prophecy regarding eunuchs and widows in Isaiah 54 and 56. Let's look at what Paul says then regarding eunuchs:

But to the unmarried people and to the widows, I declare that it is well (good, advantageous, expedient, and wholesome) for them to remain [single] even as I do. But if they have not self-control (restraint of their passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame [with passion and tortured continually with ungratified desire].

We'll explore this more in chapter 2 of The Bed Keeper.

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Dear Valued Readers,

This blog is a work in progress. As events in the Church impact previously published posts, updates will be published at the end of each post in order to provide the utmost transparency and clarity to all concerned parties as this new move of God progresses. Readers may email thebedkeeper@gmail.com to discuss or comment on any posting. Please note that while all feedback is highly valued and appreciated, it may not be possible to reply to each email.

UPDATE 05.19.13: GREAT NEWS! Regarding the 04.29.12 UPDATE: After new considerations have come to light, I confidently continue my full personal endorsement of Lakewood Church as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship, and am pleased to encourage you to resume supporting this vibrant ministry financially. Details here.

UPDATE 03.05.13: GREAT NEWS! Regarding the 10.27.12 UPDATE: After new considerations have come to light, I confidently continue my full personal endorsement of Eagle Mountain International Church as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship, and am pleased to encourage you to resume supporting this vibrant ministry financially. Details here.

UPDATE 02.09.13: Listen in as Brian Anthony Bowen provides the NCK and Friends radio audience with valuable insights into Biblical support of Same Sex Marriage that the Church doesn't seem to want us to know!

Part One:

Part Two:

UPDATE 10.27.12:

Eagle Mountain International Church took an official position on gay marriage in a sermon on 10.14.12. While not in support of gay marriage, Pastor George reminds his congregation that "those considered to be gay" are equally worthy of love and compassion. Pastor Terri continues to consider being gay as "being caught up in bondage." Several passages of Scripture were quoted to support their views, but no mention was made of any Scriptures that disprove their view, such as discussed in Chapter One: Born This Way and Chapter Two: God Sanctioned Gay Marriage. While I am not rescinding my endorsement of Eagle Mountain International Church as a safe space for LGBT people to worship, I am officially recommending we no longer support them financially. It is clear we have a long way to go in educating the Church, and I remain hopefully confident that after the 2012 elections are over, we will have more opportunities to walk further into the new revelations from God's Word shared throughout this blog. I encourage all LGBT people and our families to continue to hold Pastor George and Terri up in prayer, so that the eyes of their understanding may be flooded with light, and they come to more fully understand the prophetic role that LGBT people play in the spiritual life of the Christian Church, and the return of Jesus Christ.

UPDATE 04.29.12:

My previous endorsement of Lakewood Church is hereby retracted due to this interview: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/04/29/473250/joel-osteen-gay-sin/?mobile=ncwherein Pastor Joel Osteen declares that "being gay" itself is a sin. That is NOT what the Bible says, and I cannot support it, nor ask anyone else to. I explained this in a previous letter to Pastor Joel in response to his interview with Piers Morgan, which can be reviewed here. I apologize for the mixed messages my own comments may tend to manifest themselves as in this case, but it is an unfortunate result of Pastor Joel's own mixed messages, and his decision to tailor his messages to the audience to whom he is speaking at the time. Should he publicly apologize for his unScriptural comments, and declare he has come to understand the difference between saying "being gay is a sin" and "homosexuality is a sin" (to reflect Scripture's own narrowly defined context of married men who engaged in adultery on their wives to be with men...which has nothing to do with LGBT people), I hope to renew my endorsement of Lakewood Church at some point in the future....but not until then.

UPDATE 01.15.12:
Lakewood Church officially endorsed as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship! Details here.

UPDATE 11.22.11:
Eagle Mountain International Church officially endorsed as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship! Details here.

UPDATE 12.16.11:
Please also review the response shared with a debate panel regarding the Bible's position on homosexuality, that reveals the unScriptural stance "ex-gay" theology manifests itself as here.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Chapter 1: Born This Way