In
Chapter 2 of The Bed Keeper, we
examined 1 Corinthians 6:9 in its context.
In Chapter 16 of The Bed Keeper,
we examined Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 and determined that it does not condemn
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, but rather heterosexual married
men engaged in adultery with other men. In Chapter 19 of The Bed Keeper, we'll take a forensic look at Romans 1. But in
this chapter, we will now examine portions of Paul’s letter to Timothy
regarding the blindness to the discoveries we've already made from Scripture concerning blanket (and unScriptural) condemnations of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, but also the dark spiritual force known as the Jezebel Spirit that would overtake the Church in the last
days, and how it continues to lead many Christians to forbid people to marry.
Let’s
begin with 1 Timothy 1:10 which reads,
10 [For] impure and
immoral persons, those who abuse themselves with men, kidnapers, liars,
perjurers--and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound
doctrine 1 Timothy 1:10
This
is a small portion of a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, (a ministry
mentee of Paul’s on assignment to spread the Gospel to the city of Ephesus; a
city widely regarded as a major city of idol worshipers to Diana, a fertility
goddess). As we have seen in numerous
examples throughout The Bed
Keeper, Paul had to keep a constant watch on people profaning the
Gospel for financial gain (as in 1 Corinthians 6:9), and to prevent people from
losing sight of the fact that the New Covenant superseded the Old Covenant (as
in Galatians). In this portion of his
letter to Timothy, we’ll hear some familiar phrases and references by Paul as
he shares his experience with Timothy in an effort to empower him to withstand
those who would use Christianity as a tool to bring shame to Jesus, instead of Glory,
just as too many Christians do today when they attempt to parse out a Scripture
here or there in order to condemn (or even justify killing) gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people.
Now
let us examine 1 Timothy 1:10 within the context of the entire chapter:
1 Paul, an apostle
(special messenger) of Christ Jesus by appointment and command of God our
Savior and of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), our Hope,
2 To Timothy, my true
son in the faith: Grace (spiritual blessing and favor), mercy, and [heart]
peace [be yours] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 As I urged you when
I was on my way to Macedonia, stay on where you are at Ephesus in order that
you may warn and admonish and charge certain individuals not to teach any
different doctrine,
4 Nor to give
importance to or occupy themselves with legends (fables, myths) and endless
genealogies, which foster and promote useless speculations and questionings
rather than acceptance in faith of God's administration and the divine training
that is in faith (in that leaning of the entire human personality on God in
absolute trust and confidence)—
5 Whereas the object
and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a pure
heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.
6 But certain
individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away
into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.
7 They are
ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they
have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects
about which they make [such] dogmatic assertions. 1 Timothy 1:1-7
NOTE: This is an important observation as it so
closely resembles that of the majority of Christianity today. As we examined in the Chapter 16 of The Bed Keeper, we learned
that many Christians today are anxious to use selectively applied passages from
the Book of Leviticus--(which is part of the Law of Moses Jesus died to redeem
us from)--in order to condemn gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. In their zeal to be “doctors of the Law,” (as
Paul puts it), they have lost sight of the fact that many of the same passages
of Scripture in Leviticus 18 and 20 carry death penalties for a host of other
violations of the Ten Commandments as well (like heterosexual adultery), without even recognizing how they condemn
themselves in the process of attempting to justify their religion-based
bigotry. (See Romans 2:1-3)
What
is also important to notice is how accurately 1 Timothy 1:6 describes those who
would use the Church as a way to indoctrinate people into political positions
that have nothing to do with Christianity, and everything to do with politics,
or what Paul here calls “vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.” As 1 Timothy 1:5 so clearly states, “the
object and purpose of our instruction and charge” is supposed to be LOVE, which
springs from a pure heart and a good, clear conscience and sincere faith—not
selfish ambition for political power.
8 Now we recognize
and know that the Law is good if anyone uses it lawfully [for the purpose for
which it was designed],
9 Knowing and
understanding this: that the Law is not enacted for the righteous (the upright
and just, who are in right standing with God), but for the lawless and unruly,
for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who
strike and beat and [even] murder fathers and strike and beat and [even] murder
mothers, for manslayers,
10 [For] impure
and immoral persons, those who abuse themselves with men, kidnapers, liars,
perjurers--and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound
doctrine
11 As laid down by
the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
NOTE: Paul spells it out plainly here! The purpose of the Law is good only if
someone uses it lawfully and for the purpose for which it was designed. For instance, It is important to know what the Law entailed
for when we compare it to the New Covenant. It’s good to know how much better the
sacrifice of Jesus was compared to the blood of bulls and goats. It’s good to know that Jesus paid the penalty
for any misdeeds or violations of the Law of Moses anyone could possibly commit when He died on the Cross. It's also good to know that within the very
context of his letter to Timothy, Paul is referring to the Law of Moses,
meaning that whatever he was referring to by his use of the words malakoi (in 1 Timothy
1:10), and arsenokoitai (in
1 Corinthians 6:9), he must have
been referring to acts already conveyed in the Old Testament. The only examples of same gender expressions
we have from the Old Testament are heterosexual married men engaged in acts of
adultery on the "downlow," (from Leviticus 18 and 20), and the
(attempted) rape committed by heterosexual men from the Sodom account. As Paul said in yet another letter of his:
The Law does not rest
on faith [does not require faith, has nothing to do with faith], for it itself
says, He who does them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them
[not by faith].
Christ purchased our
freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation]
by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for
it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is
crucified). Galatians 3:12-13
Finally,
it’s important to realize that these original words Paul used in 1 Corinthians
6:9 (arsenokoitai),
and in 1 Timothy 1:10, (malakoi),
are both widely defined in theological circles as pederasty, and male shrine prostitution,
respectively. What that refers to then
is a man having nonconsensual sexual relations with another man or boy (such as
the preachers Paul rebuked in 1 Corinthians 6:9 that we learned about in Chapter 2 of The Bed Keeper), or a man who hired himself
out as a cult temple prostitute for the purpose of worshiping ancient Greek, Roman or Canaanite gods through same gender expressions (as here in 1 Timothy 1:10). In neither case do we see
an example of what we refer to today as consensual sexual expression between
two gay men, nor do we see any reference with either of these words in regards
to lesbian, bisexual or transgender people.
To
say that arsenokoitai
and malakoi
refer to gay men would mean that lesbians were not included in God’s supposed
blanket condemnation of all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. If this was the case, then already we see
that these two words do not--indeed cannot--be a blanket condemnation of all
sexual expressions between two people of the same gender. The context and use of these words are simply
too narrowly confined to very specific acts, and to very specific audiences. If all same gender sexual expressions were
condemned by either of these words, it would have universally applied to both
men and women, yet they do not. And if both these words were describing the same act, Paul would have only used one word, not two different ones. Neither would Paul (nor anyone else) have created
confusion for young Timothy (a man just starting out in ministry) by using two different
words to refer to the same act.
While
definitions of the terms vary among theologians, some translations of the
Scriptures (including the Amplified Translation from whence the majority of
Scriptures in The Bed Keeper are
from), have rather loosely translated the phrase “participating in homosexuality,” without further defining the term "homosexuality" itself. While indeed a heterosexual preacher having
sexual relations with boys on the side indeed qualifies as “homosexuality,”
common translations of the word “arsenokoitai” too broadly defines the specific
acts (and people) being condemned. For
instance, just because a preacher may identify as heterosexual and engage in
sexual relations with boys or men in his congregation, does not necessarily
mean the preacher was homosexual himself.
Paul’s
use of both terms were always specifically geared toward men, and always set in
the context of adultery or idolatry. By
translating the word arsenokoitai as “participating in homosexuality,” it fails to translate the original word
specifically enough to apply to only the forms of homosexuality being engaged
in. As another example, while
arsenokoitai would apply to heterosexual men raping other heterosexual men,
heterosexual men cheating on their wives by turning to other men, and while
malakoi refers to particular heterosexual men hiring themselves out for shrine
temple idol worship, these words do not (indeed cannot) refer then also to consensual sexual expression between
two people of the same gender within the bonds of gay marriage.
First,
it would contradict Paul’s own ordination of gay marriage in 1 Corinthians
7:8-9. Secondly, it would show Paul
condemning gay people (and only gay men at that), without condemning all the
forms of homosexuality that can also be committed by heterosexual men. Some scholars assert that Paul’s meaning is universally
applied to all forms of homosexuality for all people, but if this was the case,
he would have used the same word in 1 Corinthians 6:9 as he did in 1 Timothy
1:10, yet did not. And if both these
words were describing the same act, Paul would have only used one word, not two
different ones.
Further, Paul had ample opportunity to word all expressions between two men or two women as plainly as he did so when describing those engaged in by the men in Romans 1, which we’ll examine more carefully in Chapter 18 of The Bed Keeper, and realize Paul never condemned female/female sexual expressions anywhere. The women he spoke of in Romans 1 were having sex with animals (not each other) as expressions of idol worship.
Further, Paul had ample opportunity to word all expressions between two men or two women as plainly as he did so when describing those engaged in by the men in Romans 1, which we’ll examine more carefully in Chapter 18 of The Bed Keeper, and realize Paul never condemned female/female sexual expressions anywhere. The women he spoke of in Romans 1 were having sex with animals (not each other) as expressions of idol worship.
For
Paul to make the distinctions he does in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10
by using two separate words, coupled with his lack of mention of any
female/female sexual expressions (and his focus on only heterosexual men engaged
in idol worship in Romans 1), means so too must any serious student of God’s
Word make these same distinctions. We must realize that there is no time in Scripture where God condemns gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people outright, with one exception; gay men
willfully engaged in adultery by knowingly engaging in sexual relations with a
married heterosexual men (which we explore in Chapter 19 of The Bed Keeper).
As
we have already understood from studying the Sodom account and the Book of
Leviticus, it is clear that there are various forms of homosexuality, and that
they are not all committed by homosexual men.
We know today of heterosexual men who cheat on their wives with other
men, and we know today of heterosexual men who rape other heterosexual men in
prison. To say that Paul was using two
different words to condemn one same act would be to either ignore gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender people engaged in loving sexual expressions between
themselves within the bonds of single gender marriage which Paul himself
ordained in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, or that Paul was overlooking heterosexual men
who engaged in homosexual acts of adultery, idolatry, or rape.
It seems highly unlikely Paul would ignore
blatant violations of the Ten Commandments such as idolatry and adultery in
order to focus instead on same gender expressions. But one thing is certain, Paul cannot mean to
condemn all forms of homosexuality without contradicting himself
(and condemning a group of people for whom he had already sanctioned gay
marriage), or either by ignoring evil acts of heterosexual man on man rape, or heterosexual
preachers molesting under age boys, or heterosexual married men seeking the sexual
favors from gay men that they were unable to obtain from their wives.
To
properly understand Paul’s true meaning of both words is to simply ask,
“Would
Paul be condemning sexual expressions between two people of the same gender
within the bonds of gay marriage which he himself ordained in 1 Corinthians
7:8-9, or was he condemning heterosexual men engaged in acts of adultery,
idolatry and/or rape?"
The answer becomes
most clear when we understand that Paul referred to the Old Covenant many times
as he reinforced condemnations of sinful behavior under the New Covenant. For Paul to condemn any forms of homosexual
activity would be to condemn only those already condemned in the Old Testament.
The only forms of same gender expression
already contained in the Old Covenant are heterosexual married men engaged in
adultery (as in Leviticus), or heterosexual men engaged in acts of rape (as in
the Sodom account). Paul never condemned anything in the New Covenant that wasn’t already
condemned in the Old Covenant, and he never introduced any “new” sins. To say that he was condemning an act in the New
Covenant that was never condemned in the Old Covenant when writing his letter
to the church in Corinth--(or to Timothy)--would say that he had no Scriptural authority
or spiritual basis for doing so, especially in light of his own observation that we are
no longer bound to the curse of the Law. As Paul clearly states in his letter to
Timothy,
6 But certain
individuals have missed the mark on this very matter [and] have wandered away
into vain arguments and discussions and purposeless talk.
7 They are
ambitious to be doctors of the Law (teachers of the Mosaic ritual), but they
have no understanding either of the words and terms they use or of the subjects
about which they make [such] dogmatic assertions.
8 Now we recognize
and know that the Law is good if anyone uses it lawfully [for the purpose for
which it was designed],
9 Knowing and
understanding this: that the Law is not enacted for the righteous (the upright
and just, who are in right standing with God), but for the lawless and unruly,
for the ungodly and sinful, for the irreverent and profane, for those who
strike and beat and [even] murder fathers and strike and beat and [even] murder
mothers, for manslayers,
10 [For] impure and
immoral persons, those who abuse themselves with men, kidnapers, liars,
perjurers--and whatever else is opposed to wholesome teaching and sound
doctrine
11 As laid down by
the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
12 I give thanks to
Him Who has granted me [the needed] strength and made me able [for this],
Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and
trustworthy, appointing me to [this stewardship of] the ministry.
13 Though I
formerly blasphemed and persecuted and was shamefully and outrageously and
aggressively insulting [to Him], nevertheless, I obtained mercy because I had
acted out of ignorance in unbelief.
14 And the grace
(unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out
superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that
are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus.
NOTE: Paul clearly states here that faith and love
are to be realized in Christ Jesus, and that the many Christians who formerly
condemned gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people by acting out of ignorance
in unbelief, may obtain grace of our Lord which flows out superabundantly and beyond
measure. But it does require faith and love
for such Christians to have the courage to do so, and help right the ship and help
bring correction the Church on these matters. Failing to do so is to
be judged by their former judgments, and condemn themselves (Romans 2:1-3). Likewise, for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to fail to forgive such repentant Christians would be to condemn ourselves, even though we were never in the wrong. Forgiveness is a two way street, and as Jesus said, He cannot forgive us for our trespasses against others if we do not forgive others for their own against us. This can be hard to do,
but it is Jesus’ command just the same.
As
we learned in Chapter 1 of The Bed Keeper,
Jesus Himself taught that “There are some eunuchs, which were so born from
their mother's womb…for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 19:12
Ignoring
Jesus’ Own teaching about LGBT people being born so in Matthew 19:11-12, and ignoring
Paul’s own ordination of single gender marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, and ignoring
God’s Own prophecy to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Isaiah 55:11-56:12
is everyone’s prerogative. But as Paul continues to teach Timothy:
15 The saying is sure
and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the
Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.
16 But I obtained
mercy for the reason that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ
might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an
example to [encourage] those who would thereafter believe on Him for [the
gaining of] eternal life.
17 Now to the King of
eternity, incorruptible and immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and
glory forever and ever (to the ages of ages). Amen (so be it).
18 This charge and
admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with
prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that
inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare,
19 Holding fast to
faith (that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust
and confidence) and having a good (clear) conscience. By rejecting and
thrusting from them [their conscience], some individuals have made shipwreck of
their faith.
20 Among them are
Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan in order that they may
be disciplined [by punishment and learn] not to blaspheme.
And
as the Holy Spirit later prophecies through Paul in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (in the exact same letter to Timothy):
The Holy Spirit
distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from
the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that
demons teach, through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences
are seared (cauterized),
Who forbid people to
marry…
Again
I ask, who else beside gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are “forbid to marry” in “the latter times” by those who have “turned away from the faith and gave
attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons
teach…..through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are
seared?”
I
think we all know the answer to that question by now, and it should affirm once
and for all to whom Paul referred in both 1 Timothy 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 6:9.
I pray that just as God granted mercy and
forgiveness through faith and love to Paul for his unbelief and ignorance, that
He too will grant it to those who continue to point to these passages of
Scripture to justify their religious-based bigotry toward gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender people, as they continue to forbid people to marry….
....because
as we’ll learn in Chapters 20 and Chapter 21 of The Bed Keeper, there are enormous prophetic reasons for doing so, and
the life and future of the Church, as well as the return of Jesus Christ Himself,
are depending on it!
Part One:
UPDATE 10.27.12:
UPDATE 04.29.12:
***************************************************************
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!
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.
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.
