Can't pick parts of the Bible, take 2

This letter is in response to the “Can't Pick Parts of the Bible,” by Sherry Welty. She claimed that people cannot choose which passages of the Bible to live by and which to disregard. In doing so, we bring the end of the world closer to existence.

Quoting the story of Noah and the flood, she states, “If they caused a flood, is it a stretch to think we could cause a fire?” Sherry, I invite you to read a little further to Genesis 8: 21-22, which is the story of God's covenant with humanity. He put a rainbow in the sky to remind us that He will never again destroy all of humanity for our sins. Maybe you shouldn't pick which Bible passages to follow either.

You also cannot decide to attach incorrect meanings to Bible passages to fit some preconceived notion you hold.

We do not understand why you chose to cite Genesis 18 and 19 to prove that God disapproves of homosexuality. First, these two chapters hold three separate stories: God's angels coming to tell Abraham and Sarah that they will have a son, Abraham interceding on Sodom's behalf, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Obviously, the first story has nothing to do with your supposed point. The second story also has nothing to do with homosexuality. All that is certain is that the city is a sinful place.

Here begins an amazing conversation between God and Abraham. Abraham asks if there are 100 good people in the city, would God save it. God says yes, He would save the city for 100 good people.

Then, Abraham keeps bartering with God, lowering the number of good people. The sinfulness of Sodom (we still don't know the nature of the sinfulness) is secondary to the fact that God listens to Abraham, a lowly human. Genesis chapter 19 tells the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The angels that visited Abraham and Sarah to tell them they would have a son continue on their journey and stop to spend the night at Lot's house.

Verses 4-7 clearly describe the townspeople of the city trying to knock down Lot's door in order to rape the male visitors.

Again, Sherry, you chose which verse to emphasize and disregarded the rest. If you would read one verse further, you would read that Lot offers his daughters to the crowd in place of the visitors. He says, “I have two daughters who have never had intercourse with men. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you please. But don't do anything to these men, for you know they have come under the shelter of my roof.” We refuse to believe that God would be OK with the girls getting raped, but would have to destroy a town if men were. Second, Lot had only his two daughters.

While gender standards were undoubtedly different then, we assume he cared about them. Why then would he offer up their bodies and possibly their lives to a rioting crowd? Was allowing the girls to be raped less sinful than allowing the men?

In short, the sinfulness of the city was not homosexuality, but inhospitality.

Imagine traveling in that area of the ancient world. It was dry, water was scarce, you would have to move on foot or by pack animal, and towns would be few and far between. If the random people the traveler met on his way did not offer him lodging, food, and water, he would die. As a result, the importance of hospitality cannot be over emphasized. Furthermore, any attempt to repay them would be considered greatly offensive.

In this context, the men of Sodom threatening to rape Lot's visitors would have been the ultimate taboo, because it was inhospitable. Tradition has stated that the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah was homosexuality, evidenced by the fact that the word sodomy derives from the city's name. However, Isaiah 1 describes Sodom and Gomorrah's sin as being a severe lack of social justice. It describes worshipping for appearance sake only and failing to take care of orphans and widows. Ezekiel 16:49 states that Sodom's sin was that it disregarded the poor, while Jeremiah 23:14 claims that the city was generally immoral.

Which is correct? Tradition or the Bible passages?

No matter how strongly you may feel about the sinfulness of homosexuality, you cannot ascribe the lessons to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah that you want. If you think that the Bible clearly denounces homosexuality, you need to find that denouncement in a different passage.

By citing Romans 1: 18-32, you are again picking and choosing which verses are important. In these verses, Paul is listing the sins of the idolaters, including worshipping animals, making graven images, homosexuality, disrespecting their parents, being greedy, and coveting. Of all these sins, which are so severe that they would totally destroy one's relationship with God, and which are trivial in comparison?

How can anyone take this laundry list of undesirable behaviors as being a direct declaration that God hates homosexuality?

Sherry, using all parts of the Bible seems to be important for you. So let us suggest a verse you may have forgotten or overlooked: Romans 2: 1.

JJ Blood & Autumn Thompson

Missoula