15 Biblical Reasons to Vote Yes on Amendment B

Here's what's fascinating… within a minute we were able to come up with eight passages which support LGBT equality.  We soon realized that eight wasn't enough and our list grew to ten.  We sent that list out to a few people -- and noticed that we got replies back saying, 'you forgot this passage, or that passage, or another.'  So below is a list of 15 verses which support LGBT equality.  But even 15 is only a partial list.   So if there's a favorite Bible verse that you'd like to add to the list -- please send me an e-mail toby@mlp.org and I'll add it on our website!  I've created a handout available (here) with these verses on it that you can print and use in your Presbytery - perhaps in your conversations with open-minded presbyters. 

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Biblical Commands to Love, Welcome All, and Work for Justice

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"  Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the greatest and first commandment.  And a second is like it:  'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."  (Matthew 22:36-40)

"God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them."  (I John 4:16)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan shows that purity of heart takes precedence over legalistic ritual purity laws.  (Luke 10:25-37)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."  (John 3: 16-17)  

"And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."  (Micah 6:8)

"Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things."  (Romans 2:1)


Biblical Consecration of Non-Traditional Families and Non-Traditional Relationships

The story of Ruth and Naomi shows Biblical consecration for "non-traditional" families. (The Book of Ruth)

David and Jonathan.  (1 and 2 Samuel)  Even the most conservative plain text reading of this story would conclude it's certainly an extraordinary covenanted relationship. 

The story of Lydia (Acts 16: 11-15) shows Biblical consecration of a female-headed household. 

Jesus was an unmarried man in a tradition culture and his group of followers consisted of a sort of non-traditional extended family.  So too with Paul. 


Biblical Welcome of Eunuchs Provides a Model for LGBT Equality

Eunuchs, by any definition, were sexual minorities and it is likely that the term "eunuch" was a sort of catch all euphemism to describe many different sorts of sexual minorities in the Biblical era.  See for example, Jesus'  discussion of eunuchs below:

 "For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off…. for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (Isaiah 56:4-5,7) 

Jesus welcomed sexual minorities.  "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.  Let anyone accept this who can."  (Matthew 19:11-12)

The first Gentile convert to Christianity was a sexual minority.  (See Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, Acts 8:26-39)


Gentile Inclusion in Acts Also Provides A Model for LGBT Equality in the Church

"What God has made clean, you must not call profane."  (Acts 10:15) 

In Acts 15, the Apostles welcomed Gentiles into the church.  This was a radical reversal because previously Gentiles were seen as "by nature" unclean and "by practice" polluted by idolatry.  (See Acts 15:1-21)     

"As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:27-28)

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Update #1:  Just like that several readers have written to me to point out additional Biblical passages which support LGBT equality!  Julia writes:  "Our Open & Affirming church committee uses the following scripture as our frame:

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 "that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together, if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

Update #2:  Jim wrote in to say:

"Important to any theological discussion of gender and sexuality in the church is Paul’s statement to the Corinthians (2 Cor 5:17), “...if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation”! A variant of that understanding is found in Galatians 6:15: “For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything, but a new creation is everything.” Think of that. If the physical sign of the covenant is irrelevant to the life of faith, why should cultural models of gender and sexual relationships matter? Being “in Christ” is the only thing that is relevant to Paul because it demonstrates and enables the New Creation for the believer.

Jim also points out the importance of Matthew 8: 5-13 and the possibility that the Centurion's Servant may have been a eunuch or other sexual minority.  

Update #3:  Cindy just wrote and pointed out two additional passages:

"There is NO condemnation in Christ Jesus"  Romans 8:1

"But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one..... In speaking of a "new covenant," he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear."  Hebrews 8:6-7, 13  (NRS)

Update #4:  Great verses keep pouring in from readers around the country!  Tricia points out:

"Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."  Romans 15:7

Update #5:  Bill writes to point out the words of Jesus as he was on the Cross:  

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, 'Woman, here is your son.'  Then he said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.'  And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."  John 19:26-27  (note:  spend some time with this passage, it's extraordinary). 

Thanks to everyone who has written in!  These 22 verses are incredible.  (And thanks to Presbyweb for linking to this post!)