If you’re going to use my bible against me, please make sure you read it and put together a cogent argument.
That was my first reaction to Kirk Cameron’s remarks about gay marriage. In response to a direct question from Piers Morgan, Cameron said,
“Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life til death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either.”
Cameron went on to say that homosexuality is “unnatural”, “detrimental”, and “ultimately destructive to so many, uh, of the foundations of civilization”. Several other celebrities responded by showing their support for the LGBT community, many of them ridiculing Cameron in the process. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation called him “out of step” and accused him of “desperately trying to remain in the public eye by using anti-LGBT rhetoric”.
In his defense, Cameron has asserted his right to “express moral views on social issues”. He’s absolutely right. He has a right to say whatever is on his mind. When he turns to the Bible to support himself, I would just prefer that he get the facts straight.
Adam and Eve were hardly the definition of marriage. Throughout the Bible, marriage took on several different forms, the least common of which was “one man, one woman”. It was more likely to be one man with several wives, concubines and consorts. King Solomon is credited with having hundreds of women. And “til death do us part”? A man could dismiss his wife if he was simply not satisfied with her. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)
Arguments against gay marriage, and homosexuality in general, too often rely on false statements allegedly taken from the Bible. Even worse are the biblical references taken out of context.
The reason I decided to enter the seminary was to prepare myself to get into the trenches and fight against the religious rhetoric that is used to marginalize people. I am studying the Bible from beginning to end, not just picking and choosing a few texts. I believe the time has come to challenge the phrase “the Bible says” that people throw around so casually. Those of us who are LGBT Christians need to study our Bibles. We can not afford to have it spoon fed to us on Sunday morning. We and our non-Christian sisters and brothers are under attack. It is up to us to learn the features of the weapon that is being used against us; to claim it as our own, and let it shield us.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Theo-logical Tijuana 