So I finished up The Bible and Homosexual Practice by Robert A. J. Gagnon. Normally I will run through a 10 point review, but Gagnon had a single point that he thumped from cover to cover, so I’ll give that point thoroughly first and then run as many secondary thoughts as I can and see if I get to 10.
1, Gagnon insists that there is just no way to read the text of the Bible and claim that it affirms embracing the intentional, unrepentant practice of homosexual practice as a way of life. No matter how you exegete or hermeneut it (I know, I made that second verb up), the clear teaching of Scripture is what it is: homosexual practice (along with adultery, bestiality, pedophilia, pederasty, incest, fornication, sleeping-with-your-boyfriend/girlfriend, and a myriad of other potential sexual practices) is unmistakably identified as sinful from cover to cover. Gagnon worked exhaustively from Genesis through Leviticus through Judges through I Samuel through the Gospels through Romans through I Corinthians through I Timothy, hitting on every single text that remotely addressed the issue of homosexuality (as well as doing a thorough survey of cultural attitudes and norms during the writings of the Scripture), and concluded that the message was the same. If the question is: what is the witness of the canon of Scripture regarding same-sex practice? The answer Gagnon gives is: the canon of Scripture witnesses against it. His conclusion is stated as such on page 487: “Same-sex intercourse is strongly and unequivocally rejected in the revelation of Scripture.”
2, super interesting to me was that Gagnon was not a ‘Bible guy’ like we are in the A29, 4Cs, Seven Mile Road, Reformed/Gospel-centered/missional/love-Piper-and-Calvin-and-the-Puritans-a-lot world. He seems not to believe the Bible is infallible/inerrant, he doesn’t trust the Gospels to reflect historical truth about Jesus, he sort of buys all the multiple/deutero author stuff, he thinks Paul could be in error, etc. That a guy with what we would consider a ‘lowish view’ of Scripture could write a book that is unrelenting in its conclusion that there is no wiggle room Biblically on this issue says something.
3, Gagnon is not a pastor, but his final words are super pastoral. He rightly challenges the Church to an intense love for those who are walking this road or feeling like it’s the one they have no choice but to walk. The Bible doesn’t reveal what it does as an excuse for ’straight’ people to wag a finger at ‘gays’. We are, all of us, fallen, sexual sinners in desperate need of grace and redemption. We should all thank God for his clear, unmistakable revelation in Scripture driving us toward healthy expression of our sexuality, and for the cross, and for the Spirit that sets us free. Scripture is full of really good news for sexual sinners.
4, Also pastorally, and a firm rebuke to us or any churches who would dance around this issue in the lives of its people, was this arresting paragraph: “(A church’s allowing baptized members to engage intentionally in homosexual practice) puts the practicing homosexual’s own relationship with the Creator in jeopardy. If we are to believe Scripture, the failure of the church to help the homosexual make the transition out of homosexual practice and into sexual wholeness will make the church an accomplice to the very form of behavior that God finds detestable. The church will become an enabler of the practicing homosexual’s loss of spiritual transformation and, possibly, salvation.” As my note in the margin says, woah.
5, Jonathan and David were not gay lovers, so I think we can all stop it with that. It is just impossible to read that text carefully and come within a light-year of that conclusion.
6, I realize that most Christians churches who affirm homosexual practice don’t really care if Gagnon’s take on the Bible is right or not. They have abandoned Scripture as being the first and final authority in truth and life. For example here. Fine. All this book is saying is that if you did embrace the Bible as the first and final authority on truth and life, you’d be hard pressed to remain where you are on the issue.
7, Gagnon’s treatment of Jesus was insightful. Did you ever realize that Jesus was more stringent in his vision of sexual ethics than his culture? This and many other things led Gagnon to insist that there is no shot that Jesus would approve of homosexual practice. He also dealt beautifully with how Jesus probably would have loved on someone there. May we have that truth and grace combined in us.
8, this is not the kind of book that I would recommend curling up by the fire with and trying to work cover to cover through. I basically did that (sans the fire), but barely made it through. What it is is an excellent resource to have on your shelf as it not only addresses the pertinent texts, but responds to all the common assertions in our culture on this issue with curtness and grace rightly balanced. Think of it as a mini-encyclopedia on the issue.
9, if you are reading this and want to react ‘Any church that would allow this post to be blogged is anti-homosexuals!’ I would plead with you that that is just not it, at all. If you want to react ‘Any church that would take Gagnon’s book seriously takes God’s revelation in Scripture too seriously’, ok. If you want to disagree with our take on the Bible and its call for repentance of sin and obedience to God’s good commandments for His glory and always, always, always for our joy, ok. But hammer us for that, and not for something that we’re not.
10, much glory to God that we have seen with our own eyes in this community sexual sinners of all stripes, including those wrestling with same-sex issues, finding forgiveness, healing, hope, joy and life in the God of the gospel of grace. What a Savior we have.