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God is not a Homophobe: An unbiased look at Homosexuality in the Bible

by Philo Thelos

147 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-2609; ISBN 1-4120-2030-1; US$17.00, C$19.00, EUR14.00, £10.00

Is God a gay-hating ogre? This author's research demonstrates that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality as a consensual life-style. Find out what the Bible really says about homosexuality.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts and Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book Homosexuality is perhaps the most volatile topic discussed in today's church and society. A war rages that will ultimately determine how much civil liberty can be enjoyed by consenting homosexuals, and how much religious equality they will be granted. Several books already exist attempting to demonstrate that the Christian Bible does not, in fact, condemn consenting-adult homosexuality. But God is Not a Homophobe has a unique perspective in that the author has a lifetime of experience in pastoring hard-core fundamentalist churches. His former bitter opposition to all forms of homosexuality has given way to a rational, unbiased acceptance that the Bible says hardly anything about homosexuality, and what it does say cannot honestly be used to condemn consenting same-sex unions. In God Is Not a Homophobe, the author examines in detail every Bible verse and every Bible-based argument against homosexuality, and concludes with a view radically different from what is offered by the modern church. His conclusions will surprise many, and will surely aggravate and anger many more. But he believes the evidence in this book will stand the test of investigation. This unbiased look at homosexuality in the Bible gives much food for thought, and hopefully, much incentive for change in our attitude toward and treatment of those whose sexual orientation is "different." About the Author For nearly forty years Philo Thelos pastored right wing, fundamentalist, evangelical churches. Intensive study through those years moved him progressively away from legalistic, church law and into a more compassionate view of the human condition. His eyes were also opened to a starkly different view of ethics and morality than what is common in the modern church. His driving passion has been to find truth- at whatever cost. He brought into ministry all the baggage of legalistic religion, complete with its rabid anti-homosexual rhetoric. But research and prayer have reversed his pre-conceived views on many matters. God Is Not A Homophobe is his presentation of the research that led to his conclusion that the Bible does not condemn consenting adult homosexuality. For more information on spiritual freedom visit the author's website, www.freedomguide.net

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Sample Excerpts and Table of Contents from God is Not a Homophobe

FOREWORD
"the ministry of death"
Let's revisit some of the more sordid history of the church. In fact, let's go back to the few years just prior to the birth of the church, to look at the horror of legalistic mind-sets, and what the apostle Paul calls "the ministry of death," (2 Cor. 3:7). Religious determinism has been responsible for the most shocking crimes in history. Without question the Jewish Scribes, Pharisees and Lawyers of the first century believed with all their hearts that Jesus Christ was an imposter. They fought Him bitterly throughout His short ministry and eventually persuaded the Roman governor, Pilate, to crucify Him. These same religious leaders later began to imprison the followers of Christ, and eventually began murdering them just as they had murdered their master. The history books chronicle years of brutal persecution of Christians by the Jews first, then by the Roman leaders who believed Jewish lies about the followers of Jesus.

After the church gained power and influence, the church began its own bitter history of horror. In the name of Jesus Christ and righteousness, the church conducted her Inquisitions and Crusades, during which multiplied thousands of innocent people were imprisoned or murdered.

The church persecuted the Great Reformers, killed Bible translators, and imprisoned "rebels" and "heretics" like Martin Luther.

The church was the moving force behind the imprisonment, torture and murder of thousands of "witches" during the infamous "Salem Witch Trials." During the American Civil War, the church took the side of the slave-owners, arguing from the Bible that black skin was a mark of God's curse on Cain and Ham, and that enslavement of black people was in perfect accord with Scripture.

Later, the church was on the side of the segregationists, arguing that black people are inferior, and they must not be allowed equal place with "white people" in society and the church because to do so was to fight against God's "curse" upon their race. While Germany carried out wholesale slaughter of the Jews, subjecting them to incomprehensible suffering and genocide, the church was silent, claiming that Scripture demands that "the powers that be are ordained of God..." Very sincere Christians became accessories to the murder of thousands of Jews, by revealing their hiding places, on the premise that the Bible condemns "all liars."

Women have been relegated to the background of the church, forced into virtual silence, and made to serve the interests of male church leaders. The church has rejected the spirituality and spiritual gifts of women, and refused them their rightful place in Christ's Kingdom.

In every case, the crimes noted above have been perpetrated and carried out by people whose conviction cannot be questioned. They believed that they were "right," and that their cause was "according to truth." They all appealed to the Bible for support. They used the Bible vigorously in debate with their opposition. Yet in every case the church and the world has come to understand that the church was wrong. We now confess our spiritual stupidity in every one of the above cases. Oh, a few minor "rebel groups" still hold onto the false notions of an ignorant church. They are like the political groups that build encampments in the deep woods and conduct training exercises in hopes that someday they will be able to rise up and overthrow the corrupt American Government.

But the history of the church proves how deadly is the notion that Biblical Authority is the ultimate goal of religion. Those churches that place greatest emphasis on "Book, Chapter and Verse" are the ones most noticeably hostile to any ideas but their own. And they are the ones who rise up in violent antagonism that leads to the death of spiritual relationships, social relations, and sometimes even physical death. In the name of spiritual rectitude and under the banner of Jesus Christ, the church has been on the side of repression, evil and murder more often than it has been on the side of right. She has been forced to "repent" time and again. In our day the church is still hard at work in her death dealing business. Now the church is the chief voice suppressing the rights of homosexuals to lead a quiet and peaceful life, with all the benefits that come automatically to heterosexually inclined people. Without question the church believe she is right. Church leaders will preach from the Bible as long as anyone will listen, that "homosexuality is abominable to God, and will lead you straight to Hell." They are absolutely convinced they are right. They have their verses memorized and their arguments well honed. But:
So did those who led the Inquisitions and Crusades.
So did those who tried to silence the Reformers.
So did those who demanded the murder of "witches" in Salem.
So did those who argued for slavery.
So did those who worked hand in hand with segregationists.
So did those who betrayed Jews to Gestapo murderers.
So do those who demand, "women keep silent in the church."
In light of the church's penchant for taking the wrong position on social issues, we think it is not out of order to suggest that the church's present position relative to homosexuality is one that will eventually require "repentance," just as in these other cases. The church is already awakening to the fact that the arguments she thought were set in stone are actually sitting on quite sandy soil. Eventually even the hardest shell will crack under increasing pressure. Many church leaders have good hearts, even though their hearts are overgrown with much tradition and false theology. Their good hearts will gradually receive the true light of God's word until finally the darkness is ultimately dispelled, and they realize that they have been as stupidly misguided on the homosexual issue as their forbears were misguided on all the previously issues. No one can honestly admit one's fallibility without holding all one's convictions with loose fingers. The pursuit of truth brings frequent change. We believe that the day is approaching when the church will abandon her official hatred of homosexuality just as she has abandoned her positions on so many other matters. This book is one pastor's contribution to the search for light on a terribly and unfortunately dark issue. May God help us to lay down all preconceptions and to simply allow Scripture to speak what it will. The truth we find will surely set us free from all the shame and hurt we have for so long inflicted upon undeserving people.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: page iii
PART ONE
Understanding the Bible
How Can I Know What the Bible Really Says? page 1
What Are the Authors Against; What Are They For?
What Is the True Meaning of The Original Words?
What Is the Literary Context of Those Words?
What Is Their Cultural/Historical Context?
What Geographical Elements Are Important?
What Social Customs Are Important?
Does the Passage Speak To Our Present Situation?
Finding the Historical Context.
Do I Have the Courage To Stand Alone?
PART TWO
Homosexuality
Homosexuality: Introductory Thoughts
What Was the Sin Of Sodom?
Abomination.
Homosexuality And the "Holiness Code".
The New Testament and Homosexuality.
Romans 1:24-27.
Natural Versus Unnatural.
More on Cultural Setting.
Pederasty In Greco-Roman Culture.
Early Records Of Palestinian/Hellenistic Judaism.
The Torah Revisited.
Extra Biblical Sources.
Preliminary Summary.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
The Special Case of Malakos And Arsenokoitai.
The Context of These Words.
The History of These Words.
Arsenokoites.
Malakos.
More On Women and Homosexuality.
Theological Considerations:
Homosexuality and Creation.
ii
Homosexuality and Covenant.
Homosexuality and Righteousness.
Not The Specific Act, But Its Effect Upon Others.
The "Law of Love" Applied To Sex Issues.
Nothing Is Unclean Of Itself.
Sex And Vulnerability.
Sex And Single People.
A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.

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Catalogue Information

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