You hear a lot of fundamentist Christians calling homosexually a sin, which
is rightly so. But how often do you hear a Preacher saying "Gay bashing is a
sin". Not often enough it seems.
Galatians 5 says (King James) 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,
which are these; Adultery, fornication (strong number 4202), uncleanness,
lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Strong's says: 4202 porneia porneia {por-ni'-ah} from 4203; TDNT -
6:579,918; n f AV - fornication 26; 26 1) illicit sexual intercourse 1a)
adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals
etc. 1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18 1c) sexual
intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12 2) metaph. the
worship of idols 2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the
sacrifices offered to idols.
Passages such as this had been quoted rightly by Christians to prove that
being gay is a sin. However in this same list hatred is also called a sin. So to
be a real fundamentalist you also must accept that hating people for being
gay or anything else is also a sin. It must also be said that hating someone
isn't how you win someone to the Christ.
Speaking of textual criticism, Paul did not write the verse numbers.
Last Updated - 20/09/2003
Top of Page
Home Page