Dear Editor,

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible is not an easy book to understand, and it is for this reason why some have used it for good, while others, within the same context, have used it for bad.

Some have used it to justify slavery, while others have used it to argue for the abolition of slavery. Today, some use the Bible to denounce homosexual and lesbian practices, while others use it to encourage compassion for them.

One difficult passage that is oftentimes used to condemn homosexuals is Romans 1:18-32. The reason some Christians have misinterpreted this passage is because they don’t understand its deliberative rhetorical form. This passage forms part of a letter written by the apostle Paul to five Christian churches in Rome. Letters are always addressed to a specific audience, for a specific purpose. Evidently, there were social problems in Rome, and Paul wrote his letter, not to the city of Rome, but specifically to the Roman Christians to address issues that were affecting them.

Paul had no intention of using the same language and tone to address unbelievers who were experiencing the same problems. The main sin which Paul addressed was that humans (believers and unbelievers) have failed to glorify God, even though God has revealed himself to them in both His creation (natural revelation) and the written word (special revelation). Instead of acknowledging and worshipping God, humans have become obsessed with materialism. The passage tells us that obsession with materialism leads to sexual impurity (verses 21-24); shameful lusts (verses 25-27), which include lesbian and homosexual practices; and to intellectual corruption (verses 28 -32), consisting of 21 vices, which include anti-social behaviours such as quarrelling, gossip, murder, envy, and greed. Sexual impurity, shameful lusts and intellectual corruption are consequences or symptoms, not the main reason for God’s anger against humans.

The passage clearly states that God is angry with

us because we have failed to acknowledge and glorify him. Of course, God also hates the consequences, but the main reason for his anger against us is because we have ignored the Creator for the created.

Africanus

rehnis@msn.com