Richard Hays Argument Essay

RECONCILED (HOMOSEXUAL) CHRISTIANS

The Richard Hays essay entitled, “Awaiting the Redemption of Our Bodies” argues how to seriously and responsibly deal with the issue of homosexuality, within the framework of Christianity as practiced in our communities and at churches. To do this, he examines three sources: specific biblical scriptures, the general statement of the bible, and other voices such as christian traditions and science. Hays is trying to make people think about homosexuality in relation to the church with carefully reasoned and compassionate theological reflection as a covenant with a friend who died of AIDS.

First, Hays looks at biblical references to homosexual behavior. The famous story of Lot in Genesis Chapter 19 is examined by Hays for clues on the role of homosexuality in the fate of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Although the men of Sodom clearly were wicked and intended to carry out the rape of two male visitors at Lot’s house, the author draws the conclusion that the cities were destroyed by God primarily as a result of pride, selfishness, and arrogance. Next he examines the Holiness Code in Leviticus 18:22 whereby male homosexual intercourse is explicitly prohibited: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (page 208). Although the act is specifically proscribed, it is very important to note that the motive for the act is not considered a morally significant factor. Naysayers would like to suggest that Old Testament prohibitions are mostly rituals and not a moral code such that customs of today might embrace homosexuality. Hays points out that there is no distinction between ritual law and moral law in the Old Testament, illustrated nobly by the Holiness code prohibition of incest, adultery, and bestiality which are still illegal in our society today. It is hard to

debate the word of God regarding homosexuality in 1 Corinthians 6:9 or 1 Timothy 1:10 where we find homosexuals listed as persons “who...