Bible verses that Rev. Falwell chooses to ignore...
Here are some verses that come directly from the Bible that preachers refuse to quote publicly, proving that they selectively pick and choose verses out of context which justify their personal bigotry against gay and lesbian people. Take a look for yourself...
Some preachers often quote Leviticus 20:13 against gay and lesbian people, which says...
"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)
Let's now take a look at other verses that are in the same book as the above verse. This exercise proves that those preachers who are so enthusiastic about quoting Leviticus 20:13 become awfully quiet when it comes to other verses. Far from being about faith, this is really about the desires of certain preachers to promote religious prejudice against gay and lesbian people...
"For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him." (Leviticus 20:9)
Imagine what would happen today if we killed every child who was disrespectful to his parents. Most preachers conveniently choose to ignore this verse, which is merely 3 verses before Leviticus 20:13.
"If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has discovered her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from her people." (Leviticus 20:18)
Imagine what would happen today if we deported every man and woman who had ever had sex together while the woman was having her period (which is exactly what the above verse commands). Most preachers choose to ignore this verse, which is merely 5 verses after Leviticus 20:13.
"Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property." (Leviticus 25:44-45)
Did you ever wonder where racist Southerners and even the Supreme Court in the 1800's got the idea that slaves were just "property" and not people?
From the above verse, which most preachers, in their picking and choosing, choose to completely ignore. Or, maybe someone should ask those preachers if they support slavery, as does this verse.
Those Southerners were still racist, even though they were quoting the Bible to support their racism, just like some preachers quote Leviticus 20:13 to support THEIR bigotry against gay and lesbian people.
"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." (Leviticus 19:27)
Almost no preacher has never preached against the evils of shaving as they choose to completely ignore this verse as well. But that's what many anti-gay preachers do...they pick and choose what to believe. So much for being a "Bible believing" Christian, as many often claim to be.
"At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts." (Deuteronomy 15:1)
Imagine the chaos that would befall the American economy if the United States Government decided to "cancel" all debts every seven years. It would be an unmitigated disaster, which is probably why most anti-gay preachers quietly choose to ignore this verse, too.
"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of the town. They shall say to the elders, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death..." (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
If anti-gay preachers were to tell parents to bring their disrespectful children to City Hall headquarters to be stoned, they'd probably lose their entire following, which is why they also choose to ignore this verse, too.
"...do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear material woven of two kinds of material." (Leviticus 19:19)
Farmers in this country almost always grow more than one kind of crop in their fields, so most anti-gay preachers choose to ignore this verse as well. If they were to preach against farmers, they'd be in an uproar.
Most anti-gay preachers also ignore the Biblical command to not wear clothes that have two different kinds of material. I could be wrong, but the shirts that these preachers are often seen wearing must be a cotton/polyester blend, the most common in the United States of America. Yes, they choose to ignore this verse, too. "Bible believing" Christians? Hardly. They're one of those "pick and choose" Christians.
In conclusion...
What does this all mean? It means that most anti-gay preachers really ARE bigots even though they quote the Bible to back up their bigotry against gay and lesbian people. They pick and choose what parts of the Bible justify their condemnation of gay and lesbian people and ignore those which do not.
They quote the Bible against gay and lesbian people but conveniently choose to ignore verses that are in the very same chapter as the ones they quote. You have to understand, bigots usually ALWAYS use out-of-context facts ("non-sequiturs") and half-truths to justify their bigotry.
This proves that most anti-gay preachers choose which parts of the Bible endorse their own personal beliefs and ignore those that do not. What does this mean for you? It means that you can truly grow in the proper study of the Word ONLY by recognizing that the Bible shouldn't be misused the way those anti-gay preachers misuse it.
UPDATE
Many fundamentalist Christians have written to me since I first authored this page. They have argued that the verses I quote above are from the "Old Mosaic law". As such, they argue, the admonitions that it is OK to own slaves and forbidden to shave or wear clothes with two different fibers are not meant to be taken literally for our modern day.
My response is to agree completely! That is my whole point. If all the verses I quote above are NOT meant for today, then the anti-gay verses are not meant for today, EITHER. You can't say on one hand that, "Those verses are party of the old Mosaic Code" while using OTHER verses in that same code against gay and lesbian people.
The Old Mosaic code forbade homosexuality for a very simple, logical reason. The Jews believed that it was a sin for a man "to waste his seed". They believed that a man only had a limited number of sperm and once it was used up he could never have children again.
Therefore, the Jews, because they did not have the benefit of modern science, declared that sex must only be used for procreation. This is completely understandable since they were in desperate need to grow the Jewish population.
Today, however, it is foolish to take that verse out of context, given our historical understanding of its purpose. It is also foolish to apply a 4,000 year old admonition against homosexuality to our modern day, especially when we understand the reasons why it was made Old Testament law...to grow the Jewish population.
found this on fallwell.com
Some preachers often quote Leviticus 20:13 against gay and lesbian people, which says...
"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)
Let's now take a look at other verses that are in the same book as the above verse. This exercise proves that those preachers who are so enthusiastic about quoting Leviticus 20:13 become awfully quiet when it comes to other verses. Far from being about faith, this is really about the desires of certain preachers to promote religious prejudice against gay and lesbian people...
"For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon him." (Leviticus 20:9)
Imagine what would happen today if we killed every child who was disrespectful to his parents. Most preachers conveniently choose to ignore this verse, which is merely 3 verses before Leviticus 20:13.
"If a man lies with a woman during her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has discovered her flow, and she has uncovered the flow of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from her people." (Leviticus 20:18)
Imagine what would happen today if we deported every man and woman who had ever had sex together while the woman was having her period (which is exactly what the above verse commands). Most preachers choose to ignore this verse, which is merely 5 verses after Leviticus 20:13.
"Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property." (Leviticus 25:44-45)
Did you ever wonder where racist Southerners and even the Supreme Court in the 1800's got the idea that slaves were just "property" and not people?
From the above verse, which most preachers, in their picking and choosing, choose to completely ignore. Or, maybe someone should ask those preachers if they support slavery, as does this verse.
Those Southerners were still racist, even though they were quoting the Bible to support their racism, just like some preachers quote Leviticus 20:13 to support THEIR bigotry against gay and lesbian people.
"Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." (Leviticus 19:27)
Almost no preacher has never preached against the evils of shaving as they choose to completely ignore this verse as well. But that's what many anti-gay preachers do...they pick and choose what to believe. So much for being a "Bible believing" Christian, as many often claim to be.
"At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts." (Deuteronomy 15:1)
Imagine the chaos that would befall the American economy if the United States Government decided to "cancel" all debts every seven years. It would be an unmitigated disaster, which is probably why most anti-gay preachers quietly choose to ignore this verse, too.
"If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of the town. They shall say to the elders, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death..." (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
If anti-gay preachers were to tell parents to bring their disrespectful children to City Hall headquarters to be stoned, they'd probably lose their entire following, which is why they also choose to ignore this verse, too.
"...do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear material woven of two kinds of material." (Leviticus 19:19)
Farmers in this country almost always grow more than one kind of crop in their fields, so most anti-gay preachers choose to ignore this verse as well. If they were to preach against farmers, they'd be in an uproar.
Most anti-gay preachers also ignore the Biblical command to not wear clothes that have two different kinds of material. I could be wrong, but the shirts that these preachers are often seen wearing must be a cotton/polyester blend, the most common in the United States of America. Yes, they choose to ignore this verse, too. "Bible believing" Christians? Hardly. They're one of those "pick and choose" Christians.
In conclusion...
What does this all mean? It means that most anti-gay preachers really ARE bigots even though they quote the Bible to back up their bigotry against gay and lesbian people. They pick and choose what parts of the Bible justify their condemnation of gay and lesbian people and ignore those which do not.
They quote the Bible against gay and lesbian people but conveniently choose to ignore verses that are in the very same chapter as the ones they quote. You have to understand, bigots usually ALWAYS use out-of-context facts ("non-sequiturs") and half-truths to justify their bigotry.
This proves that most anti-gay preachers choose which parts of the Bible endorse their own personal beliefs and ignore those that do not. What does this mean for you? It means that you can truly grow in the proper study of the Word ONLY by recognizing that the Bible shouldn't be misused the way those anti-gay preachers misuse it.
UPDATE
Many fundamentalist Christians have written to me since I first authored this page. They have argued that the verses I quote above are from the "Old Mosaic law". As such, they argue, the admonitions that it is OK to own slaves and forbidden to shave or wear clothes with two different fibers are not meant to be taken literally for our modern day.
My response is to agree completely! That is my whole point. If all the verses I quote above are NOT meant for today, then the anti-gay verses are not meant for today, EITHER. You can't say on one hand that, "Those verses are party of the old Mosaic Code" while using OTHER verses in that same code against gay and lesbian people.
The Old Mosaic code forbade homosexuality for a very simple, logical reason. The Jews believed that it was a sin for a man "to waste his seed". They believed that a man only had a limited number of sperm and once it was used up he could never have children again.
Therefore, the Jews, because they did not have the benefit of modern science, declared that sex must only be used for procreation. This is completely understandable since they were in desperate need to grow the Jewish population.
Today, however, it is foolish to take that verse out of context, given our historical understanding of its purpose. It is also foolish to apply a 4,000 year old admonition against homosexuality to our modern day, especially when we understand the reasons why it was made Old Testament law...to grow the Jewish population.
found this on fallwell.com
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nelson on -
as has often been said, the danger in the bible is that it can be used to justify anything the reader wants based on their picking and choosing and selective interpretations.
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Lynn on -
Well, Falwell said a lot of things against the LGBTQQI community, and anyone else who wasn't christian. The man was a prime example of someone who used the bible in the context of his own agenda. I'm pretty sure there'd be a shitstorm if there was a law against wearing polyester, because who honestly doesn't wear any polyester? But because the LGBTQQI community is small in comparison to the "normal" population, it makes it reaaaalllly easy to point the finger at them and call them sinners.
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Permalink Reply by samuel thomas on -
You are completely correct in your admonition of these so called "bible believing" Christians. However I think that your conclusions lack scope. What i mean is this: the last time the church took the whole bible literally was called the dark ages (for a reason, *cough* inquisition). I think one could safely conclude that ALL modern day Christianity is a bastardization of the what the Holy Bible actually demands of its believers. I have not met a Christian yet (nor expect to), even fundamentalist ones, who follow the bible literally. To do so in these modern times would surely end in incarceration, the death penalty (ironic), or an insane asylum. All Christians are walking compromises, walking contradictions.
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Permalink Reply by John P. Grasty on -
The foundational problem with this articles is that it lacks an understanding of how the Old Testament interacts with the New Testament. Preachers today are not ignoring those issues presented in the often called "Holiness Code" of Leviticus 18-20. The author in trying to skirt this issue makes the assertion that homosexuality was prohibited on the basis on population growth. No indication is given of that in the text.
The reason that those verses are not held as binding today has nothing to do with 4000 years of progress. The reason is that because of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ we are under another economy. As a matter of fact, the prohibitions against homosexuality are REPEATED in the New Testament while prohibitions against blended garments are not. Here is a sampling: Jude 7, Romans 1:26-27, I Corinthians 6:9, and I Timothy 1:10.
We ought be clear here though. In neither the Old Testament times nor in the New have people ever been "made right" with God by what we could do. Keeping a set of do's and don't's has never got anyone into heaven. The main purpose of the Old Testament law was to show us (all of us) that we could not be good enough. Christ, as both God and man, died in our place, so that we can have His goodness which both in the O.T. and N.T. we have access to only through faith(a trust put in Him and His finished work).
I hope this clears it up. You may disagree with evangelicals that have a position against homosexuality, but do not assume it is an untenable position.
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Permalink Reply by Nelson on
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the law was only intended to demonstrate that humans could not be good enough? that's not what Judaism believes at all! don't you think it's a bit arrogant to go around misrepresenting what Jews believe about their own religion just to attempt to validate your own religion? the law is for ritual purity and holiness, it exists to set apart the Jews as marked by God as his chosen people, distinct from non-Jews. besides, if it only existed to prove that humans could never be good enough then why the constant punishment throughout the Hebrew bible- including death, misery, and destruction- for those that didn't uphold it? if your God knew that the Israelites could never uphold the covenant then what does that say about your God that he formed the covenant full in the knowledge that he would be required to slaughter thousands of Israelites for not following it? it is no small matter that, since supposedly your God created everyone, he not only knew the Israelites would fail but he actually created them to fail.
presumably you believe that your god is the same god that the Jews worship now and worshiped during the time of the writing of the Hebrew bible. presumably you believe that your god is omniscient, that is, he sees all things forwards and backwards. presumably you believe your god is immutable, that is, due to his omniscience, he never changes his mind. presumably you believe the bible to be the inspired word of god.
assuming that's settled, please explain these verses:
"This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live." (Lev. 23:14, 21, 31).
"Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him." (Gen. 17:19).
"And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them..." (Deut. 4:8-9).
"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands." (Deut. 7:9).
"Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always." (Deut. 11:1)
"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God..." (Deut. 11:26-28).
"Yet you are near, O LORD,
and all your commands are true.
Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever." (Psalm 119:151-152)
"All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal." (Psalm 119:160)
"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel." (Malachi 4:4)
"He remembers his covenant forever,
the word he commanded, for a thousand generations..." (1 Chronicles 16:15)
all these verses are from the bible that your omniscient immutable god supposedly inspired. so... did god not see that he would need to form a new covenant through Jesus?- then he's not omniscient. did god change his mind?- then he's not immutable. or is the bible just wrong about the laws being eternal?- and so the bible isn't inspired.
you point to the passages from Jude 7, Romans, 1 Corinthians, and 1 Timothy...
1 Timothy wasn't written by Paul but rather by one of his followers after Paul's death so if you're going to quote Paul you really should quote Paul and not one of his followers. but yes, Paul taught against homosexuality but so what, Jesus never did. why are you quoting Paul instead of Jesus anyway? is your religion Paulianity or Christianity?
let's see what Jesus had to say on whether the Mosaic Law was applicable:
"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:18-19)
"It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law." (Luke 16:17)
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." (Matt 19:17)
but all of this is immaterial because it rests on your assertion that it was the resurrection of Jesus that brought in the supposed new covenant. and yet you have absolutely no evidence that it ever occurred.
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Permalink Reply by David on -
Galatians 3
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."[c] 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."[d] 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."[e] 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."[f] 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Verses the Apostle Paul is quoting from the Old Testament
Hab 2:
4"Behold, as for the (A)proud one,
His soul is not right within him;
But the (B)righteous will live by his faith.
Leviticus 18:5 (New American Standard Bible)
5'So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, (A)by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.
Deut 21:
23(A)his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for (B)he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you (C)do not defile your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance.
And if your wondering why they are somewhat different it is becuase verses in the Old Testament are translated from Hebrew/Aramaic to English Whereas verses in the New TEstament are translated from Hebrew/Aramaic to Greek To English
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Permalink Reply by David on
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They dont prove the resurrection they do however prove that the Old Testament teaches that one is saved by faith not by works of the Law
Proving the Resurrection is a bit more difficult. I will say this that few people would die for something they knew to be a lie and all of the apostles except John were martyred
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Permalink Reply by Mario Rodgers on -
They dont prove the resurrection they do however prove that the Old Testament teaches that one is saved by faith not by works of the Law
Bullshit. The whole idea behind that is an abortion of accountability and of the proper sense of justice.
And the Old Testament is a collection of abhorrent fictitious claptrap.
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Permalink Reply by Mario Rodgers on
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What does it matter to you? You have what YOU want to believe. Doesn't make it true. The Bible isn't beyond criticism for its abhorrent tripe and acts of immorality and events that fly in the face of what any sane person can see as true reality.
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Permalink Reply by Mario Rodgers on
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"The righteous will live by faith."
People can have faith in any number of things. Doesn't make them righteous. The inquisitors had faith they were doing the works of God by burning witches. Doesn't make them righteous. The mentally unstable locked away in an institution have faith that they'll be set free. Doesn't make them righteous.
Lots of laws contradict religious doctrine. Probably for good reason. I'd rather trust the judgment of a democratic process and the thoughts of a philosopher and scholar of the age of reason over the rulings of the speakers of God any day of the week.
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Permalink Reply by David on
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Try not to intentionally take the verse out of context I suggest you read the whole passage before trying to make interpretations That is Galatians Chapter three http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%203&versi...
or if it is Habakkuk you are questioning I would suggest reading the enitre 3 chapters that make up that book for a contextual interpretation after all it was William Shakesper who once said "The Devil can quote Scripture for his purpose" and he has example being MAtthew 4
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