Judges 19 also refers to gang rape of a female concubine by the men of Gibeah. Sometimes Genesis 19 is mentioned, but the sin of Sodom was partly arrogance and oppressing the poor (Ezekiel 16:49) and partly an attempt to gang rape the messengers of God. So I believe that passage, in the culture of Rome, was referring to the abuse of boy slaves and boy prostitutes, not to a loving, equal, committed relationship. Very often, men married to women kept boy slaves or prostitutes on the side to have sex with. Keep in mind that, in ancient Rome, masters could have sex with any male or female slave they wished - this was rape. As I said before, Romans 1 is not about gay Christian boys or girls, but about idolaters with darkened understanding.īut as you said, we all are flawed, yet loved! Paul goes on in chapter 1 to mention all kinds of sin, and then in 2:1 turns the table and says even the Jews were guilty, indeed, all the world reaps the wages of sin, yet we are all given the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ! That is indeed a marvelous comfort!Īnother passage often quoted against us is 1 Corinthians 6:9, wrongly translated as “homosexuals.” But remember that, 500 years ago, Martin Luther translated “arsenokoites” as “child molesters.” Recall the story of Jupiter/Zeus arriving in the form of an eagle and abducting the boy Ganymede to be his cup bearer and sex slave. Similar things happened among worshipers of Aphrodite and other deities. You see, just as the majority of Hindus are straight, so likewise, the majority of idol worshipers in Rome were straight - but took part in dishonorable acts as part of pagan worship. Most of these worshipers were naturally heterosexual, but gave themselves over to the frenzied sexual rituals in order to honor Cybele. Even the women likewise, who worshiped Cybele, were equipped with artificial phalli/dildos, and played the part of men in pagan prostitution. The male priests of the goddess castrated themselves (what a penalty for their error!), and played the part of women in temple prostitution. Greeks and Romans were abandoning the worship of the invisible Deity taught by their own philosophers, and were worshiping Cybele instead, using idols of women, lions, serpents, and birds. There were prominent temples to the goddess in Rome (where the letter was being sent to) and in Corinth (where Paul wrote the letter). Ten to fifteen years before Paul wrote his letter to Rome, Emperor Claudius permitted the worship of Cybele, a mother goddess, to take place in Rome. Let me explain, using Cybele worship as an illustration. I believe most of the participants were heterosexuals who were acting contrary to their nature. May I respond to your concern about Romans 1? Paul was not saying that idolatry turns people gay rather, he was saying that idolatry led to participation in shameful acts of lust. Here’s his wonderful response to the letter writer on John’s blog: