SUMMARY
These two verses prohibit Israelite males from “lying” with a male “as with a woman” and call such behavior an “abominationAbomination in biblical terms is that which is forbidden or unclean according to ritual code. Offering incense to idols and following the ways of the wicked are biblical examples of abomination to the Lord. More.”
ANALYSIS
Found in lists of laws concerning prohibited sexual activity, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 prohibit the Israelites from engaging in male homosexual acts. These two verses are arguably the most controversial ones in the PentateuchThe Pentateuch is a Christian term the first five books of the Old Testament. These books contain stories of Israel's early history, God's covenants, and many laws such as the Ten Commandments). More and certainly the most controversial in Leviticus, and they have unfortunately been used over the years to justify harsh treatment of LGBT people by the church.
Christians of a more traditional bent, including many (but not all) Christians in the Global South, tend to quote these laws as evidence that God forbids homosexuality. They subscribe to a “plain-sense” reading of the verses and point to the fact that there is other prohibited sexual activity in these chapters – like incest and bestiality – that Christians renounce, so homosexual activity should also be rejected.
Christians of a more liberal bent, including many (but not all) Christians in the Global North, seek to counter such a reading in a number of ways: They point out that Christians do not follow many of the laws in Leviticus (for example, the dietary laws or the law against wearing clothing made from two different kinds of cloth in 19:19). If Christians don’t follow those laws, why follow this one about homosexuality? Another argument has to do with the difference between the ancient understanding of homosexuality as an aberrant behavior freely chosen and the more modern Western understanding of homosexuality as an innate sexual orientation. The biblical writers, in other words, did not know about homosexual orientation and thought that those who engaged in homosexual behavior were deliberately choosing to sin. Hence, the prohibition in these verses.
There are a number of other such arguments for and against the traditional interpretation of these verses. The global church continues to experience division and conflict over the matter of human sexuality, but it is at the same time called in Leviticus 19 (which comes between these chapters) to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Whatever the interpretation of these verses, love of God and neighbor (even neighbors you may disagree with) is the greatest commandment.
