Resources and background submitted by the Rev. Justin R. Cannon
In our current political climate with the rise of Christian nationalism (see ENS article ’Episcopal leaders confront the urgent danger of Christian nationalism’), many minorities are feeling threatened: immigrants (especially Latinos), women, LGBT persons (especially the trans-community, which has had many rights stripped away), and others. Biblical rhetoric is often misused to guide policies (see ENS article Countering the ’Christians’), especially when it comes to women and LGBT issues, as many have twisted the Bible to support homophobia and misogyny.
But such is so far from the truth of the Biblical texts. Most Bible translations are funded by denominational bodies with biases that are built into the translations, such as the New American Bible (funded by the Roman Catholic Church) and NIV Bible funded by the evangelical group called the New York Bible Society. The best translation I have found is The Source New Testament : With Extensive Notes on Greek Word Meaning by Ann Nyland. The Source is the only New Testament translation by a Classical Greek scholar (rather than theologian) and not financed or translated by a committee of a specific denomination.
Texts in the Bible do not condemn homosexuality, and especially not loving, committed gay relationships. In 2012, I wrote and published a Bible study entitled The Bible, Christianity, and Homosexuality, now translated into both Spanish and Italian. It was described by the Los Angeles Times as “an illuminating … analysis that argues the Bible doesn’t condemn faithful gay relationships.” You can learn about it and my LGBT work here. My Bible study is just 50 pages, easy to read, and sheds light on the passages often misinterpreted to condemn homosexuality. You can download a PDF of the English version here, or the Spanish Version here. Feel free to share it if you want. Print copies are also available online at major bookstores.
Also, did you know that in the Bible there’s a female apostle, a female deacon, female house church leaders, Saint Paul encourages a woman who taught in a synagogue, and he actually never said women shouldn’t speak in church? It’s true. In 2017, I did an online Advent video series entitled Women in the Bible. The series includes a brief intro video, five segments that are each between 7-10 minutes, and is available on YouTube. The videos are as follows:
- Intro, 2min
- Junia, 7min
- New Testament Women, 10min
- Saint Paul said what?!, 10min
- Mary Mother of God, 8min
- Who was Mary Magdalene, 6min
I think it’s important for us to be empowered with the knowledge of what the Bible actually says, when so many people are misusing it and even weaponizing these holy texts.
