What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality? An Exercise in Biblical Hermeneutics

Lehrer argues for the importance of a close hermeneutical study of the Bible in order to understand most fully the statements made about homosexuality. Through his study, Lehrer posits that no condemnations are made against homosexuality, with the exception of the two statements made in Leviticus, both of which deal with Hebraic purity laws, many of which are no longer followed. Instead, the passages most frequently deal more explicitly with issues of hospitality (the story of Sodom) or idolatry (the letters of Paul.) Therefore, homosexual relationships are placed at the same level as heterosexual relationships. As long as the relationship is based on a love that binds individuals more closely to God, and is not based on a lustfulness that can lead to idolatry, there is no passage which explicitly condemns homosexuality