There are six passages in the Bible that refer to same-sex behavior.
Three in the Old Testament and three in the New Testament.
The most famous passage is the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God sends two angels disguised as men into the city of Sodom,
where the men of Sodom threaten to rape them.
The angels blind the men and God destroys the city.
In Leviticus 1822, male same-sex intercourse is prohibited
and violators are to receive the death penalty.
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman.
It is an abomination.
Other things called abominations in the Old Testament
include having sex during a woman's menstrual period,
eating pork, rabbit, or shellfish,
and charging interest on loans.
But they're part of the Old Testament law code, which was fulfilled by Jesus.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets.
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.
Many modern translators have rendered these terms as sweeping statements about gay people.
But the concept of sexual orientation didn't even exist in the ancient world.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife,
and there shall be one flesh.
Yes, Paul did not take a positive view of same-sex relations.
But the context he was writing in is worlds apart from gay people
in committed, monogamous relationships.
The Bible never addresses the issues of sexual orientation or same-sex marriage.
So there's no reason why faithful Christians can't support their gay brothers and sisters.
It's time.
Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold the men of the city,
certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about and beat at the door,
and spake to the master of the house the old man, saying,
Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
And the man the master of the house went out unto them, and said unto them,
Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly, seeing that this man is come into mine house,
do not this folly.
Behold, here is my daughter, a maiden, and his concubine.
Them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you.
But unto this man do not so vile a thing.
But the men would not hearken to him.
So the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them.
And they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning.
And when the day began to spring, they let her go.