Leviticus 18

Leviticus 18 deals with all forms of sexual misconduct. This is something that is very important specifically because this is something that speaks very much to our world today.

There are serious ethical issues involved in this hairy mess of homosexual marriage and civil unions. We know that the current system does not work. For example: Oftentimes hospitals have rules about visitation: "Family members only." Also, adding their lover to their health insurance is something that is important as well for homosexual couples. Well, they live together, eat the same food, pay bills together, share a roof, love each other. That sounds like family. 

But the issue comes with what does it mean to be married? Is it simply an issue of love and commitment? Or is it an issue of human nature and societal structures? Or is it an issue of religion?

Now, Dan Savage recently attacked the Bible and the church concerning sexual conduct and Leviticus, and he said "Why should we follow this one law only?" And he was referring specifically to where it says "A man shall not lay with another man as he would with a woman. (Leviticus 18: 22)" But there are some important factors to understand both biblically, and universally.

Marriage is an institution that has existed before Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is held in every culture, and in every part of the world. It is not a religious institution only.

Now, from a Judeo-Christian perspective, not everybody can or should get married. Marriage and sex is not for everyone. I can't marry and have sex with my sister. I can affirm that my sister is beautiful, and lovely, and wonderful person, and the only reason I would not consider marrying my sister is the fact that we are related. If I were to say something about incest like "That's sick, that's unnatural, and morally outrageous" I would be using the same exact words that people use against homosexual marriages. Leviticus also forbids these unions as well.

Can I not say the same thing of another man? He is handsome, responsible, a lovable person, and the only reason that I would not consider marrying him is that he is a man?

What about the issue of Polygamy. (This one is a little more slippery because many religions even to this day practice polygamy, so the analogy is imperfect.) Can I affirm that my friend is lovely, wonderful, and beautiful, and the only reason I would not take her is because I or she is already married to another person. This union is also generally forbidden in society as well as in Leviticus.

We can say the same things of other morally outrageous unions, such as marrying my mother, my step-mother, cousin or niece etc. (each forbidden in Leviticus and society in general. Also bestiality.)

Jesus takes it another step further. He says that people who have gotten divorced have surrendered their right to marry. So, now if I get a divorce (outside of specific circumstances), all marriages are forbidden to me. Yet society allows this union to this day.

So the question needs to come out. Where is the line drawn? A line WILL be drawn, and once that line is drawn, it will be pushed, even if it takes 8,000 years to push the line, it will be pushed. Either way, people should know that the Christian perspective (and overall religious perspective) is not "Only men and women can marry." It's actually "Only one human male and one human female who are not related, and have not engaged in the act of divorce from a previous marriage, are permitted to marry, though it is understood that some should never marry even if these criteria are met." This position doesn't leave just homosexuals out in the cold. It leaves a lot of straight people out in the cold as well.