The word “sodomite” is based on a misunderstanding of the biblical text. Sodom was a rich city in the ancient world known for its luxurious living and for its cruelty to the poor and to outsiders. Several Hebrew prophets addressed the sins of Sodom but none of them referred to the modern interpretation that the sin of Sodom was homosexuality. In fact, that interpretation implies that the gang rape of strangers would have been just fine if the victims had been women.
More and more biblical scholars are coming to the uncomfortable conclusion that the real “sodomites” have not been faithful loving gay people, but an inhospitable church.
Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, overabundance of food, prosperous ease, and idleness were hers and her daughters’; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. Ezekiel 16:49 (Amp)
If we are going to interpret the Bible, you use the Bible and not just what we think it means. Thank you for this brief but to the point post. I wish I was able to put my thoughts in so few words and with such clarity.
Thank you Bev. That’s a very important passage. Funny how it gets left out of the conversation.