A Scriptural look at Human Sexuality

We recently received an email from someone asking what our church administration thinks about — 1 Corinthians 6:9,18;
— 1 Timothy 1:10.
— Romans 1:26-32.”
These are three of the “gotcha” passages — short extracts from the Bible frequently taken out of context — used to attack the LGBT2Q+ community.

To give some context, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (to which Emmanuel Community Church belongs,) has since 2011 allowed congregations to choose whether they will bless same-sex marriages or not. At that time, Emmanuel Community Church chose NOT to do so. Over the 14 years since, this congregation has reconsidered our decision. Starting in September we will be beginning a study on human sexuality and the Bible’s authentic perspective on that subject, before submitting to our Annual General Meeting the question of choosing a different stance. So at the very least, our congregations thoughts on this subject are complex and fluid. That said, here is how we answered that email:
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The first thing our church administration thinks, is that no verse of the Bible stands on its own: the literary works that the Bible comprises are meant to be read as intact works; and the nature, and overarching theme of each work must inform our interpretation of individual passages and sentences. This applies to the single verses from 1 Timothy and 1 Corinthians, and also to the partial passage from Romans. Let us look at that passage in context.

Although it is called “A Letter of Paul to the Romans”, Romans is in fact not a letter but a theological treatise, and intended not for Roman citizens, but for Hebrew Christians living in the city of Rome. The overarching theme of the letter is that the righteousness of Christ has become the righteousness of believers, making unnecessary the futile attempt to be justified through the law. Paul goes on to argue that trying to come close to God by any other way than through Christ, is a form of idolatry. Idolatry was absolute anathaema to the Hebrews; to the extent that the uniting theme of the Hebrew Scriptures might be said to be the condemnation of idolatry. Paul lays out this thesis in verses 16 through 25.

Paul goes on to reinforce his argument by listing, in the verses you reference, sins that may follow on from idolatry. From context, his intention is to invoke his readers’ fear of consequences, so it is a large listing, including sexual perversion alongside gossip, murder alongside envy, argumentativeness, boasting, lack of compassion, and much, much more. What it does not include, is faithful and committed relationships. Such relationships are characterized by love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)