“In the situation described, does it not seem morally more opprobrious to own slaves than to live in a homosexual relationship? Was Paul wrong about both?”

To answer simply and in order-no and no.

It is not accurate to say St. Paul had nothing to say respecting the master/slave relationship. I refer us to Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-4:1 and the apostle’s letter to Philemon. It is accurate to say the apostle said nothing about slaveholders incurring the wrath of God specifically, but one could make a fair case that, at least, the Christian slaveholder operated under a different set of rules as far as treatment of his/her slaves was concerned. One could infer that treatment of a slave outside those boundries would incur God’s displeasure, if not his wrath.

Consider a more instructive comparison between Jack and Fred’s slave Bill. Bill’s master is Fred and Jack’s master is Sin. Bill’s chains are imposed from without, restrain only his physical liberty and have no eternal consequences for him. Jack, on the other hand, according to the apostle, is enslaved by his own actions or choices is bound in spirit, soul and body and is in danger of eternal separation from God.

It is always interesting to see the “monogamous homosexual relationship” used as the baseline for discussion. In the abortion discussion arena it is often “the young girl raped by her father” or “the save the life of the mother” scenarios which serve as unimpeachable examples of the purity of the “cause”.

Who can argue with them?

The girl who simply for convienence is having her, third, fourth or fifth “termination” of the “products of conception” is rarely mentioned though she is legion. Almost never do we talk about a homosexual lifestyle of indiscriminate, unprotected sex that has as many as hundreds of different partners in a year.

We will readily talk about God “making” someone homosexual. But will we look at the possibility of saying to that person that, however things may or may not be, if you wish to follow Christ, according to the scriptures, you must do so as a celibate?

What of the adulterer? I have read some musings that there is a biological imperative, possibly even genetic, that “constrains” men to fertilize as many eggs as possible to extend and expand the species. What of my vow to my wife? What of your vow to your wife? What is my pastor to do if I want to continue worshipping God in our faith community, ministering, being ministered to and taking communion all the while explaining that I can’t help myself, my biological urges compel me to serial adultery?

What do the scriptures say?

Alario