In case you were curious, here is a rather well stated
argument for homosexuality.
Enjoy.
JD
The Bible has often been used as a weapon to condemn homosexuality as
sinful or
immoral. It is often overlooked and even outrightly denied that some of
the
heroes in the Bible were themselves homosexual. The story of Jonathan
and David
is one of the more obvious cases.
For the sake of simplicity, I'll let the Bible itself unfold most of
the story.
After David's heroic victory over the Philistine giant, Goliath, in 1
Samual,
Chapter 17, David meets Jonathan for the first time.
1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul,
that the
soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved
him as his
own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more
home to his
father's house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he
loved him
as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was
upon him,
and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, a
nd to his bow, and
to his girdle. 1 Samuel 18: 1-4
Their souls are knit together, they love each other so much that they
made a
covenant with each other, and Jonathan, son of the King, strips before
David,
who is much lower in rank and status.
In the next passages, David's popularity and military achievements are
advanced,
and King Saul starts getting jealous of all the attention being paid to
David.
In order to trap him, Saul makes David his son-in-law by giving him his
daughter, Michal, to wed.
Some people may stop right here and say that if David married Michal,
it's proof
that he didn't have a homosexual relationship with Jonathan. There are
several
flaws to this argument. First, their marriage was probably only
political. Saul
offers his daughter's hand in marriage only as part of a greater plot
to get at
David. And while it was said that Michal loved David, the Bible never
says that
he loved her back. Also, we know from other ancient cultures such as
the Greeks
and even the Philistines, that heterosexual marriages weren't
necessarily
exclusive. It's very possible that David could have been bisexual.
In 1 Samuel 19, Saul tries to kill David, and David eventually flees in
1 Samuel
20.
1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before
Jonathan, What
have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy
father, that
he seeketh my life? 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not
die:
behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he
will shew
it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
3 And
David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I
have found
grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he
be
grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is
but a
step between me and death. 4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever
thy soul
desireth, I will even do it for thee. 1 Samuel 20: 3-4
David and Jonathan continue talking about what to do about Jonathan's
father.
Then they part ways so Jonathan can go somewhere safe. Again they make
a
covenant with each other, and swear their love for each other. Jonathan
loved
David "as he loved his own soul".
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the
LORD
even require it at the hand of David's enemies. 17 And Jonathan caused
David to
swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own
soul. 1
Samuel 20: 16-17
In the next passages, they plan to meet again so that Jonathan can let
David
know whether he should come back safe from Saul, or whether he should
go away.
And Jonathan talks to his father. Saul tells Jonathan that he is
confused in his
love for David. He also says that as long as David is around, Jonathan
won't
establish his lineage or kingdom. This certainly has all the elements
of a
com
ing out story.
30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto
him, Thou
son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast
chosen the
son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy
mother's
nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground,
thou shalt
not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him
unto me,
for he shall surely die. 1 Samuel 20: 30-31
Jonathan warns David that his father is still angry, and that he's not
safe.
They reaffirm their covenant to each other, kiss each other, cry over
the
situation, and I'm not even going to try to interpret what it might
mean when
the passage says "David exceeded".
41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward
the south,
and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and
they
kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42
And
Jonath
an said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in
the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and
between my
seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan
went into
the city. 1 Samuel 20: 41-42
In 2 Samuel 1, David hears about the death of Saul and Jonathan in
battle. He
mourns their deaths, and remembers his times together with Jonathan
stating that
Jonathan's love for him was stronger than Jonathan's love for women.
25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan,
thou wast
slain in thine high places. 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan:
very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful,
passing the
love of women. 2 Samuel 1:26
Well that's their story as told in the Holy Bible. There are other
Bible heroes
that are rumoured to have been gay or lesbian. Among them are Ruth and
Naomi,
Daniel and an eunuch, and the Apostle Paul (though if he wa
s, he had his own
issues with sexuality).
