Newsweek's "Our Mutual Joy"

On December 6, 2008, Newsweek published an article by Lisa Miller entitled Our Mutual Joy. The article can be briefly summarized as follows:
1. The Bible does not specifically condemn homosexual relationships;
2. The Bible promotes genuine love among mankind;
3. Jesus doesn't want people to be lonely and sad;
4. The Bible codifies acceptance of all people; and
5. Only custom and tradition condemn homosexual relationships.

First, it would be a waste of time to dissect this article. It is not scholarly and it contains no Bible exegesis. Why should it? Ms. Miller has a B.A. in English from Oberlin College. I see nothing in her past that would remotely qualify her to write such an article as this. She would not even understand the right questions to ask. I wonder if Newsweek will have her write an article next week on her opinion of the cancer research in China. It is not that one needs to be an expert in the field under consideration, but to draw the conclusions she does, she needs some understanding of hermeneutics.

For example, she writes: "More basic than theology, though, is human need. We want, as Abraham did, to grow old surrounded by friends and family and to be buried at last peacefully among them. We want, as Jesus taught, to love one another for our own good—and, not to be too grandiose about it, for the good of the world. We want our children to grow up in stable homes. What happens in the bedroom, really, has nothing to do with any of this." Why would Ms. Miller think that human need is more basic than theology? Does she even know, beyond a simple definition, what theology is and how it is related to human need? Ms. Miller wants to exalt man and eliminate God. This is a consistent error of humanists and atheists. Regarding what happens in the bedroom, God has a lot to say about physical relations and Ms. Miller could find those verses if she found a Bible. It is ridiculous to think that would occurs in private could not affect others.

From what part of the Bible does she use to support her statement that: "In the Christian story, the message of acceptance for all is codified." First, it is not the Christian story. Second, how could she possibly believe that the message of acceptance is codified for all? The Bible speaks of God electing His people to be saved from their sins. Jesus died for all those that are to be saved. To those that reject Him, they are not accepted and are in fact to be cast into a burning hell. Does that sound like acceptance to you? I must wonder whether Ms. Miller has ever read the Bible in its entirety.

Ms. Miller also writes: "Religious objections to gay marriage are rooted not in the Bible at all, then, but in custom and tradition...." What about Leviticus 18:22 "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (NKJV) Or did she consider Paul's writing in Romans:"Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." (NKJV) There is a good reason that Scripture is avoided in this article; it is avoided because it is abundantly clear that homosexuality is specifically condemned in the Bible. Ms. Miller's article is insulting intellectually and only the most naive would fall for this pathetic attempt to manipulate the Bible for her own agenda. I think Ms. Miller should stick to grading papers which is a most noble of callings. She is perhaps qualified for that.