Kirk's magazine criticises Bible's stance against gays

Published on Saturday 18 April 2009 11:24

CHRISTIANS who use the Bible to argue against homosexuality have been criticised in the Church of Scotland's official magazine.

An editorial in the new edition of Life and Work says even those with a traditionalist view of scripture do not take everything in the Bible literally.

It says: "Every student of the Bible is a selective literalist. Those who swear by the anti-homosexual laws in the Book of Leviticus wouldn't publicly advocate slavery or stoning women taken in adultery. They presumably no longer accept Biblical teaching on sexual matters such as polygamy and sex with slaves. And yet there are many who continue to be bound by a few Biblical verses – none of them in the Gospels – about homosexuality, nowadays understood as a matter of genetics rather than lifestyle."

Homosexuality will be a hot topic at the Church of Scotland's General Assembly in Edinburgh next month when it is asked to rule on the case of an openly gay minister, the Rev Scott Rennie, whose appointment was backed by his congregation and presbytery but then challenged by opponents.

The magazine urges the critics to "agree to differ".