The “Clobber Passages”This is part 3 of our series on the Bible passages used by some Ch

The “Clobber Passages”

This is part 3 of our series on the Bible passages used by some Christians to exclude LGBTQ+ people. This next “clobber” passage from Romans is probably the one most non-affirming people refer to when they say “the Bible is clear on this…” Romans is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the Christian church in Rome. After a greeting and introduction, Paul writes about the righteousness of God, describing what life is like without God. And then the “clobber” verse…

“For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural* intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural* intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.”

Romans 1:26-27 (NASB)

Non-Affirming View

Non-affirming Christians interpret these verses as an indictment on same-sex relationships. They assume that Paul is critiquing same-sex behavior and same-sex relationships. As such, they conclude that Paul is saying that heterosexuality is the only good and natural orientation in God’s eyes.

Affirming View

Affirming Christians, including many biblical scholars, interpret these passages as an indictment on extreme idolatry and excessive behavior. Paul is describing a group of people who have deserted God and abandoned their decree to love God, neighbor, and self. These folks have fallen into extreme idolatry and have become obsessed with their own passions and desires. When he talks about sexual behavior here, Paul is actually critiquing married heterosexual men and women, not gay people. They were so consumed by lust that they were no longer satisfied with their marriages and abandoned their natural inclination for their partners.

A People Who Have Lost Their Way

Paul is talking about people who had fallen into extreme pagan idolatry and stopped worshipping God. Romans 1:25 says “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator.” And, because of this, they did unhealthy things to each other—cheating, stealing, backstabbing, killing. And some turned sex into a meaningless act of self-gratification—no romance, no companionship, no beauty, no love. These passages are a warning (similar to the Sodom story) about what happens to communities when people lose their love for God and for each other.

“Natural” and “Unnatural”

What does Paul mean when he refers to intercourse as “natural” or “unnatural?” Does this mean that queerness is unnatural and against God’s order? Affirming theologians argue that Paul uses “natural” (physis in Greek) to mean “customary.” For example, 1 Corinthians 11, Paul says it’s natural (physis) for men to have short hair, and that men who have long hair are disgraceful.* Do Christians today conclude all long-haired men are unnatural and disgraceful to God? No, because we understand that Paul is referring to customs in his culture. Paul’s comments in Romans 1:26-27 (which uses the same Greek words) are references to custom.

*”Disgraceful” is the same word translated “degrading” in Romans 1:26.

Not Gay vs Straight, But Excess vs Moderation

“Paul is not condemning being gay as opposed to being straight. He is condemning self-seeking excess as opposed to moderation—a concern made clear by his repeated use of the term “lustful,” and by his description of “exchanging” or “abandoning” heterosexual sex.” Matthew Vines, The Reformation Project

Paul is NOT critiquing same-sex relationships; he is NOT condemning consensual, loving, committed same-sex relationships. What Paul is condemning is idolatry which has led to excessive, greedy, indulgent, love-less sexual behavior.

Conclusion

Romans 1:26-27 is a warning against idolatry, which drove a group of people to excessive behaviors, including abusing themselves and each other sexually (which falls outside the confines of their natural state.)

Romans is NOT an indictment of same-sex behavior or queer relationships. As such, these passages are gravely misused as “clobber” texts to condemn the LGBTQ+ community.

To see the post in slide-guide form, go here.