Biblical Sex
Recently, the New York Times carried a front page article which was titled, “Even on Religious Campuses, Students Fight for Gay Identity.”
The gist of the report by Erik Eckholm was that many Christian colleges, particularly those of a conservative, evangelical bent, allow no expression of gay/lesbian interest or dialogue on campus. These schools are aware that gay and lesbian students are on campus. They are aware that some students are questioning their sexual identity. But the college and university officials, borrowing from the military, have enforced a don’t ask, don’t tell policy.
Students who are gay, or lesbian, or questioning, are advised they can remain on campus and continue their education as long as they remain quietly in the closet. However, if they declare their sexual identity as gay or lesbian, or express any interest in meeting with other students to discuss their sexuality, they’re out.
The largest and best known such school is 15,000 student Baylor University, the largest Baptist University in the country. A spokesperson for the university said, “Baylor expects students not to participate in advocacy groups promoting an understanding of sexuality that is contrary to biblical teaching.” Which made me question, Just what is the biblical teaching on sexuality? Or, more accurately, what’s the Baylor brand of biblical teaching on sexuality?
When “biblical teaching on sexuality” raises its amorphous head, I’m driven to The X-Rated Bible, an Irreverent Survey of Sex in the Scriptures, authored by Ben Akerley. In his introduction, Akerley notes, “Anyone who doubts there is much sex in the Bible need only read Genesis (which contains)… explicit and graphic examples of several varieties of incest, rape, adultery, indecent exposure, pimping, homosexual assault, bigamy, ritualistic circumcision, attempted seduction of a youth by an older woman, prostitution, baby-making by proxy, use of both an aphrodisiac and a fertility drug, fornication with devils, women punished with sterility, husband-swapping, masturbation/withdrawal, and a fertility contest with four female contestants.”
There’s an “astonishing amount of Biblical hanky-panky,” Akerley says. He quotes directly from the Bible in support of his observations in chapters titled “In the Beginning Was Incest,” “Amnon Rapes His Sister Tamar,” “Lot Knocks Up Both His Daughters,” and “Absolom’s Defiant Act of Multiple Incest.” By the time I finished reading The X-Rated Bible, I questioned how the non-x rated Bible has stayed on library shelves for so long while the religious right has driven Gone With the Wind and Catcher in the Rye to the dust bin.
And so, while some Christian colleges insist on campus life adhering to the Biblical teaching of sexuality, I have to question which examples of Biblical sexuality Baylor administrators are endorsing. Are male students being taught to follow in the footsteps of Reuben, who raped his father’s mistress (Genesis 35:22), or King David, who had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba before sending her husband to the front lines to be killed (II Samuel 11:2-4).
And, since most campuses are now co-ed, I’m sure female students are taught about Ruth. She propositioned Boaz, a wealthy farmer, shacked up with him in the barn all night and then left before daylight in order to avoid community gossip (Ruth Chaps 1-3). That should be a valuable example for young women interested in Biblical teachings on sexuality—leave before the neighbors gossip.
With all the sex in the Bible, only the David and Jonathan story, the Ruth and Naomi account, and the Sodom and Gomorrah tale remotely deal with same-sex relationships. But Lynn Lavner, a lesbian Jewish comedian, probably has it right. She points out, “The Bible contains six admonitions to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to heterosexuals. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love heterosexuals. It’s just that they need more supervision.” Frankly, what the bible really seems to prove is that no amount of heavenly supervision is enough to curb human lust.
The really sad part of the Christian college “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is that the institutions entrusted to teach young people moral values are really teaching them to lie. If you hide who you are, you can stay on campus. If you are honest and truthful, if you want to explore the subject of sexuality or even discuss it, you’re out. Your scholarship is gone, your financial assistance is over and you must return to a family and community who will in all likelihood support the college’s action and interpretation of Biblical sexuality. If that’s Christian education, we might be better off atheist and ignorant.
John Siegfried, a former Rehoboth resident, lives in Ft. Lauderdale. Email John Siegfried