To the editor:

Professor Minor (Journal-World, April 16) says, “There are seven passages in the Bible that are used against gays” and “The word homosexual does not appear in the Bible.” Homosexual(s) and homosexuality are used in different versions as indicated below:

Contemporary English — I Corinthians 6:9 and I Timothy 1:10

Living — Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, Deuteronomy 23:17, I Kings 14:24 and same as Contemporary English

New King James — I Corinthians 6:9

New Living — Same as Living except Deuteronomy 23:17 and I Kings 14:24

New American — Same as Contemporary English

Other, more explicit, verses he may be referring to are Genesis 19:4-5, Judges 19:22-23, Romans 1:18-32 and Jude 7. These verses should be helpful to clarify what the Bible says about homosexuals and homosexuality.

Tim Miller says, “I don’t think religion is inherently oppressive. But people can be oppressive and are capable of using the Bible as a tool of oppression.” True statement. Some will say what follows is a form of that kind of oppression. That is not its intent. God uses his written word, the Bible, to reveal his truth about the sin of homosexuality. However, God doesn’t want any sinner to be a slave to sin. In fact, as I Corinthians 6:9-11 indicates, there is a way to overcome and be free from this particular sin (or any sin). The way is Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Carl Burkhead,

Lawrence