Kevin Smith: Political, not religious, movement

The May 4 column “What God designed” opposing marriage equality by Danny Akin is a example of a common rhetorical strategy of American evangelicalism, the subjugation of the Bible to political interests. In spite of all the capital letters and professions of faith, Scripture simply does not prove what Akin said that it does.

He argued for legal discrimination, within civil law, against lesbians and gays. That position is not found in the Bible. There are a few condemnations of homosexual behavior in Scripture, but nothing that requires legal disabilities imposed by a modern state. Many of the texts that Akin cites also do not support his specific points.

The Psalms he mentions, for example, celebrate children as a reward for the righteous man, but it requires an extra-textual leap, based on modern political sensibilities, to claim, as Akin did, that they show that heterosexual marriage is the only context for nurturing children.

On the subject of context, it is interesting that Akin never mentions the Gospels. Of course, Jesus never mentions homosexuality, either, so he is considered irrelevant by the evangelicals. In any case, his teachings are too forgiving – too liberal – to be of service to this political, not religious, movement.

This story was originally published May 9, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Kevin Smith: Political, not religious, movement."