(Photo: Facebook.com)Matthew Vines holding a Bible in a photo dated Aug. 16.
Matthew Vines is a 22-year-old gay Christian who believes being gay is not a sin. He came to that conclusion after two years of studying Scripture and the works of dozens of biblical scholars. The Harvard University student, currently on leave of absence, is now trying to win over fellow believers not just with an emotional testimony but with what he is presenting as biblically solid arguments.

"There is no contradiction between being Christian and being gay," he told BBC.

His arguments – mainly against six Bible passages that are commonly used by Christians to condemn homosexuality – are gaining popularity as evidenced by his YouTube views. In six months, an over hour-long video of Vines meticulously challenging what he calls the traditional interpretation of Scripture has garnered nearly 400,000 views.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Vines made it clear that he believes that Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin are wrong. "Loving, same-sex relationships" are not addressed in the Bible, let alone condemned, he argued.

Vines distinguishes between lustful, casual homosexual behavior and loving, "natural" same-sex relationships, arguing that it is only the former behavior that the Bible speaks against.

The Wichita, Kan., resident has already changed some Christians' stance on homosexuality, including that of his devout Christian father, whom he came out to just a couple years ago.

Vines has stated that he was raised in a loving, Christian home – never molested or abused – and a church community that holds the traditional view of homosexuality. He expressed optimism that the acceptance of gay Christians will soon prevail.

Below is a transcript of the interview.

CP: What were the scholarly works or people you talked to that led you to develop your view on Scripture and homosexuality?

Vines: I became more interested in understanding the issue when I came to meet gay people for the first time in high school because when the issue is just an abstraction, then it is much easier not to talk about it very much. But when you have gay people in your life that you care about, it makes you want to consider things more deeply.

So once then I decided to really study the scriptural issues in depth, what I did was, there are dozens of works of scholarship out there now on this subject from all perspectives, and so I started buying different books that seemed to be regularly referenced. The goal was to read books on both sides in order to try and understand those perspectives, to get one argument and then to see all counter-arguments to it back and forth. I now own several dozen books on the subject, I've read many more than that as well, basically just reading a lot of different works of scholarship on the subject, and trying to get as wide of a range of views as possible so that I could feel that my views were as well-informed as they can be.

http://m.christianpost.com/news/matthew-vines-says-most-christians-are-wrong-homosexuality-is-not-a-sin--82026/

Demons masquerading as pastors and tellin u dat masturbation and homosexuality is not a sin...i am pretty sure God has prepared a special place for them in hades

Cutehector4u:
Demons masquerading as pastors and tellin u dat masturbation and homosexuality is not a sin...i am pretty sure God has prepared a special place for them in hades

Exactely my thoughts.

Yooguyz:
(Photo: Facebook.com)Matthew Vines holding a Bible in a photo dated Aug. 16.
Matthew Vines is a 22-year-old gay Christian who believes being gay is not a sin. He came to that conclusion after two years of studying Scripture and the works of dozens of biblical scholars. The Harvard University student, currently on leave of absence, is now trying to win over fellow believers not just with an emotional testimony but with what he is presenting as biblically solid arguments.

"There is no contradiction between being Christian and being gay," he told BBC.

His arguments – mainly against six Bible passages that are commonly used by Christians to condemn homosexuality – are gaining popularity as evidenced by his YouTube views. In six months, an over hour-long video of Vines meticulously challenging what he calls the traditional interpretation of Scripture has garnered nearly 400,000 views.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Vines made it clear that he believes that Christians who believe homosexuality is a sin are wrong. "Loving, same-sex relationships" are not addressed in the Bible, let alone condemned, he argued.

Vines distinguishes between lustful, casual homosexual behavior and loving, "natural" same-sex relationships, arguing that it is only the former behavior that the Bible speaks against.

The Wichita, Kan., resident has already changed some Christians' stance on homosexuality, including that of his devout Christian father, whom he came out to just a couple years ago.

Vines has stated that he was raised in a loving, Christian home – never molested or abused – and a church community that holds the traditional view of homosexuality. He expressed optimism that the acceptance of gay Christians will soon prevail.

Below is a transcript of the interview.

CP: What were the scholarly works or people you talked to that led you to develop your view on Scripture and homosexuality?

Vines: I became more interested in understanding the issue when I came to meet gay people for the first time in high school because when the issue is just an abstraction, then it is much easier not to talk about it very much. But when you have gay people in your life that you care about, it makes you want to consider things more deeply.

So once then I decided to really study the scriptural issues in depth, what I did was, there are dozens of works of scholarship out there now on this subject from all perspectives, and so I started buying different books that seemed to be regularly referenced. The goal was to read books on both sides in order to try and understand those perspectives, to get one argument and then to see all counter-arguments to it back and forth. I now own several dozen books on the subject, I've read many more than that as well, basically just reading a lot of different works of scholarship on the subject, and trying to get as wide of a range of views as possible so that I could feel that my views were as well-informed as they can be.

http://m.christianpost.com/news/matthew-vines-says-most-christians-are-wrong-homosexuality-is-not-a-sin--82026/

@Yooguyz,

Do you honestely support the bolded? What happened to the passage of the bible that say that the homosexual shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

“Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of ... Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,..”.
1cor 6:10 english standard version

Why then did God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah?

lyntiffany:
Why then did God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah?

where in d bible did dey say GoD distroyed sodom & gomorrah because oh homosexuality? point it out & i'll move my stand dat homosexuality is not a sin

yungEX:

where in d bible did dey say GoD distroyed sodom & gomorrah because oh homosexuality? point it out & i'll move my stand dat homosexuality is not a sin

Genesis:1 9vs4 and 5 it reads
4, "before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom both young and old surrounded the house"

5, "They called to Lot, where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them".
Tell me mr man,what can you fathom from the context above.

yungEX:

where in d bible did dey say GoD distroyed sodom & gomorrah because oh homosexuality? point it out & i'll move my stand dat homosexuality is not a sin

I will advice you to read that chapter 19 thoroughly from vs 4 down to 11 then tell me your view of it.

lyntiffany:
Genesis:1 9vs4 and 5 it reads
4, "before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom both young and old surrounded the house"

5, "They called to Lot, where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them".
Tell me mr man,what can you fathom from the context above.

LOL@all the men. So all the guys there were gay The bible can be funny sometimes.

Just like 1Corinthians. 14:34-35 says:

"Let your women keep silence in churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in the church"


Same bible.

O. Yes! i am pretty sure too that God has prepared a special place for them in hades, in hell and in sheol. Neurotic Insurgents, they are!

masonkz:



LOL@all the men. So all the guys there were gay The bible can be funny sometimes.

Just like 1Corinthians. 14:34-35 says:

"Let your women keep silence in churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in the church"


Same bible.

Bible made itself clear on that if you continue reading down from same Genesis 19 from 5 to 11 you see that lot had to plead with them, he even went ahead to submitt his daughters that are still chaste but they insisted on men like them. Lot called it a wicked act what then will God see it as.
when you mention all men , is not likely that all will sleep with them . We all know how these people in the past entertain themselves.

lyntiffany:
Bible made itself clear on that if you continue reading down from same Genesis 19 from 5 to 11 you see that lot had to plead with them, he even went ahead to submitt his daughters that are still chaste but they insisted on men like them. Lot called it a wicked act what then will God see it as.
when you mention all men , is not likely that all will sleep with them . We all know how these people in the past entertain themselves.

why is it not likely? Or isn't that what you wrote up there? Or are we to now subjectively analyse the bible?

Meanwhile you didn't comment on my other bible quote.

masonkz:


why is it not likely? Or isn't that what you wrote up there? Or are we to now subjectively analyse the bible?

Meanwhile you didn't comment on my other bible quote.

yes I mentioned likely cos in the past kingdoms are known to have what we call pleasure entertainment, some people engage themselves in the act while the others derive pleasure by watching them.
To your earlier post, what the Bible says there is that women are not meant to enquire things in the church like asking questions but that does not mean they should be mute, women sing in the church, they lead in the children's sectionetc. So dear it is not saying we should be deaf rather we should desist from asking some sensitive questions in the church ( my own perception).

hmm

paulGrundy:


@Yooguyz,

Do you honestely support the bolded? What happened to the passage of the bible that say that the homosexual shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

“Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of ... Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,..”.
1cor 6:10 english standard version

Am glad you highlighted that part, it said does who practise homosexuality not does who are homosexuals, its two different things entirely.

Yooguyz:


Am glad you highlighted that part, it said does who practise homosexuality not does who are homosexuals, its two different things entirely.

This one you are supporting them are you gay?

paulGrundy:


This one you are supporting them are you gay?

Am not gay, but am a man of orientation. A gay man is someone who practises homosexuality. A man of Orientation is one who is attracted to the samesex but refuses to act on it because of his Bible trained conscience.

Yooguyz:


Am not gay, but am a man of orientation. A gay man is someone who practises homosexuality. A man of Orientation is one who is attracted to the samesex but refuses to act on it because of his Bible trained conscience.

Stop painting what is bad as good. You are gay! The bible is very clear is per matters that concern homosexuality. Better repent.

Yooguyz:


Am not gay, but am a man of orientation. A gay man is someone who practises homosexuality. A man of Orientation is one who is attracted to the samesex but refuses to act on it because of his Bible trained conscience.

You admire men.guy you fall my hand o

lyntiffany:
yes I mentioned likely cos in the past kingdoms are known to have what we call pleasure entertainment, some people engage themselves in the act while the others derive pleasure by watching them.
To your earlier post, what the Bible says there is that women are not meant to enquire things in the church like asking questions but that does not mean they should be mute, women sing in the church, they lead in the children's sectionetc. So dear it is not saying we should be deaf rather we should desist from asking some sensitive questions in the church ( my own perception).

@bold. I wasn't acknowledging what women do, but what women are supposed to do , according to the bible! It's right there.