I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. – Psalm 101:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 10, 2019): Psalm 101

(This post contains some uncomfortable ideas and sexual descriptions. Reader discretion is advised.)

Once upon a time, there was a city. The people of the city felt secure in all that they had. The best people lived within its area of influence. It had all of the natural resources that it needed. Everything bad came from outside. And so the city built high walls around the area to keep the people safe. The leaders of the city made it clear that visitors were not wanted and that they would not be welcomed. But that was still not enough. The people from the surrounding area, and some from much farther away, still came.

The city leaders needed to find some way of keeping the people away. Maybe threatening them with arrest, but that didn’t seem to be enough. And so they decided to do something … unusual. The men of the town found same-sex sexual interaction to be detestable. And so they decided on a policy that focused on the same-sex rape of anyone who entered the city. Maybe then those who lived outside of the city would get the message that they were unwanted. Perhaps then the visitors and immigrants would stop coming to the city.

And so, when the immigrants arrived, the men of the town came out to greet them and to deliver their version of justice on them — all in the hope that they would stop coming.

Maybe you recognize the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. As I read the story of Sodom and the cities of the plains, this is the story that I read. But let me ask you a question. There is no doubt in the Bible that the story of Sodom is a vile story. But what exactly is vile about it.

Traditionally, it is the homosexuality present in the story that has been considered vile. The story of Sodom has been used as a cautionary tale against the LGBTQ community. Listening to some opponents of homosexuality, it is as if the town of Sodom was filled with same-sex attracted men who were out looking for fresh objects of their affections. But that seems to be a stretch.

Maybe more reasonably, it is the sexual violence that is present in the story that is vile. Even in our contemporary society, it is hard to find someone who condones interpersonal violence in any form. The violence that is described in the story of Sodom is wrong on a most basic level. But even that might not be the point of the story.

Ezekiel, preaching a sermon that should hit us close to home, argues that it was the vile sin of inhospitality that destroyed Sodom and her sister cities. “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49). Notice, Ezekiel makes no direct mention of the presence of the threat of same-sex rape. Some have argued that the story of Sodom that Ezekiel was aware of was incomplete and did not have the homosexual aspect of it present. If only Ezekiel had known the full story, he would have written against the homosexuality that is present in the city. Maybe, but Jesus seems to agree with Ezekiel. “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town” (Matthew 10:14-15). The sin of the towns would be the same as that of Sodom, inhospitality.

Not convinced? That is okay. It is not really my aim here. My goal is to point you somewhere else. Maybe the sin of Sodom had something to do with homosexuality. But I believe it definitely had something to do with inhospitality, which brings me to my point. We get excited about what we might call the big ticket sin items. Homosexuality and abortion usually top our list, but there are others. But the Psalmist doesn’t allow for us to approve of some vile things. “I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it” (Psalm 101:8). Opposing same-sex marriages on religious grounds does not mean that we don’t have to love, show mercy and grace, and be hospitable. We need to love God and love our neighbor. And God’s definition of neighbor was someone who is breathing who happens to cross paths with you. Anyone who crosses your path, no matter who they are or what they have done, we are the ones who will love. Because not to would be vile.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 103