Two Men in One Bed?
There was recently a case in the UK when two Christians who owned a hotel wouldn’t allow a gay couple to have a double room. Obviously, as a gay Christian, I disagree with their decision because I don’t think it is wrong for anyone (Christian or not) to be in a same-sex relationship.
But what does the Bible say about two men in one bed? The Bible says it is OK.
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. (Luke 17:34, KJV)
If it was wrong for the two men to be sharing a bed, then you would expect that either both would be taken or both would be left, but because one was taken and one was left, we can see that two men sharing a bed is not a question that affects their standing before God.
By the way, if you look at a more modern translation it might say something like “two people in one bed”, but by contrasting it with the next verse where there are “two women” in the field, I think it is clear that this verse is about two men.
Posted on 14 March, 2011, in Defence, Quick thoughts. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
Faith and Pride 
Andrew, you’re right. I’ve been doing a lot of research on Luke 17 recently.
Luke 17:22-37 is known as “Luke’s Small Apocalypse.” The whole section has the theme of same-sex relationships. The “two men in one bed” is just one of four elements in this theme.
The second gay thematic element are the “two women grinding together in the same place.” Grinding is not only a sexual euphemism in 20th century English, but also in O.T. Hebrew (Job 31:10, Judges 16:21, and Lamentations 5:13), as well as the Greek in the days of Jesus and Luke (Plutarch).
The third gay thematic element is the story of the destruction of Sodom, which has as one of its main elements man-on-man sex.
Finally the fourth element of the same sex theme: the lightning and the eagles (vss 24 & 37) which were the central logos of the Roman god Zeus and the mortal Ganymede, who together were the primary symbols of male homosexuality in Roman culture.
The point of this passage? Non-celibate same-sex relationships are a non-issue for God. The criteria for acceptability with God do not include being a practicing gay or lesbian.
Take care and God bless.
Ron