Jennifer Knapp, the Christian music artist who announced this month that she is gay, has questioned the authenticity of Bible translations on the issue of homosexuality.
During her appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live on Friday, Knapp pointed out that believers rely on a text that is not in the original language. She said scholars have questioned the interpretation of the original Greek words that have been translated to mean homosexuality.
Though acknowledging that she is by no means a scholar or theologian, Knapp brought up the Bible translation issue to challenge those who cite the Bible as stating that homosexuality is a sin.
“Well, I think there is plenty of evidence in my exploration of my faith through the sacred text of the Holy Bible that I have definitely recognised that we are somewhat at the handicap of our own interpretation of a sacred text,” responded Knapp to King’s question on whether she felt the Bible spoke against homosexuality.
“In the long run I don’t have the greatest deal of problems with it because I’m not the only person in the universe that has ever looked at a different interpretation,” she said. “We have advocates on both sides. It doesn’t make the truth any less the truth or love less love.”
The issue of Bible translation came up twice during the show that featured Knapp, Pastor Bob Botsford of Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego, and former evangelical leader Ted Haggard, who was involved in a gay sex scandal in 2006.
Throughout the show, Botsford pointed to Scripture, which he believes to be inerrant, to argue that Knapp has succumbed to sin. He said that while everyone was a sinner, the difference was that some people allowed the sin to rule over their lives and others tried to overcome the sin.
“Allowing that to continue to reign over your life is not allowing Jesus Christ to be Lord,” said Botsford. “My role is to die to sin, not to justify it.”
Knapp at one point during the show said she was not there to justify homosexuality, but to talk about her personal choice and path. She resisted the role of a gay activist and said Botsford had the right to teach his church his interpretation of Scripture on homosexuality, but asked that he leave her out of it.
“I will repeat to you what I said to you backstage. That the next time that you want to talk about an example of what you mean to teach to your followers, please use the words 'this is the way this congregation' and 'how we’re going to talk about homosexuality within our community, within our church',” said an apparently frustrated Knapp toward the end of the show. “And don’t use my name. Do not use my name as a substitute for the word homosexuality.”
