(Editor’s Note: David Gooding previously wrote us a letter offering to eat the contents of the printed Highline Times if a reader could cite New Testament scripture that says Jesus Christ condemned homosexuality.)

Dear Mr. Gooding,

I'm glad you are curious about Jesus and the Bible. I don't claim to be a scholar, but I have been a student of the Bible for a long time.

This is what I found:
Jesus got much of his authority from the Old Testament writings. He told his disciples to search the scriptures and that they could be trusted (Matthew 5:18, Luke 16:17, John 5:39).

One of the topics Jesus discussed was judgment. He referred to Sodom and Gomorrah in these discussions (Matthew 10:15, 11:23, 24, Luke 10:12; 17:29). The major story about these cities and their destruction is in Genesis 14 and 19. The sins of these people are clearly portrayed in these stories.

I hope this helps.

Chris Chapin
Des Moines