Level 4
Statements Against Heterosexual Marriages Only
Statement: Impurity Links To Attitude, Not Behavior
In his book Dr. Brownson devotes at least 24 pages to the topic of purity and impurity in connection with Romans 1:24. Probably the best summary of his conclusions is the following quote from his book:
The wrongness of the behavior is linked primarily to the attitude or disposition with which the behavior is carried out.
In all this we see a tendency to frame ethical requirements in terms of attitudes and dispositions rather than behaviors. (Page 195)
It is true that Christ placed a special emphasis on attitude. In Matthew 5:27-28 Christ is recording as teaching, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The key question that must be addressed here is did Christ “frame ethical requirements in terms of attitudes and dispositions rather than behaviors.”? Or did He raise the bar, did He focus not only on behaviors but on attitudes in addition to behaviors?
Is it possible to separate the two? Is it possible to engage in the behavior of adultery then as long as the attitudes of both are right?
Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that Christ and the New Testament in general “place a heavy emphasis on attitudes and dispositions in framing ethical requirements in addition to behaviors”? If the attitudes and dispositions are in the best state possible, would the behavior of adultery ever be permitted?
When Brownson’s coverage of impurity is examined, it is unclear exactly what his position is. He refers to Mark 12:25 where it states that in heaven people will neither marry nor be given in marriage (page 192). When he says impurity is based on attitudes “rather than behaviors,” is he saying we can do without marriages here and now? His whole position is not completely developed. If behavior must be included in the definition of impurity then it is necessary to consider whether or not Romans 1 does prohibit all same-sex acts across the board.