Lot's Moral Criticism: How to Respond

Sometimes trivial memes like this one will cause us to stumble, and we forget how to respond in the moment. Here's a quick outline for responding:

1. Begin with addressing the meta-moral question.

   
   

   I'd be happy to explain more about the story that you're referring to. But first, let me just make sure we're on the same page. Is that okay? We both agree that rape and incest are objectively wrong, right? On your worldview, why are rape and incest wrong? By what standard are you appealing to?

   
   

2. Move on to an accurate understanding of the passage referred to. (You may not move past step 1)

   
   

   You're referring to the story of Lot and his two daughters in Genesis 19. In the story, God saved Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He showed them mercy. As they fled to the mountains, Lot's two daughters slept with him to preserve their family line. Let's be clear about the story: God never commanded the daughters to rape Lot. In fact, their sons from Lot's seed became the Moabites and the Ammonites--pagan enemies of God's people. In other places, such as Leviticus 18, God forbids incest. By no means does God affirm the actions of Lot's daughters. Just because a story is in the Bible does not necessarily mean the ethics of that story are affirmed. When we look at other passages, we see that rape and incest are sinful. 

   
   

3. Address the underlying question of sexuality.

   
   

   The reason God prohibits rape and incest is that God designed human beings and sexuality for a purpose. That purpose is for one man and one woman to become married, to become one flesh in spiritual harmony, and then be able to enjoy the fullness of sex as God intended. So the reason two women having sex is wrong is that it does not align with the design and purpose of human sexuality. The same goes for rape and incest. The same also goes for pornography and heterosexual intercourse outside of marriage. The point is not that God hates gay people, but that he has designed human beings with a specific design for a particular purpose. And when we practice our sexuality according to that purpose, it is joyful, satisfying, pleasurable, and beautiful. But we, including myself, pervert that design and purpose because we are inherently selfish. Instead, we should trust in God's way for our sexuality, because He wants us to enjoy it in the greatest possible way.