The Anglican Church had its big vote yesterday about THE issue. The one that has become the forerunner in the Christian church debate this century so far. The blessing of same sex unions. Most of us have talked about it in one late night conversation or corner of a room at some point. We've read strong feelings about it from both sides. But strangely, or maybe not, most preachers avoid it like the plague from the pulpit.
As an evangelical church, we've done a somewhat decent job looking at the Biblical text. Evangelicals quote Leviticus 18 & 20, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and Romans 1 as clear teaching against homosexuality. They say that the Bible clearly teaches its wrong and therefore, God doesn't create gay people. It's a sin and an action and so gay people need to stay celibate and pray for healing. And the research is being released now about just how dangerous some of that teaching is in the emotional psyche of someone that is gay.
Most mainline denominations take a different slant. They look at the humanity - the people behind the issue. A good majority of the research about homosexuality suggests that people aren't "choosing" to be gay. They just are. There are gay people that have good relationships with their parents. They had a "normal" childhood and upbringing. But for whatever reason, they are attracted to the same sex. Mainliners say that the Bible doesn't say much about homosexuality (as compared to the love of money or hospitality etc.) and that what it does say, is contextual to the day - just as the teaching about women or the food laws or slavery. We probably all know someone that is gay. And if we don't, we're probably one of those people that they hide it from. But because they are nice people and because they maybe are born that way, doesn't mean we can dismiss the clear teaching there is IN Scripture. We don't read the Bible picking and choosing what we like and don't. Either it's the Word of God or it isn't!
So what do we do? I don't know. And that's why I don't preach about it. But here's what I do. I try my best to love everyone as much as I possibly can. If there is a gay person being picked on, I sure hope I'll be the first one to stand at their side. I'd love more than anything for our church to be known as the insititution that stands up against the discrimination and hatred in the world. (But I think sometimes the world knows us more for what we OPPOSE than for what we STAND FOR!) I don't know what God asks of gay people but I do know what God asks of me.
Here's my guess. If we as a larger Christian church had done this rather than saying things like "AIDS is God's punishment on gays." and being the perpetrators and instigators to some of the prejudices, they might be a lot more open to hearing what our Bibles had to say on the subject.
As a pastor and as a Christian, I need to do more though. Not in how I act or think. But in how I pray. The Bible may not say much about homosexuality but what it does say is pretty clear. Those that interpret it differently do some pretty interesting linguistical gymnastics with the text. If I'm not going to scrutinize the texts I like - the ones that are easy and make me feel good - the same way, then it seems the theology is clear. And if that's unsettling for me as a Christian, then that's something I take to God and wrestle it out in prayer.
There's one thing I'm sure of. If Jesus was on earth today, he'd be a lot closer to the gay pride parade than most of us evangelicals are.
3 comments:
"I don't know what God asks of gay people but I do know what God asks of me."
I think that statement is very profound, and I'm not just saying that because my husband said it. If the church would quit spouting off on what is wrong and start loving people, maybe they would want to hear what we have to say.
I agree that the Bible is pretty clear on this issue, but its also very clear about judgement. Christians have a habit of judging the "obvious" sins and dismissing pride, gossip, selfishness, unforgiveness etc - the not so glamorous sins.
I think part of it is a desire to say, I'm not as bad as THAT person. Shame on us.
We have a responsibility to love each person God brings into our path. I have known many gay people and have needed to put aside my own feelings of discomfort to truly love them where they are at - who they are. I dont know if God makes people gay or not. I probably never will know. But I do know what God requires of me.
I agree that Jesus would be at the gay pride parade. And we, like the pharisees would likely say, "doesn't he know who he is associating with, if he was a prophet he would know they are sinners" and Jesus would love them, wouldn't he.
Its very simple. We are called to love our neighbours, yes all of them. It dosn't matter which sin we have commited or are commiting or usually struggle with. We all sin, so get over it. We are to evangelize to everyone, very difficult for most of us. If we come to Jesus and ask him to live in our hearts he will begin to work on us. We begin to convict ourselves with the truths we are learning in the bible and will do 1 of two things. Either we will accept that we are wrong and turn away, or we will run away. Regardless of the sin it will always be a battle, I just wonder when it comes down to that last moment which way my pendulum will be swinging.
Here's the thing. Many gay people don't see their lifestyle choices as sinful. So when we talk about it that way, it puts them out. When we say that we love the sinner but hate the sin, they get offended because their orientation is as much a part of who they are as any heterosexual sees their sexuality as an integral part of who they are. We can't separate it and their argument is that neither can they.
To this day, I have never met anyone that has a completely pure and righteous sexuality. If that were the case, society wouldn't be marketing and flaunting sex as it does because it wouldn't have any effect on us. Any pornography wouldn't be a multibillion dollar business.
So maybe we need to start talking about our own sexual brokenness with God before we go launching sawdust.
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