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Christian humility in light of gay pride, or The desire to Converse gracefully about same-sex relationships

7/6/2015

6 Comments

 
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Source: David McNew / Getty Images
I didn't really want to be pulled into this fray. After an invigorating and thoughtful discussion on Facebook, -- no, seriously, this does happen sometimes -- I've decided to record here some of the better elements of this larger discussion, and maybe enter some thoughts of my own.

Honestly, I'm ambivalent about sharing personal thoughts about a controversial issue in a public forum. If I've learned anything from observing Nazarene higher education in the last few months, it's just better, or simply prudent, to stay quiet and lurk in the shadows. My responsibility as a Christian educator, the primary focus of my ordained ministry in the Church, provokes me to say more to keep the conversation going.  But, I'm just not ready. So, for now, here are some thoughts from other voices in Christianity that will season our conversations with grace and humility.

Wesleyans & Homosexuality
Kenneth Grider, Nazarene theologian and seminary professor, decided in 2000 to self-publish a paper on the changing dynamics of the conversation on same-sex relationships in the late 1990s. Grider, known as a conservative dogmatic voice during his time, elected to not present this paper at the 1999 Wesleyan Theological Society meeting. The reason he gave in an addendum, so as "not to be an embarrassment to my university, Olivet Nazarene, where I am retained as a distinguished visiting professor of religion." 
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"Hello, Olivet."
Grider in the paper argues for the gradual scientific acceptance of the biological roots for same-sex proclivity, even citing Copernicus being rejected by Luther and his fellow Reformers and the then-popular intelligent design explanation of human origins over Darwin's theory of evolution as examples of changing scientific positions sparking new perspectives among theologians.

Moving to Scriptural texts, Grider makes a convincing biblical case for not identifying Sodom (Genesis 19) with its namesake behavior (sodomy), but rather with the absence of hospitality (pp26-29). He also critiques the Western church for taking a hard line against homosexuality while giving usury--the practice of charging interest on loans--a sympathetic pass (pp32-35). He mentions other areas of willful "non-compliance with Bible teaching" in the holiness code of Leviticus in the contemporary church, including wearing blended fabric clothing and eating shellfish. More on this from the links below to Keller's review of Vines' book and Vines' response to Keller.

The section on "What the Orientation Is Life" is nothing short of haunting (pp20-23). I dare you to read this listing without entering into intercessory prayer for someone you know.

Grider ends on this note: "Are we still medieval, or Victorian, because of three Old Testament passages [Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:12] and three New Testament references [Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10] to the same-gender matter -- interpreted, still, as negative to gayness, long after we came to disregard the clear teachings opposed to such matters as to receiving money on interest loans, the abolition of slavery, and the ordination of women?" (p42) Sounds like a question a retired professor might ask and be brave enough to answer. 

The strength of the paper is found at the beginning with what I think is the real reason for his research: "We Wesleyans, with warmed hearts made about three sizes too big, have enjoyed a long history of running to help when almost any group has not been getting a fair shake . . . [and] whether we might be the ones whom God wants to come running to help . . . gay and lesbian persons . . . who are our last large oppressed minority"  (pp1, 2). This was written by a 79 year old theologian over 15 years ago.
A Pastor's Apology to the #LBGTQ Community
On June 29, 2015, Michael Palmer posted this written confession seeking forgiveness on several counts of Christian misbehavior toward the LBGTQ community. Palmer wrote, "Because you've been treated as an agenda instead of a face, a name and a story, we have been unwilling to hear the journey that's brought you to this point. Because we've not listened to your story, we're unaware of the ways in which the pulpit has been used as a club and our Bible as a knife to wound instead of heal." Words for Christians to take seriously in all areas of contention with unbelievers and other believers, I think.

One Thing Social Media Got Right about the Decision . . .
Tim Young from the blog Heartstone Journey takes another perspective in this June 30, 2015 post "One thing social media got right about the decision on gay marriage, #LoveWins!" The core of this piece is centered on Carle Zimmerman's Family and Civilization published in 1947 and abridged in 2008 for a series called Essential Texts for the Conservative Mind. Also, a free Kindle e-book. Young basically notes seven actions that usually take place as an epoch of civilization begins to deteriorate. The breakdown in the stability of marriage is one of these actions; sexual perversion including homosexuality is another.

40 Questions for Christians Now Waving Rainbow Flags
Kevin DeYoung is a banner contributor to The Gospel Coalition blogs. On July 1, 2015, DeYoung posted a series of questions directed toward open supporters of the LBGT community and same-sex marriage. He concluded the lede with this statement: "Making legal and theological decisions based on what makes people feel better is part of what got us into this mess in the first place." In many ways, DeYoung could have been speaking for supporters and opponents of gay marriage, (even though I do not think he was). Questions from DeYoung ignited one of the more thoughtful and helpful discussion threads on this subject in the group Sacramental Nazarenes dated July 5, 2015. 

Other thoughts:

A theology of sexuality in the beginning: Genesis 1-2 by Richard M. Davidson, St Andrews University Seminary Studies, Spring 1988, faculty.gordon.edu 

Homosexuality Calmly Considered by Dennis Kinlaw, FrancisAsburySociety.com, 2014.

Love Wins: LGBT, a Facebook group for a "ministry educating and equipping the Church of the Nazarene to make Christlike disciples in the LGBT community" since 2009.

Loving Homosexuals: When Gay Pride Meets Christian Humility by Chad Thompson, 2011.

The Bible and same-sex relationships: a review article by Tim Keller, redeemer.com, June 2015

Matthew Vine's Response to Tim Keller's Review of God and the Gay Christian, MatthewVines.com, June 5, 2015

The Church of the Nazarene -- The Board of General Superintendents releases statement on same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015. 

The Wesleyan Church -- Response to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage on June 26, 2015. See also A Wesleyan View of Homosexuality & A Wesleyan View of Gender Identity and Expression

How I got here: Why a conservative Christian changed his stance on gay marriage at TheFletchSays blog June 28, 2015.

"I was born gay, it was my choice to be Baptist" by Bryan Kessler, al.com, July 6, 2015

If you know of any helpful articles, contact me by email or connect on Facebook and Twitter (@jamaprice)
6 Comments
John Henderson
7/18/2015 03:52:26 am

All I see here are the initial steps--the usual ones--that are taken towards compromise and finally full-support of the sin the Bible is so clear about.

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Russell Rose link
7/18/2015 11:54:48 am

the way I see it GOD told Noah that He was going to put the rainbow in the clouds as a reminder that He would never destroy the earth by means of water again,therefor Isuggest that the rainbow represents the judgement of GOD on this earth.How befitting is it that he would use this gay pride and there rainbow flag as a warning to us that the hour of His coming is at hand.With the blood moons,red heifer,and the rainbow flag all warning signs judgement upon this earth is almost hear,we need to head the warnings and prepare ourselves ,our families and anyone else that will listen . we need to trust GOD now more than ever before, the time of judgement is at hand . May GOD bless and keep every one that will listen and believe

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Melinda
7/21/2015 11:45:17 am

It is hard for me to understand how theologians can possibly compare Levitical [sacrificial] law to the moral law. I am merely a lay person and it is even clear to me by reading the New Testament that ceremonial and sacrificial law (such as cloth you can wear, blood sacrifices of animals, not eating shellfish, etc) are no longer needed because they were things that were done to show sacrifice to God and they were enforced by the high priests. They were not harmful, nor did they have to do with morals, but their sole purpose was to show God that they could go without these things in honor to him. It would be like today giving up the internet-not that it's evil, but that I would show God that I am giving up something to show my devotion to him.

But now that Jesus was the final high priest, and he died for our sins as the final sacrifice, the ceremonial and sacrificial law of the OT is no longer necessary, yet Jesus still stands by morality. Out of his own mouth he even quoted genesis 1:27 in Matthew 19:4, so he refers back to the beginning as a moral standard for humanity.

TO compare ceremonial law to moral law such as do not kill, do not rape, do not commit adultery, do not commit homosexual acts-these are both harmful and deal with morals. This is why Paul says not to worry about days of the week or what we eat, yet he still includes moral code of conduct to be upheld by pointing out slander, adultery, theft, sexual immorality, homosexuality.

One would have to say Paul was not speaking the gospel when he said these things when we have clear evidence in the Bible that Paul's words are Jesus words.

Galatians 1:1 (Paul says his gospel come from Christ)
Galatians 1:11-12 (Paul received his gospel directly from Christ)
Galatians 1:15-16 (Paul says he is preaching the gospel)
Romans 2:16 (Paul says "my gospel" because he received the gospel directly from Christ)
1 Corinthians 15:1 (Paul says his gospel is the saving gospel)
Romans 16:25 (Paul says the Romans are able to come to Christ because of his gospel-Paul's gospel)
2 Peter 3:15-16 (Peter further establishes that Paul's gospel comes from God)

If Jesus is "the word" and his word is given to Paul then what Paul says is the gospel and as we know, Paul is very clear about gay relationships-that they are wrong, unnatural, a sin, worthy of death, cause their own penalty, etc etc.

So the only way a pastor or Christian leader can get around this is to say that Paul's words were not the gospel, which I clearly showed that they are.

Because even if you wanted to disregard the OT, You would still have to deal with Paul's words and although I have heard many times that "homosexuality" was not a word in the time Paul wrote, still, by looking at the greek, you can still draw the same conclusion from what Paul said, not to mention that even without using the word "homosexual" he still points out that same sex relationships are unnatural and being an effeminate man is also a sin. These were things he said without even using the words we have translated as "homosexual" today.

I was listening to a former 7th Day Adventist give his story of how he left "Christianity" (I know-7th Day adv. are not a good example, but stick with me to get the point) and became an atheist for a lot of reasons, but he gave an hour long video and one of the things he said was that Christians always change with the times. He pointed out how we have caved on science, abortion, and we will eventually cave on homosexuality because we always do.

Our inconsistency on standing by moral doctrine is telling atheists that what we believe is not real. Because if we were consistent and stood by the gospel, there is no way we would cave in for the world's ideologies. He has a point and he is correct-Christians that cave on moral teachings are trying to be like the world and corrupt the message of the gospel by polluting it with worldly ideology.

Should we love the homosexual-OF COURSE! I would go as far as to say we should go out of our way to show love to them as I do actually do in my life, but am I going to tell my gay friends that God is fine with their sin? No, just like if I had a friend who was committing adultery, I would be honest with them as well. I was once a fornicator too. It was my HONEST friends and family that brought me back to the light-not my friends who approved of my behavior and even encouraged it.

We don't have to embrace the sin to love them. If they can't see the love in the truth, then there is nothing we can do about that. Satan is at work here as well-let's not forget that. So let's not give him the satisfaction of approving of sin in our own lives or in others just because society thinks we're ok and they're ok. Because the world is going to get worse. What's next? we don' know, but we must draw the line and not cross it no matter what society thinks.

The apostles and early Christians and even Christians today who are persecuted and killed are not dying for app

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Melinda
7/21/2015 12:15:49 pm

cont...The apostles and early Christians and even Christians today who are persecuted and killed are not dying for approving of the world around them. They are dying for the truth.

We need to be willing to stand for truth even if it costs us something, but I think the reason Christians are approving of sin more these days is because sin is popular. If homosexuality was still being viewed today, they way it was 50 years ago-I guarantee the church would not be trading the truth of God for a lie. Society should have no bearing on our view of the gospel or our idea that somehow God changed his mind or that the OT ceremonial and sacrificial law can be merged with NT to find approval of this.

You can't create false doctrine to please the world and I believe that is what is happening.

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Robert Fruehling
7/22/2015 02:09:23 am

I guess we need to apologize for what Jesus said in Matthew and Mark. When asked about divorce He replied "Haven't you read…that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, and said for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one… Matt. 19: 4 - 5". See also Mark 10: 5 - 8.
Jesus confirmed proper sexual relationship across the board.

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central nj bible church link
8/1/2017 04:33:16 am

I’ve been searching for some decent stuff on the subject and haven't had any luck up until this point, You just got a new biggest fan!..

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