This is the second most accessed post of mine. It's July, it's hot. Here's what I wrote about the hot topic of homosexuality last year (reminder - I wrote this summer's blog prescripts before leaving on sabbatical - I'm posting a few pictures on my trip on my twitter feed, accessed on right hand side of my blog site):
The world does not often find Presbyterians to be newsworthy, except when they're talking about homosexuality. The front page of the Charlotte Observer today included this article about the Presbyterian Church USA voting to ordain active homosexual candidates to be pastors: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/11/2287558/largest-presbyterian-group-clears.html .
Whenever a headline like this occurs, many at Lake Forest ask me 'is that us, our denomination?' So let me be clear - no. First of all, I'm glad you paid attention enough to know we are presbyterian. I call us presbyterian with a small 'p.' Not because being connected to a denomination isn't important to me and us (it is). I say that because our primary identity is first and foremost 'Christian,' in unity with all Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed-affirming followers of Jesus Christ worldwide, throughout history. Secondarily, we affiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) for support, encouragement, and accountability regarding faithfulness of doctrine and leadership (the technical word for how a church is led and governed is 'polity').
The headline is about a decision the largest presbyterian denomination has made. Its not a decision we or our denomination would ever follow. Our understanding of the Bible is very clear on this issue. In spite of genetic and/or social factors that cause gender attraction to fall on many points for different people along a spectrum from hetero (different) to homo (same) sex attraction, God continues to call his people to honor and worship him with their sexuality according to God's will revealed in Scripture.
That being: Those whom God gifts with marriage to a person of the opposite sex, worship God with your sexuality through faithfulness in sex with your spouse. Those whom God gifts with singleness (whether same or other-sex attracted), worship God with your sexuality through celibacy (sexual purity toward other persons of both genders). This includes finding other faithful, joyful expressions of your masculinity or femininity, other than sexual relations.
I could stop right now and tell stories of married adults who are wonderful pictures of honoring God with their sexuality within their marriage, and stories of married adults dishonoring God grievously with their sexuality. I could stop right now and tell stories of two specific, middle-aged single friends of mine who for years have joyfully honored God with their sexuality through celibacy - one of those friends on my mind has same-sex attraction, the other is attracted to the opposite sex. Both of them encourage me. And I can tell you stories right now of singles of different and same sex attraction who are dishonoring God and themselves through a lack of celibacy and sexual purity. God's free grace, acceptance, forgivness and mercy are available to all of the above every moment of every day- to empower them to live joyfully in love with Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, honoring him and finding abudant life in the way of Jesus.
To be clear, we believe the Bible teaches homosexual behavior is not God's will for anyone, particularly those seeking the abundant life Jesus promises to give. In other words, we believe homosexual behavior is a sin. To be clear, we believe that same sex attraction or desire is NOT a sin. It is a fact of human existence. In a similar manner (not exact!), anger is a fact of the human experience also, and the Bible tells us 'in your anger, do not sin.' There are loving, life-and-God affirming ways of expressing anger, and sinful ways of doing so. Likewise in same sex attraction. Also, we do not believe homosexual behavior is some special category of sin more heinous than others, deserving any more or less condemnantion or judgment from God than others, including my own sin. Because Jesus made it clear that 'lust in your heart' for another body is equally a sin against God, I dare not throw the first stone. Yet I do dare to point myself and others to God's good will for their lives, and invite others to join me in repentance, falling into his grace and mercy to us all, through Jesus.
My/our understanding of the 'what' of Scripture is clear and unwavering about this part of life. However, 'how' to hold this conviction, AND genuinely love and accept every person, regardless of sexual attraction or identiy, is a more difficult matter. Even more difficult is how to live out our understanding of the Bible regarding sexuality, AND be a church where anyone and everyone feels accepted to come and learn about Jesus in our midst, regardless of what their life looks like. Individual Christians, and the church as a whole, have behaved in many ways that, frankly, deserve the church's current reputation as 'gay-hating.' What a horrible thing to be known for in the popular culture, so dishonoring to Jesus! The answer is not found in changing our view of the Bible, or compromising the integrity of the church. The answer must lie in somehow re-prioritizing love as what Jesus said we would/should be known by. I believe the lens of love can possibly lead a new generation of believers to new imaginations of how to faithfully put this all together in a way that honors Jesus more than the church has the past few generations, specifically in this area.
I find a common phrase often used by younger Christians today, especially in prayer, is that we would 'love well' as believers. I would love for myself, and Lake Forest tribespeople, to be known for learning how to 'love well' people of same sex attraction, like Jesus - with grace and truth. We have a long way to go. And I don't claim to be brilliant or holy enough to see the way forward clearly - I need help. Sounds like a future posting and sermon, 'cause I'm done today. (here is a link to our and the EPC's position paper on homosexuality http://epc.org/about-the-epc/position-papers/homosexuality/ )
