Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Sermon on Homosexuality

Knox Sermon, January 21, 2007
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2 comments:

redsaucer said...

the PCC offers several documents about homosexuality.

i just read this PDF, Listening, and while it's a good read alone, it's designed for discussion.

but what kind of discussion? how do we encourage discussion? in this blog, only jim, katrina, and myself (peter) co-respond. perhaps a small group would be better, if we weren't limited by time.

but why have a discussion at all, if no one's interested and there are no gays or lesbians at our church?

we claim our church's mission is to reach out to the unchurched. in midland i know unchurched people who are interested in the role of homosexuality in the church, and i know unchurched gays and lesbians.

this PDF represents many diverse thoughts and feelings, and i have much to learn throughout the spectrum of the bible and sexuality.

the challenge to me remains: how do i love my homosexual neighbour as myself, and in so doing how do i love god?

3:33 PM
redsaucer said...

i've been reading excerpts from the report of the Special Committee on Sexual Orientation, 2003. while it reaffirms the church's current position on homosexuality, the committee seems intent on not closing the door but rather opening it wider. it asks some very important questions, including:

"Several texts in the New Testament refer to ‘false prophets’. We are taught that false prophets
can be identified by their works. Similarly, we read about the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy,
peace, patience, etc. in Galatians (5:22-23), the good things that come when one is filled with the
Holy Spirit. In both cases, the results are considered in the evaluation. Is there any value in
considering the results we often see from our present attitudes about homosexuality? Could it be
suggested, for instance, that the high rate of suicide among homosexual teens is partially related
to experiences of rejection, low self-esteem, and other problems resulting from lack of acceptance? Is it valid to consider the many marriages that come to a painful end when a gay
person can no longer ‘play the straight game’?

"People in the Reformed tradition believe in the continual illumination of the Holy Spirit active in
the lives of Christ’s followers. Over the years, the understanding of scripture has developed and
changed through the guidance of the Spirit on such matters as slavery and the place of women in
the church. Could we consider that the Holy Spirit might be trying to lead us today into a
different understanding of the traditional texts relating to homosexuality? Or are the texts
sufficiently clear and definite that it is wrong to compare them to other changing social positions?

"As a Reformed church, we appreciate the overall message of God’s word. A clear theme,
especially in the New Testament, is the emphasis on love. “Love one another because love comes
from God.” “I give you a new commandment, love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another.” “The greatest of these is love.” “Love your neighbour as you love
yourself.” Love is clearly what God wants for creation and what Christ taught as the best way to
live. Is a committed, monogamous relationship between two people of the same sex when
expressed physically, always contrary to the will of God? Is it possible that there could be exceptions to the rule? What makes some forms of sexual behaviour holy and others unholy?"

in the 1994 report, much of the examination of scripture seems to focus on what is "God’s created order."

the 2003 report states: "While the earlier statements on homosexuality primarily dealt with the theological issues, the Special Committee was mandated to explore thoroughly the scientific evidence on homosexual orientation. Much of this
report is devoted to the scientific and psychological conclusions about homosexuality."

the 2003 report observes that the "weight of scientific evidence presented to the committee points to the conclusion that sexual
orientation is innate, established early in life, and not a matter of choice."

is innateness an indication of god's created order, and in this light could homosexuality be seen as part of the wonderful diversity of god's created order?

allow me to draw out this possibilty, that not all of god's created diversity is displayed in genesis or in the gospels or epistles, and perhaps, as the 2003 report wonders, the holy spirit is at work bringing forth new understanding to scripture and god's purpose.

1:16 AM

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