Ben Witherington: July 2009 Archives

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Tom and Maggie Wright in front of Bishop Auckland Palace, the episcopal residence.

Bishop Tom Wright is not a shy retiring sort. I have watched him meticulously dissect and vivisect one of Dominic Crossan's works in an SBL session.  Reacting to the recent decision of the conclave of the Episcopal Church to reject the Anglican call for a moratorium on ordaining self-avowed practicing gays and lesbians,  Bishop Wright argues that the Episcopal Church has now decided to go its own way on this matter, which signals it no longer really wants to faithfully participate in the covenant relationship known as the Anglican communion.    You may read Wright's reaction here to the decision

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6710640.ece

I must say I entirely agree with Wright's reasoning on this subject.  Neither ordination nor marriage is a justice issue.  They never have been.   They are not inalienable rights of anyone.  They are gifts and privileges granted by God.   A few major points need to be stressed  about what the Bible and basic common sense suggests about such matters:

1) The Bible, true enough, says nothing about sexual orientation.  That is an entirely modern construct meant to explain something about human identity.  But the Bible says plenty about sexual behavior.   The issue here isn't one's inclinations, or desires, or wants.   The issue is behavior.  And what the Bible says is that same sex, sexual behavior, even between consenting adults, is a sin. This is the uniform witness of both the OT and NT, and no,  Jesus is not an exception.  Mt. 19.1-12 is clear enough in making evident that the followers of Jesus are given only two options--- fidelity in monogamous (not polygamous) heterosexual marriage or celibacy in singleness.  Jesus speaks of those not married, like himself, as being 'eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom'.  The meaning of the word eunuch in Jesus' world was perfectly clear.  It meant a person who engaged in no sexual activity whatsoever.

2) I doubt we will ever settle or sort out the nature vs. nurture issue when it comes to sexual inclinations.  But even if it could be shown that we are born with certain sexual inclinations, this would not settle the matter of whether they were good or not.  Why not?  Because the Christian tradition has always recognized that we are all born fallen human creatures, we are all born with inclinations to sin. So the cry "I was born this way, I am this way by nature' doesn't settle the issue at all as to whether God wants you to be that way.

3)  Especially in a democracy like we have in America, it ought to be the case that the majority rules when it comes to public policy.  This means, in regard to things like marriage that a small minority of U.S. citizens should not expect they have the right to redefine the meaning of the word 'marriage' for the majority. This is not an inalienable American right nor is it a justice issue.  But of course as we all know, such policy may well be forced upon the majority by a small minority, if they are sufficiently well organized, well funded,  have friends in high places, and the like.   Ours is a participatory democracy and if the majority are not as exercised or as motivated as the minority, then indeed by default the minority opinion may well change the rules and laws the majority must also live by. We may not be happy with this fact, but it is a fact in a participatory democracy.   The issue of civil unions is an entirely different matter and does not raise the same concerns as does gay marriage.

Marriage is by definition and always has been a theological construct, not a civil or secular one.  This is perfectly clear when Jesus repeats the Genesis story and says that God leads the man and the woman together and joins them together, and even clearer when we talk about a marriage covenant.  It is beyond disturbing that it is now possible in a country that values free speech, that there is actually a danger that anyone who criticizes the notion of gay marriage, even on strictly Christian and Biblical grounds, could in some places in America be charged with 'hate speech'.   This is an unacceptable political move to forestall meaningful discussion and dialogue about an important social issue in our culture, and frankly it is a gross violation of our right to free speech, a right we have so long as that speech is done in a respectful and open manner and is subject to correction. 

  Returning to the Tom Wright article, what is especially interesting to me is that Tom Wright is not, as a result of his remarks, now jumping on the 'Anglican Church in America' train and saying that Canterbury should connect with them.   This is because he knows there are still many Episcopalian clergy and laity who do not at all agree with the recent decisions at the Episcopal meetings.   And I must say, since I have close friends that are still Episcopalians, both clergy and laity, I entirely understand this move.  


Stay tuned for more episodes in the continuing soap opera 'As the Episcopalian Stomach Turns'.   I am just thankful that the U.M. Church is still holding its clergy to the standard of fidelity in heterosexual marriage or celibacy in singleness, and if we have any sense, we will see what is happening in the larger Anglican Church on this issue as a cautionary tale that we should not want repeated in our own communion.

BW3      

First let me clarify something. When I say 'jazz CDs' I am not referring to the jazz inflected pop played on most 'smooth jazz' stations. I have no problems with that sort of music, but its much closer to pop and even rock than it is to jazz and its sensibilities. When I say jazz CDs I am referring to either straight ahead jazz as it has been done since Miles and Trane and Evans, or I am referring to that slight variant called Jazz Fusion. So, three of the CDs listed below are not in mode of the classic jazz of the 50s and 60s, but they do fit the categories I am referring to.

1) The Pat Metheny Group--- The Way Up. This is a jazz symphony, and probably the best work of fusion jazz ever wrought. It's a masterpiece.

2) Marc Johnson Shades of Jade--This one came out of nowhere, and is one of the best 'sets a mood' pieces produced in a long time. In this regard it is very much like the ultimate jazz classic and number one jazz seller of all time Kind of Blue.

3) Brian Bromberg--Downright Upright This involves Brian, a fabulous bass player, choosing some of his favorite jazz tunes and giving them a fresh spin. Its pure fun from start to finish.

4) Christian Scott- Anthem and Terrence Blanchard A Tale of God's Will (tie). Both of these remarkable works come as a musical response to the disaster that was Katrina and both are by musicians deeply rooted in New Orleans and both are ultra fine trumpet players, with Scott being a wunderkind, and Blanchard being a long time producer of movie scores.

5) Roy Hargrove--Ear Food Maybe the best CD of any kind that appeared in 2008. Hargrove is yet another remarkable trumpet player and this CD is full of verve and juice and joy.

Honorable Mentions

If you're stuck on a desert island and they only allow you to bring recent real jazz, besides the five above I would commend: 1) Branford Marsalis' Eternity; 2) Toots Thielman The Brasil Project (doing justice to Brasilian Jazz). Originally recorded in 1992 and reissued; 3) Christian McBride and Inside Straight--Kind of Brown. McBride is multilingual when it comes to jazz and soul and rock and hip hop, but this straight ahead jazz CD which has just been released is his best effort of any kind; 4) The two Metheny Mehldau CDs (its too hard to pick between them. Brad Mehldau is without question one of the great young jazz pianists of this or any age, but it took working with Metheny to bring the very best out of him. A couple of years back this was one of the best jazz tours ever; 5) Michael Brecker--- Pilgrimage. And for guitar fans, I would say that you need at least one John Scofield CD to keep you bumpin' along--- of his more recent oeuvre I like Works for Me, best (not least because of the all star line-up which includes Metheny and Mehldau and Christian McBride and Kenny Garrett. Also lots of fun and funky is his a Go Go CD (or try Bump).

Wait you say--- what about jazz vocalists? I'm glad you asked. There are frankly no new Tony Bennetts out there (no Michael Buble does not count). As for female vocalists I can certain commend several, especially Diane Reeves (try her soundtrack for Good Night and Good Luck) and by all means listen to some of the jazzier stuff of Liz Wright. Diana Krall is o.k., but she can't hold a candle to these vocalists or others such as Neena Frelon. And if you were wondering about Chris Botti, he has yet to do a serious jazz CD, but he has a nice Mile-ish tone when he plays the muted trumpet.

Another of my favorite prophets is Hosea, both for the tragic story of the prophet's life, and the message of mercy that Hosea shares. See what you think of James Howell's reflections on this book of the Bible. BW3

Here's James Howell's reflections on Jonah. I am less skeptical than he is that the story has historical substance, but he may be right that it is a parable about a historical person. What is clear is that Jonah was...

In a summer of miserable and unwatchable movies (there have been some exceptions, Ice Age is o.k. and fun, and Star Trek the Restart was good) The Harry Potter Saga as movie series continues, after about a two year...

Amos is certainly one of my personal favorite prophets and here is a helpful synopsis of what his prophecy is all about from Dr. James Howell....

Dr. James Howell, senior minister at Myers Park UMC in Charlotte N.C. has some excellent teaching on the prophets which is on UTube. I will be sharing some of it with you here in the next several weeks. See what...

John Calvin's birthday deserves to be celebrated, not least because he was one of the truly great Christian exegetes and indeed systematic theologians of all time. Never mind that I disagree with a great deal of what he has to...

It hardly seems possible that it was seven years ago that Hershel Shanks and I wrote the book The Brother of Jesus (Harper) about the James ossuary. It is also hard to believe that the trial of the owner...

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