Last fall, I publicly affirmed gay marriage as a Christian and biblically virtuous lifestyle. Of course, not all Christians agree with me. But some do. In fact, some Christian leaders do.
Last weekend I was on the phone with one such leader (don't even try to guess). He supports gay couples in his congregation -- he's a pastor -- and he answers questions honestly when asked. But he also knows that as his influence rises (speaking, book deals, etc.), he'll suffer consequences for telling the truth.Another friend of mine who has never made a public pronouncement on the issue of homosexuality recently had a two-book deal nixed by a publisher, in large part on the issue of homosexuality. When he asked them to point to one instance of his positioning on this issue, they could not. But they said it was enough that he hadn't spoken out against homosexuality and that he hung around people (ahem) who do support gay marriage.
And yet other Christian leaders on the progressive side of evangelicalism consistently tap dance when asked about homosexuality. Because, you see, if they indicate in any way that they're softening on the issue, they'll get Ciziked.
And then, goodbye Zondervan, Baker, and Thomas Nelson. So long Q, Catalyst, and NPC. See you later Origins.
But my friend on the phone pushed back at me when I said that to stay silent about an issue on which someone has gained a conviction lacks integrity, especially when there's book contracts and speaking gigs on the line. He said that it's an issue of calling. Some, he said, are called to speak out about contentious issues like same sex marriage, but others are not. Their roles are pastors, not prophets.
I see his point, but it rings a bit hollow to me. On the other hand, I admit that I am in no way neutral on this issue, and just a year ago I was on the other side: I kept quiet about my emerging viewpoint because I didn't want Emergent Village to get tarred-and-feathered because of me.
So, I put it to you? Does a Christian leader who supports gay rights and gay marriage, but refuses to say so in public, lack integrity? Or is it an issue of calling? Or is it yet something else that I fail to see?
(This is NOT a debate about same sex marriage, per se. It's about how those of us who are Christian "leaders" (yes, I say that with a smirk on my face) should act publicly.)
I see his point, but it rings a bit hollow to me. On the other hand, I admit that I am in no way neutral on this issue, and just a year ago I was on the other side: I kept quiet about my emerging viewpoint because I didn't want Emergent Village to get tarred-and-feathered because of me.
So, I put it to you? Does a Christian leader who supports gay rights and gay marriage, but refuses to say so in public, lack integrity? Or is it an issue of calling? Or is it yet something else that I fail to see?
(This is NOT a debate about same sex marriage, per se. It's about how those of us who are Christian "leaders" (yes, I say that with a smirk on my face) should act publicly.)
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
Melissa,
Your spin is funneee...
"Anti-marriage Activists out Prejean’s Mom"
Interesting that people who are fighting for equal access to marriage are, in your worldview, "anti-marriage".
As the kids used to say, 'This does not compute.'
Joe White,
"Those who support homosexual marriage from a Chrisitan viewpoint have a duty to articulate that position from the scripture.
It has never and will never be done, because it cannot be done."
Not only has it been done, it has been done repeatedly. In books, in articles, on the net, and even right here on Beleifnet (complete with links that you, apparently, feel free to ignore).
You just don't like it, so it 'never happened'. Try actually reading some of the blogs here. You will be surprised (though not necessarily pleasantly).
I just don't see how people can look past what the word of God says to find what they want to find. If parts of the Bible aren't accurate, or if some expert needs to interpret it, what about the rest of it? If all Scripture is inspired by God, why would a perfect and holy God inspire error?
All those on the fence need to read 2 Peter Chapter 2. All kinds of false prophets these days.
I've noticed that the Bible contains stories of specific biblical characters and some of their sexual behaviors. And then, more broadly, the Bible also describes whole cultural patterns and sexual behaviors.
What I find interesting is that wherever the Bible focuses on specific biblical characters it doesn't necessarily make moral judgments as to the written sexual practices and behaviors of those people (ie palace concubines, conceiving an heir with a mistress, etc.) Here, the story of God at work on a larger purpose seems to relatively minimize the particular sex behaviors (and one could argue at the expense of women).
On the other hand when the Bible (usually Paul) describes a mass cultural mindset which is hostile towards God, it often correlates this hostile thinking with a host of wrong behaviors (ie drunkeness, slander, fornication, adultery, prostitution, pagan sex rituals). Here we understand that from the spirit comes certain fruit; also strict proscriptions emerge to keep the sinful nature in check.
In the matter of homosexuality, I think it's good that church people are increasingly shifting away from regarding the gay community as a mass culture who are hostile towards God, ungodly, and in need of proscriptions. I think it's wise to shift towards personally knowing gay individuals and trying to be more understanding of their specific situations and mindful of a larger work God may want to do. I think that the varying tones and emphases we notice in scriptures could be helpful with that.
The kingdom of God is ever at hand -- and the church's mission/ministry is to foremost be asking the Holy Spirit to reveal, situation by situation, what Jesus would do; and then trusting that God is working as He wills. And we should all begin by saying to each person we encounter, whether gay or straight: Jesus dearly loves you.
What's the best reason explaining why traditional marriage should be the law for society? That's the question MarriageNewsNow dot com is asking in its friday vote marriage poll.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.