Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mike@turing.cs.unm.edu (Michael I. Bushnell) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Christian view of homosexuality Message-ID: Date: 8 Jul 90 04:33:22 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of No Money, Albuquerque, New Mexico Lines: 94 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu That post brought up a lot of feelings for me, and I need to express them here. There are a number of viewpoints Christians hold. Here is a brief list of the most common: 1: All homosexuals are damned. 2: All active homosexuals are damned. 3: All homosexuals are wrong, though not necessarily damned. 4: All active homosexuals are wrong, though not necessarily damned. 5: Homosexuality is an illness, like alcoholism, which is unfortunate, but not a desirable way to live like. The "afflicted" should seek treatment to help the condition. 6: Homosexuality is as equally valid expression of sexuality along with heterosexuality. I know Christians who believe each of these. For myself, I hold to (6), but that is personal. Part of my faith is the understanding that we will always have differences. We cannot resolve all of them, and we certainly shouldn't use anything but persuasion in an attempt. In my church there are people of categories 3-6 (fortunately 1 and 2 are becoming more rare in our society). Many of them know of my sexual orientation, and we don't have a problem. I don't spend my time worrying about what I perceive as problems in their lives, and I expect them not to worry about what they perceive as problems in mine. When I have been approached on the subject, I respond simply that I have considered their point of view and found it to be lacking (usually in softer words than those, of course). We can coexist as Christians in the body of Christ without being absolutely sure of who is sinning and in what way. It is precisely that tolerance which enables the Church to function. Paul gave a good example. Certain Christians felt that it was wrong to eat the meat of animals sacrificed to pagan deities. Paul admonished them to understand that such feeling was not universal, and that they shouldn't force their ideas on others. At the same time, the others were to be politic and not press the issue. Each side could coexist quite happily with the other when it was realized that they could tolerate eachother's differences in moral understanding and leave the issue at that. I'm not so concerned that there are people who think homosexuality is wrong in some way or another. I'm far more concerned with people who forget our common shared humanity. That humanity transcends our differences, our faults, and our joys. I'm perfectly happy to realize that there are people in my congregation who would prefer not to find themselves in a Metropolitan Community Church congregation. I'm not willing to accept people in my congregation who don't want me there. I'm proud that my church has taken inclusiveness as a standard, which indicates that we want people from all walks of life to enter the door and find the joy that only Christ can bring. There is only one area in which things can get complicated. When youth in my church figure out my sexuality, I am honest and open with them. On a few occasions this has led to inquiries by their parents. I have found that every single parent I've talked with has been supportive and helpful. I was even asked to talk with the Sr. High class when they had a lock-in at the church. (Unfortunately, the lock-in was cancelled.) I realize, however, that there are parents who don't want their kids to know any gay people, or to realize what gay people are really like (rather than stereotypes and misinformation). As for such parents, I have no desire to help them lie to their children. Sorry. It hasn't been a problem yet. I'm coming to realize the futility of extended discussion on the net of the morality of homosexuality. The references for my comments on gay marriages are forthcoming, and after that, I will limit my posts to discussions of acceptance rather than morality. That's the real issue: Are you willing to accept people in your churches who are sincere in their faith in Christ, even though you have differences of opinion about the morality of their actions? If you think you are a nice, accepting congregation who happens to think that homosexuality is wrong, consider that of the people who have confessed to arson against Metropolitan Community Churches, most have been Christians attending such nice, accepting congregations. Not quite what I would call acceptance. -mib -- Michael I. Bushnell \ This above all; to thine own self be true LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE \ And it must follow, as the night the day, mike@unmvax.cs.unm.edu /\ Thou canst not be false to any man. CARPE DIEM / \ Farewell: my blessing season this in thee! [Note: the Metropolitan Community Church is a denomination formed with acceptance of active homosexuals as one of its goals. --clh]