My Open Letter to My Pastor about Gay Marriage/His Response

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  Good Morning Pastor,
   The past few weeks have been very interesting to say the least especially as it relates to the national discourse around marriage equality and President Obama and Vice President Biden's statements supporting gay marriage. The President leads all national policy. I am very happy that he chose to speak out against an inequality that doesn't directly effect him his family or peers. I'm having a tough time reconciling with my Christian brothers and sisters who are rallying with a surprisingly hard intensity against marriage equality.Many argue that homosexual relationships go against the grain of traditional families and produce maladjusted children. However, these families aren't incapable or ineffective in providing the same benefits of living as a traditional mixed-sex family. In fact, the vast majority of children's advocacy organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Social Workers, and the American Psychological Association, recognize that gay and lesbian parents are as good as heterosexual parents, and that children thrive in gay-and lesbian-headed families.
  
  I've also listened to arguments, referencing a few isolated scriptures namely Leviticus 18:22 or 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. I'm flabbergasted, I'm miffed because the Bible is an amazing text yet, it outlines a few disturbing ideas that aren't acceptable by today's standards in society. Many take the Bible literally at their own folly. When you read the Bible, you can find justification for almost anything including slavery, stoning, the subjection of women and an argument that the sun actually revolves around the earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, I have been born again and strive to live a life of love, compassion and peaceful co-existence with my neighbors be they heterosexual or homosexual. I believe that the Bible is filled with figurative stories which woven together creates a beautiful tapestry by which we try to live out through our lives. However, I'm struggling to reconcile my beliefs with that of my church.
  
  It's very hard for one to logically and reasonably argue selective interpretation of the Bible. I'm seeking clarity from you, a man I know to be well versed in complicated Biblical history, interpretation and contemporary application. Any insights that you are willing to share would be most appreciated. I apologize in advance for the length of this message but it is a very meaty subject that I wanted to unpack from my perspective before outlining my questions and concerns around the Church's aversion to marriage equality.
  
  Peace&Blessings,
  Isis (A concerned member of *&^%  @!#$/ and an intellectual Christian seeking clarity)
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  Pastor's Thoughtful Response

    

  Thanks for your email for your very thoughtful message. Let me just say that I’ve been very excited to see the church at large rediscovering it’s prophetic voice. For too long I believe the church has been silent on too many issues that effect the country as a whole, and our community in particular. In the last couple of months Reid Temple has become engaged some key issues of justice and morality outside of the sanctuary. We’ve worn hoodies for Trayvon, and have spoken out against gambling. So of course the marriage equality bill would also occasion the church to speak. Obviously we have the legal right, but more importantly we have the biblical imperative to speak to issues within our society from our perspective.
  
  I hope that we are able to sustain this kind of engagement on all sorts of issues. Like you I love the president, but it should be pointed out that it was he that took to the bully pulpit and placed this issue within the public debate. The church is just having it’s say, but we also believe in putting our money where out mouth is. So in addition to being critical of the poor schools in the county we have also invested millions to creating a quality and affordable private school. We preach against economic inequities, but we also feed the poor, provide resources to families in need, and provide financial training so that people can live debt free. My only point is that our church seeks not exist in the world, but to impact it for the cause of Christ. I think that context is important for this discussion.  

   

  In John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

   

  This is the core belief of the Christianity. It underscores God’s love for us, God’s gift to us, the role of faith, and cost of sin, and the benefit of a relationship with God – salvation. All of that is just in verse 16. From there we understand that Jesus comes not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Belief in him delivers us from condemnation, but those who don’t believe are condemned in their sins. So judgment is the result of our acceptance or rejection of Jesus. Well why would anyone reject Jesus? Because He is light, and people love darkness better then light because their deeds are evil. (sin) Light exposes all of the things that are wrong, but people who are living right love the light. Now I think this is pretty clear. Now all we have to do is figure out what’s evil and what’s good and what’s evil.

   

  Scripture is clear about human sexuality. Remember it’s not just the scriptures you sight or even Roman’s 1. It’s the fact that no where in the bible can gay people marry or is homosexuality ever endorsed. Interestingly, adultery, and heterosexual fornication are equally forbidden, but for some reason although the church has always preached against them – along with lying, pride, gossip..etc.. there’s never been any controversy. Why is homosexuality different? Gay marriage historically as a concept has not even existed within Christian thought for 2000 years, until about 20 years ago so how can all of a sudden it be a tenant of the faith?To be sure there are areas of controversy in scripture. Here’s something I said on face book about biblical hermeneutics.

   

  As you know there are times when scriptures seems paradoxical, (a seeming contradiction that points to a higher truth) such as with not allowing women to preach, or seemingly permitting slavery. In one place we’ll hear, “slaves obey your masters,” and “I allow no women to speak publicly”- at another time you’ll see now there is no male or female, slave or free. So in instances like that you have to bring scripture into conversation with itself, and overlay historical criticism with the net result. That there were females prophets, and Paul himself referenced his mother in the faith so obviously women can preach and teach, and of course Jesus’ reading of Isaiah in the temple more then addresses the slavery issue, not to mention the historical differences between biblical slavery and the Atlantic Slave trade. Homosexuality on the other hand is universally regarded as sin in scripture. On this like other areas of sin, the bible speaks with one voice, and so the church speaks with one voice on sin. We believe the bible. That we were all born in sin, and shapen in iniquity…and also all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The joy is that Jesus’ blood saves us from our sin, and offers us forgiveness when we fall, and deliverance, and strength of discipline. Some thing’s he'll either take away from us, or he’ll give us power to overcome. Jesus allows us to be born again...(John 3) which means no matter what sins we were born with, they no longer have to define us. None of us have the same struggle, but all of us have a struggle, and this is the cross to which Jesus referred when he said, “if any of you want to be my disciples, let him take up his cross and follow me.”

   

  Since you’ve been at Reid I’m confident that you’ve heard sermons, and testimonies that declare of the love of God for all people, and the open invitation for everyone to be a part of his kingdom. You’ve also no doubt heard warnings against all kinds of sin. The reality is that these are one in the same message. Our love for people wants to see them living in the light, and not in darkness. When I tell my daughter not to touch the stove i do it because I love her. We’ve got members who are felons, drug dealers and users, heterosexual fornicators, adulterers, liars, and everything else under the sun. Our gay and transgender members are just a part of that mix. We are all struggling and in process, and God is faithful.

   

  I hope this helps. And I’ll be praying for you.

  Blessings

   

   Please share your thoughts or ideas around the subject of marriage equality and the position of the Church.