The biggest theological and ethical issue that the 21st century Church in America has faced and will continue to face is the issue of how we respond to the LGBTQ community at large and to those within our churches who “come out” specifically.
First off…I will likely piss off and rile up a bunch of people with this post. For some I will be too conservative. For others too liberal. Many may think I am compromising one way or another. I am not perfect, and neither are my views on anything. However, I simply wish to direct this conversation a bit as a Pastor. This is the hot button of all hot button issues. However, I hate when people talk generally about “the homosexual issue”. Let us rather talk about how to engage with LGBTQ people whom God loves and died for.
It is increasingly less taboo in American culture to be openly gay. Culture has shifted considerably in this area. Some see it as as a good thing, others remain fearful of the changes. Nevertheless, we followers of Jesus must better learn what it means to missionally contextualize ourselves in our current culture. In the past the choice for those in our churches with same-sex attraction was to either “stay in the closet” in secrecy and shame or to “come out” and potentially be ostracized and kicked out. Many good Christian kids tried unsuccessfully to “pray the gay away” and were constantly in fear that their parents would find out and excommunicate them from their families and churches. Many of these kids left their church and escaped to the embracing arms of the secular LGBTQ community and have never returned. The traditionalist conservative evangelical side has not had a great track record with graciously engaging those who come out with the love of Jesus. Although we try to take seriously the Biblical passages addressing homosexuality, we have often done so in a Pharisaical self-righteous way that singles out gay people as “the worst of sinners”.
Tim Keller says that more liberal or so called “progressive” churches have responded to this dilemma by ignoring or laying aside those parts of the Bible that talk about homosexuality in the effort to better love, accept, and embrace their gay neighbors and fellow church members. Many of the people in these left leaning congregations are indeed very humble, kind, generous, and hospitable people. The problem is that often once certain Biblical passages are overlooked or reinterpreted, other vital passages and accompanying doctrines seem to follow. The real question evangelical Christians must ask ourselves is whether we can hold on to our orthodox interpretations of these Biblical passages while at the same time repenting of the ways in which we have failed to respond to gay people as Jesus would.
I am new to the Anabaptist Christian tradition. I am convinced we must lead the way in helping chart a “third way” in this area going forward. BIC (Brethren In Christ) Pastor Bruxy Cavy says that we need not change our theology, but our hearts toward LGBTQ people. We must realize that we have many brothers and sisters in Jesus who identify as “gay Christians”. We may agree or disagree with the ways they have decided to live their lives to various degrees. But we can no longer say that they are not Christians or are automatically going to hell simply because of being gay. Many have embraced the gospel, accepted their own sinfulness and need for a savior, chosen to follow Jesus daily as the Lord of their lives, and exhibit considerable spiritual fruit. This looks different for each individual. Some have chosen to marry someone of the opposite sex anyway. Many have gotten married or desire to be married to a same-sex partner within the bounds of the Church. Some have felt God call them to a life of singleness or celibacy in the service of God’s kingdom (ala the Apostle Paul). Still others have entered into celibate life partnerships or unions.
God loves all people. The Father sent Jesus to die a sacrificial and atoning death for all people. This includes LGBTQ people. Neo-Anabaptist Pastor Greg Boyd says that we as the Church of Jesus Christ can no longer live as a “holy club that minimizes the sins of those inside the club while maximizing the sins of those outside the club”. We need to repent of the way we have made homosexuality to be “the sin above all other sins”. We must repent of being more known as judgmental condemning accusers than the radically humble and gracious lovers of all people in the way of Jesus Christ. We must embrace the Biblical call to be ministers of reconciliation who see ourselves as the “worst of sinners”, considering the sins of others as merely specks of sawdust compared to the logs sticking out of our own eyes. We are all “sinners” Biblically speaking. We all have “missed the mark” and “fallen short” of God’s ideal. We are all broken in one way or another. We all need Jesus Christ.
- Does a LGBTQ person already in our church feel safe being honest and open about who they are?
- Would an openly gay person be truly welcomed to visit and join our church family?
- Have we continued to faithfully hold onto the foundation of the written word of God without compromise?
- Have we either entrenched ourselves in the conservative/traditionalist position or strayed to the liberal/progressive position while failing to “walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us”? (Ephesians 5:2)
Thy Kingdom Come 