Christianity and Homosexuality: A New Approach?

Homosexuality.

Christianity

LGBTIQA People.

The Church

Two groups that have not done well in relating to each other. Predominantly the fault of the larger, more powerful group, the church. There are a myriad of problems with relating a homosexual lifestyle to a Christian one - and every exchange and word is loaded with a history of resentment, judgement.

That's not really what a body - the church - which is supposed to be an expression of love, should look like.

It's not how the Church should treat anyone. Ever.

Often, the Church needs to apologise. I want to apologise - for every time I have belittled someone because of their sexuality, or made uneducated and bigoted judgements, or simplistic, hate-filled statements. I apologise.

I don't think Jesus wanted a church that oppressed a group, that squashed a group, that HATED a group of people - made in his image, even whilst fallen and unique, in the way that the Church can often hate Homosexuals.

Jesus wanted a church that brought his kingdom, that transformed lives, that saved souls, that lit fires, that changed the world.

Jesus brought truth AND grace.

The Christian worldview - and its relation to every issue - is in orbit around the twin poles of Scripture. The radical revelation of God's clear and challenging truth AND the beautiful power of God's love and grace. To be a Christian and to ignore the truth of what Jesus says about anything is to ignore Jesus. To be a Christian and to ignore the love that Jesus embodied, and commanded others to express, is to ignore Jesus. To be a Christian, a Jesus-Follower, is to live a life that looks properly ridiculous to everyone except the God who made you, and maybe some of the people travelling the journey with you.

Which is why the Church needs a new approach to Homosexuality. A new approach that is actually an old approach. An approach that predates the church, and goes to the core of the created order, the Gospel message, and the heart of God. One that includes truth, and expresses love. One that values truth, and proclaims it. One that burns with love, and expresses it. I'm grateful to God - and incredibly fortunate - to have been blessed by the ministry and preaching of two churches especially in my life. You can look at the links above to find them online. CSBC instilled in me the awesome gift of appreciation of the Word of God, and a love of Jesus. The pastors, leaders, and members of that church consistently challenge me to seek God, know him better, and apply the truths of the bible. Trent has challenged me on a myriad of issues. And expresses God's love to people in brilliant ways, week in, week out. And Trent has also challenged the culture. The approach I want to take in this post is based on - in part - John Wright's recent talks on the subject. Please, rather than read my ramblings, listen to the two sermons - superb.

The problem with a two-pronged approach to any issues in a time-bound form of media is that one prong will come first. So I'm going to start with truth. Because any Christian approach to any issue should be grounded in truth - expressed through love. And the truths that relate to the tricky issue of Homosexuality are clear. God made man - and loves what he has made. Man has fallen - every man and woman - and everyone sins. Everyone. Pastors. Christian bloggers. Footballers. Homosexuals. Germans. English people. Every person sins. Among these - and we cannot tweak the text of the bible to say otherwise - is the sin of sexual activity outside of marriage. Thats a blanket thing. The details of it are not the issue - the principle of monogamy in heterosexual marriage (Which is how the bible defines it ultimately) is the key thing. Which means that sexual activity outside of marriage - from lust to promiscuity, from adultery to same-sex activity - is sin, according to the God of the bible. What is not sinful - but is rather human nature - is the orientation behind the desire to act. All of us desire - because of our orientation regarding desire and activity, whatever they may be - to act in ways we should not. The church has not been good at challenging sin in every area - too often an especial vitriol is reserved for members of the Gay community - and that has to change.

It has to change - I have to change - you have to change - everything has to change. Because of the flip side of the coin. Because of the radical truth of God's unbounded, transformative, awesome, total love. Expressed through Jesus, through the Cross and Resurrection we celebrate at Easter, and expressed through his spirit-filled followers even today. The love writ large in the Bible - often obscured by our own poor interpretation. This love is one that allowed Jesus - the Son of God - to come to earth. To relax and eat with prostitutes and tax collectors. To challenge the religious leaders of his day. To affirm the law. To affirm the created order. And to love people regardless. Whether they worked out who he was or not. To speak to them. To heal them. God's love - an expression of Trinity, the very being and essence of God - is the radical truth that this world needs to here. That the Church needs to rediscover. And the Gay community needs to feel from the Church.

If we can grasp these two huge ideas in perfect balance, then the Church can love large and speak truth again. If we err from either, we err from Jesus.

Christianity and Homosexuality are not easily reconcilable issues. Jesus did not condone same-sex partnerships. Or heterosexual ones outside of marriage. But Jesus did come to show a better way. A kingdom way. A way of life grounded in Grace and Truth...

As ever, I'd welcome your comments, stories and book recommendations. I hope this has been thought-provoking.

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UPDATE 29/11/13 - A great new website launched today, looking at this complex issue through the perspective of individuals, theological thought, and book reviews. Endorsed by some great folks and well designed, check out Living Out!

This is of course written at a time when the issue and relation of faith and sexuality is at the forefront of political debate. I'd urge you to consider what marriage is, how we can engage in the debate, and what the reality of public opinion and rights law currently is.