Future Plans

this is not really a post, but I want to express my gratitude to everyone and comment quickly upon the cultural issue. 

David wonders if "cuturally bound" christianity results in a sort of babel Christianity, and if the agnostic view of homosexual behavior is imperialistic.   But being culturally bound isn't a bad thing - in fact it represents the incarnation.  How do we get to understand each other?  By praying together.  I'm not sure if it matters that a Nigerian, or my girlfriend, or my stepmother believes exactly as I do, and I'm not sure how I would evaluate exactness.   But I don't think Christ requires we believe in exact things - this seems to remove God's grace.  I hope to Jesus I'm not judged on my thinking.  And I sometimes hope I'm not judged on the quality of my faith. 

I do confront the "imperial" view elsewhere, arguing that the current African view of sexuality resides in the self-understanding of Africans constructed by the west in the 19th century.  Africans themselves have bought into the notions of sexuality and hypermasculinity that the Victorians thought true, in part because the African elite read those books the British wrote.    

David also reminds us that most Christians and the tradition holds a view that genital sex between two men continues to be an abomination.  He is right about the tradition, but the set of truth and tradition is not exactly the same; and most people in a religion can be wrong.  We have to ask:  why would homosexuality be an abomination to Christians?  My own criteria is simple - does it benefit the Christian community; does it create people who are more loving, patient, encouraging and disciplined?   The tradition is helpful, but it is also full of human error.  As am I.

But keep tuned.  In October I will be doing something a bit different - and far more entertaining.

Comments

[Jay]

We will, of course, stay tuned, Salty. I have plenty of room for your RSS feed! I am wiser for pondering your thoughts here. My prayers for Godspeed and a strong tailwind your next project.

[Jay]

Typos in valedictions. Sigh.
"a strong tailwind in your next project."

[William Sulik]

Hey Rev. I disagree with you on most things theological, but I appreciate your voice and tone. I hope you will continue to leave comments on T19.

wm.

"Let the reader, where we are equally confident, stride on with me; where we are equally puzzled, pause to investigate with me; where he finds himself in error, come to my side; where he finds me erring, call me to his side. So that we may keep to the path, in love, as we fare on toward Him, 'whose face is ever to be sought.'"

-- Augustine of Hippo, The Trinity 1.5

[Wren]

A very refreshing blog!
My name is Wren...hello from Montreal, Canada.
I have a discussion forum here...
http://z6.invisionfree.com/denominations
Please know that you are very welcome to register and participate anytime.
God bless you.

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[Willo]

It is October and I am still tuned in...

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[Elmo]

It seems that everything removes God's grace these days.

Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, moral expectations, piety/purity...

[Dragoon]

" why would homosexuality be an abomination to Christians?"

The answer is simple. Any sin before God should be an abomination before 'Christians'. In calling oneself a Christian, one should be affirming that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.

That 'Lord' criteria is important. It says that I no longer see the world through my own personal value system, but conform to the ideas and values of my Master. To do less would be taking Christ's name... and doing it shame.

Biblically (which should be the litmus test for Christian views, not community standards or people) it is clear that God abhors homosexuality... as he does any sin.

A homosexual though is no better or worse than ANY man since we have all fallen and are sinful (1Jn 1:8), and no sin is better or worse than any other (see James 2:10). Though we are to hate the sin, we are always to love the person.

Loving someone does not mean telling them that anything they do is ok. Loving someone means caring enough about them to tell them when they are doing wrong... though we are to speak the truth with love (Eph4:15).

Is homosexuality wrong? Perhaps not in the eyes of my community, or my neighbour... but it is in the eyes of God. The question is; who will I listen to, God or man? Who will I serve; myself or Christ?