From: smayo@wang.com (Scott Mayo)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Homosexuality and the so-called "Christian biblical stance."
Date: 22 Jul 92 06:14:55 GMT
Organization: Wang Labs, Lowell MA, USA

onstott@a.cs.okstate.edu (ONSTOTT CHARLES OR) writes:

>Question:  Which is more spiritually damaging to Christian followers:
>closed minded, dogmatic application of selected lines from the Bible, or,
>the actual teaching of Christ?

>Answer:  Christianity is in a decline because of its closed-minded 
>dogmatic approaches to a changing society.  Unless it can open its
>mind and find new ways of interpreting the same text, it is doomed
>to failure.  This is the most spiritually damaging situation conceivable.

First of all, a great deal of what I know to be the teachings of Jesus *are*
based on the text of the Bible. Not to minimise the work of the Holy
Spirit in my or anyone else's life, but let's not argue that the application
of scripture is the root of all Christian evil, please. Anything can be
taken out of context, and Christian texts are clearly no exception. In the
main, though, I know Jesus in exactly two ways - his work within my life,
and his relevation through the Bible. Let's not be too quick to discount
the latter. Even if what we find preached there falls harshly on tender
modern ears.

To me, it borders on offensive to claim that "Christianity is in a decline
because of its closed-minded dogmatic approaches to a changing society."
This is patently absurd. Christianity is in a decline in *my* country
because it teaches an offensive message, and always has. The phrase "the
offense of the cross" is very old and speaks to the situation Christianity
puts us in - to wit, the Good News starts with some real bad news, which is
that we humans are sinners. If Christianity wants to score points and
not be "in a decline", it could start by denying its Lord and changing
its message of salvation. I submit that at that point it is no longer
Christianity. But "another gospel" so created could be quite popular. Is
that what you want? The offense of a view against homonsexual practice
pales in comparison to the offense of telling folk that they are all sinners;
and I don't think you can do away with that latter offense without discarding
Jesus in the process.

It seems to me that the homosexuality question is not very interesting.
The practice of homosexuality is listed as a blatant sin. I'd tell a
homosexual, based on this, that he or she should avoid the practice of
his inclination for this reason. I also note that Jesus supports the view
that adultery is a sin, and extended it into my very thought-life: in as
much as I have desired other women, some of them married, I'm an adulterer.
I don't see that that's any better or worse than being a homosexual. The
message we ought to be carrying into homosexual circles is not that they
are damned for being homosexuals; folks, you get that just for being
human. The message is that God wants us back, that he loves us and wants
us to turn from "our little ways" - my adulterous thought-life, a
practicing homosexual's sexuality, a hate-filled person's murderous
thoughts, all of it. The message is also that God has made provision to
forgive those who are willing to turn and be forgiven. If a homosexual takes
such offense at being told that God wants him to supress his desires, that
he rejects God, then he has rejected God and not much else can be done. Good
old Harry down the street, who has no blatant difficulties in his life but
happens to think God is a lot of hogwash is in just the same mess. I fail
to see a valid distinction, and I fail to see why the church (any church)
should make a special issue out of homosexuality. It's wrong; but how much
have *you* done today that God views as righteous? The good news is that
forgiveness is available to the repentant.

Christianity is not in a decline in other countries, BTW. Americans may
be frowning it down, and the process is further advanced in Europe, as
I understand it. But there is a lot more to the world than those two
places, and Christianity is making converts at a great rate elsewhere.
Offensive message and all.
--
"There is no other stream," said Aslan.
smayo@wang.com