tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post3398690725484228313..comments2024-03-29T08:52:01.745-04:00Comments on Not Another Episcopal Church Blog: Inside/Outside +VGRUndergroundpewsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-68846705854332552482009-07-14T10:22:16.387-04:002009-07-14T10:22:16.387-04:00In an exegesis of Romans 1, Cambridge scholar Simo...In an exegesis of Romans 1, Cambridge scholar Simon Gathercole notes that Paul is teaching that God gives humanity over to homosexuality as a result of the deliberate suppression of the truth (idolatry, cf. vv. 21-32). Now, he does not say that a homosexual person today is that way because he/she personally has suppressed truth; rather, it along with a broad catalog of sinful and ultimately destructive behaviors are part and parcel of humanity. <br /><br />The question is not how one became gay (or, in my case, an intemperate backbiter among many other horrible things), but rather, <i>what is the way out?</i>. The first step on the road to renewal is always repentance, the acknowledgment that I am on the wrong course and need to get out. God meets us more than halfway if we're serious about it (James 4:6-10).<br /><br />And so Jesus, as always, is correct. If we do not believe in Him -- and why do we believe if not to be delivered from our sins? -- we will all likewise perish.Chuck Hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01929470338280066656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-74229974203058843662009-07-13T09:52:44.896-04:002009-07-13T09:52:44.896-04:00Dear Sage,
I know I have a beam in my eye and cha...Dear Sage,<br /><br />I know I have a beam in my eye and chains around my ankles too. The things you mention "and anything else not open to life" (whatever that means) are among the innumerable things of life that we hold to or engage in for which we are called to give up and turn to repentance. There comes a time when one realizes that the speck you thought was in your eye is not only a beam, but the whole tree, roots, dirt, and all. The realization that we are hopelessly entwined in the world. No matter what you do, we cannot rationalize away sin. We are all sinners in His sight.<br /><br />Self-justification is not the answer. On our own, we are unable to cleanse ourselves of our sins. <br /><br />I commend to you <a href="http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Psalm+25" rel="nofollow">Psalm 25</a> from today's morning readings.Undergroundpewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-2127599245468565692009-07-12T13:33:11.029-04:002009-07-12T13:33:11.029-04:00E. Sage, may I inquire which Bible you read, becau...E. Sage, may I inquire which Bible you read, because mine seems pretty clear on these issues? <br /><br />Either certain conduct is sin or it is not. The moment we seek to justify sin by invoking the love of God, who is indeed most merciful, as a sanction for our own behavior, is the moment we begin to worship a graven image: our own failed human-ness.<br /><br />As for Bishop Robinson, given that he was married and has children by his wife, query whether "God's" plan, included breaking the vows of matrimony as well, in order to be a "whole" person?<br /><br />Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107887.post-31370849557047877782009-07-12T08:45:00.192-04:002009-07-12T08:45:00.192-04:00Yes, but,
If the God of the Bible is really intra...Yes, but,<br /><br />If the God of the Bible is really intransigently anti-homosexual-genital-contact,<br /><br />How much more so is He against female ordination, divorce, birth control, masturbation, and anything else not open to life?<br /><br />I don't find a gay prohibition in the Bible. What I find in the Bible are a few stray comments that add up to virtually nothing--USED by social conservatives to justify their prejudice and allay their troubled conscience.<br /><br />Whereas, God speaketh most clearly on the other issues aformentioned.<br /><br />What should I do, brothers? I'm very strongly traditional, indeed conservative on most issues. Yet I experience myself as homosexual, and do not find this a problem. <br /><br />Well--it's a problem insofar as YOU make it a problem. That much I'll grant you.<br /><br />So, fire all the "lady priests" and indeed demote all females in TEC who have any authority over men whatsoever.<br /><br />Refuse to ordain anyone who chooses to live the divorced lifestyle (ie, non-celibate, non-remarrying).<br /><br />Make sure your sons turn in their shorts every morning, and check for stains.<br /><br />THEN and only then--once the beam is out of your own lustful eye--may you come and examine the speck in my own.<br /><br />Till that day, Matthew Shephard hangs on a cross, not of my devising, but yours.Episcopalian Sagenoreply@blogger.com