Since we cannot deal with all these in one brief essay (one class session), I have chosen to deal with the issue that seems to be the most difficult for Christians -- homosexuality. Since we first seek God's will to guide us in our thinking, believing and behaving, it is important for us to go to Scripture. There are several prominent passages in the Old and New Testament that deal with various aspects of "sexual sin" as suggested above in Leviticius. Others would be: Genesis 19:1-25 (the story of Lot and his Angel (male) visitors and the men of the city of Sodom coming to his door demanding that the visitors come outside so that they may KNOW them (Hebrew word that connotes "having sex with"). Thus, we get the word Sodomites, those who commit male-to-male sex relations.

It is interesting to note that Lot offers his two daughters who are virgins for the men to "know" instead of his male visitors. Boy!!

In I Corinthians 6:9-10, one finds a list of those who cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. In addition, read I Timothy 1:20 and Romans 1; 18-27 which pronounces the "wrath of God" upon those who commit certain sins, including sexual sins.

I hope you will remember from last week that as United Methodists (of which I am one), we have three other sources of truth or discerning the will of God, namely Tradition, Experience and Reason.

What does Tradition have to teach us about homosexuality? The Tradition mostly supports the Scriptural condemnation of homosexuality. Here is the statement from the United Methodist Discipline: "Homosexual persons no less than heterosexual persons are individuals of sacred worth, who need the ministry and guidance of the Church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well as the spiritual and emotional care of a fellowship which enables reconciling relationships with God, with others, and with self. Further, we insist that all persona are entitled to have their human and civil rights ensured, though we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching." [DISCIPLINE OF UM CHURCH]

The Roman Catholic Church has been very much in the news in recent years, finally being forced to confront the issue of child sex abuse from some of its clergy. Some non-Catholics would say that the main reason for the abuse is the unrealistic expectation that their clergy be celibate (living without a partner). Most Roman Catholic leaders would not admit to that. Pope John Paul II was finally convinced of the real problems in the American church and began to confront the issue of homosexuality among the clergy. The current Pope Benedict XVI is following through with much stronger restraints on keeping homosexual persons out of seminaries. Some charge that Roman Catholic Seminaries have been a hot-bed for gays. I do not know that.

The United Methodist Church, along with most other mainline Protestant denominations and most Sect groups, as well as more conservative Christian Churches, does not ordain "known practicing homosexuals." (Two important words to keep in mind -- "known" and "practicing.") The Bible makes no distinction between sexual orientation or preference and the practice of homosexuality. In the United Methodist Church the emphasis is on "celibacy in singleness and fidelity in marriage." Most churches in recent years have had to deal with the thorny issue of gay clergy persons and some trials have been held with mixed outcomes. The Episcopal Church two years ago ordained a known gay priest (who had a partner) as a bishop. A lot of tension has developed in the whole Anglican Communion around the world as a result of this action.

What does our experience tell us about homosexuality? I imagine that all who read this will have his own particular take on the issue based in part on how one has experienced homosexuality. In high school in the 1940's we had at least two young men who were know as "sissies." I never remember hearing the words "gay" or "homosexual." There were those who threw around words like "fag" and "queer," though I never felt comfortable using such terms because they seemed to be too dehumanizing. Most homosexuals were "in the closet" because the social pressures and conditions made it very difficult to be openly gay. When I was in Senior College and studying Sociology-Anthropology, our professor, Dr. Vernon Wharton, Millsaps College, told us that perhaps as many as "10% of males have homosexual tendencies." I do not remember his even mentioning "females." In fact, the word "lesbian" was slow in becoming a part of our vocabulary. But we know now that homosexuality among females is substantial.

In my experience as a minister, I have known quite a number of gay persons. Many of them were active church persons who seemed to be rather well-adjusted human beings. Others had to deal with real "demons" in their lives and found their sexual orientation to be a burden. During those years when "coming out" was not as acceptable, many persons married, hoping they could "overcome" their homosexual tendencies. Many people in fact are bi-sexual, but if the homosexual tendencies are very strong it is almost impossible to live in a heterosexual relationship. I knew one minister who evidently hoped to rid himself of this orientation and married. Several weeks or months after the marriage, the wife could not understand why their marriage had not been consumated through sexual intercourse. He obviously could not function in that typical male role.

What about Reason? How do we deal with this complex issue from the standpoint of reason?

The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association (a part of the AMA) ruled, I believe, in the 1990's that homosexuality should not be treated as a pathology.

I am inclined toward that explanation. I believe that homosexuality is primarily genetically determined. According to Time Magazine in a recent article, the average age now at which male gays "come out is 14" and for lesbians is 16. My own experience suggests to me that by age 14, I certainly had strong attractions to females and strong feelings against any type of male overture.

If homosexuality is proven to be basically a genetic characteristic, then one could argue that "Natural Law" is in play and that we should not expect anyone to go against his/her "nature" when it comes to sexual expression. On the other hand, one could argue from Natural Law that male-female is the created order, from the beginning , "And God created male and female" -- and they were expected to multiply upon the earth. One of the arguments for male and female unions is also the fact that birth rates are almost 50-50. Actually, the birth rate for boys is slightly higher than girls and, interestingly enough, the mortality rate for boys is higher in the early years of life.

Would God expect a person to deny his humanity (humanness) if one is born with homosexual tendencies (sometimes the feminine attributes can be seen in small boys; likewise, the male attributes can be seen in small girls). All of us have both feminine and masculine attributes, one or the other is more pronounced in some than in others. Sex-change operations are occurring more often in recent years because so many people feel they "are trapped in a body that is not an expression of who they really are."

There are many differing viewpoints about homosexuality among Christians.

1. Some believe that because all the biblical references are harsh in criticizing homosexuality that it must be against God's will and is therefore sinful.
2 Some are concerned to distinguish between "orientation" and "practice."
3. Some believe that the biblical references must be taken seriously but are not definitive for all time.
4. Some believe that the biblical references and allusions were so culturally shaped by the times in which they were written and the prevalent social values that they are insufficient guides for modern times. Homosexuality was very prevalent in the Greek-Roman world, especially among the intellectuals and political leaders. Some of Paul's harsh attitudes might have been influenced by what he saw in his travels.

Unfortunately, the Church has not fully come to the point of accepting homosexual persons and incorporating them into the fellowship of love and caring. Fundamentalist leaders' attacks on gays have grown increasingly in recent years, especially since the Supreme Court struck down "Lawrence v Texas" sodomy statutes. And the elections in 2004 further demonized and marginalized gays because in 11 states the issue of "gay marriage" was voted down by substantial margins.

What shall we think? What shall we believe? How shall we behave? What is the will of God for us, especially heterosexual Christians, in the way we relate to homosexual persons -- also made in the image of God?

May I suggest that many would profit by seeing the movie, "Brokeback Mountain," the story of two cowboys in Wyoming who, beginning in the 1960's and over 20 years, sustained a rather convulsive and frustrating love affair. It may not be an easy movie to watch, but it could help us better understand the passion that is generated within such a relationship.

This topic will continue to be a hot-button issue for years to come, but we know "that the times they are a'changing." How will we affirm the human and civil rights of those, who, for any reason, are very different from us? As parents, how will we deal with children or grandchildren who are gay? How will the church show forth the redemptive love of Christ?

Remember, Jesus is not reported to have had anything to say against gay persons. In fact, he often seemed to stand up for those on the margins of society -- the prostitutes, the tax-collectors, the Samaritans and the lepers. Who are the prostitutes, tax-collectors, the Samaritans and the lepers in our day -- and in our community?

Want to leave a comment or ask a question?
Visit the USADS Message Board
or write Ye Editor at bethjacks@hotmail.com.




Please check our submissions page for guidelines.


Back to USADEEPSOUTH - I index page

Back to USADEEPSOUTH - II index page