We watched a documentary by Louis Theroux called 'The Most Hated Family in America'. It was about a church in the States who feel that God wants them to tell homosexual people that they are destined for hell, by picketing and doing broadcasts.
It made for quite disturbing viewing and I couldn't help but feel that Louis was the one best representing how Jesus would have felt. He made the point that it was an issue Jesus didn't actually mention and that he had other priorities.
We then discussed the programme and talked about the difficulties surrounding the issue. We thought about questions such as: Is it wrong for people to be practising homosexuals? Is it our place to tell them? Which issues should we as Christians speak out boldly about? Do we consider sexual sins somehow worse than other sins?
It was clear tonight that we all have different views on this tricky topic. Some of us feel that loving homosexual relationships are probably not such a big issue for a God of grace; others felt strongly that they need to take the Bible more at face value. Do leave us your thoughts on the topic.
11 comments:
I really really wish I could have come, but Tim is still away. Sounds like a good interesting discussion. Hope to be with you next Thursday!
It was very interesting, Helen. We're missing seeing you and Tim, but hopefully come the New Year and things settle down a bit, we'll see you both again.
It's an interesting subject for me, as I'm really unsure where I stand on it, and it's the kind of topic I'd really like to have a well thought out view on.
Unfortunately, like lots of issues, the more you read the background to the passages in the Bible that talk about homosexuality, the less black and white the issue seems to be.
I think I'd remember that (certainly in my experience) God is incredibly grace-full, and perhaps less fussed about some of the things that we think are deal-breakers.
What do you think, Helen?
This sounds like such an interesting thing... indeed, I am in a state of uncertainty over it. On the one hand we're all human with needs and desires, and on the other some parts of the Bible, both OT & NT, aren't exactly kind about homosexuality.
We attended a blessing for two women a few years ago, and it was probably among the most moving, beautiful of services I've ever been to, even though I went along with a considerable amount of tacit evangelical baggage.
This will likely cause huge splits in Anglicanism soon with pressure to accept gay ordination and gay bishops... very difficult, and not solved in a short blog post!
We went to a great talk by Tony Campolo at Greenbelt a few years ago on the subject. The thrust of it was apologising to the gay community for the appalling way that the church treats them.
His point was that it's too harsh to demand that gay people be celibate without the church coming up with some sort of alternative means of giving them the affection and companionship that we all need.
I'm glad you felt able to go to the lesbian blessing Tim - I think a lot of Christians would struggle with wanting to 'do the right thing' by God. I'm sure in supporting and showing love to those friends, you did the godly thing.
There was an interesting debate on Radio 4 this week with Desmond Tutu about this topic. Well worth a listen if you have broadband.
Tutu - any chance of a link?
Ta :o)
Andy has sent you an email with the link in it.
Let us know what you and Helen make of the programme. We didn't agree on whose view we most related to, interestingly.
Just read this on a website concerning how this debate is gone over so much:
"I am into necrophilia, bestiality and sadism.......... am I just flogging a dead horse" ?
A lot of debate going on at St Pixel's HERE of relevance...
Tim
Interesting article on New Scientist HERE
Oh dear....
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