Hmm - there is a problem
Submitted by Forgiven on January 19 2002 18:00:57
In reply to Hardened BL hearts submitted by Jiggles on January 19 2002 17:10:44
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with the argument that we can offer a Christianity that is free of saints and sinners. At the heart of the Christian message is a call to repentance - to go God's way through life rather than seek to live as you want to. Jesus didn't die in agony on the cross to give us a free ride to heaven, in the sense of allowing us to live as we want to regardless of God's call on our lives. That's how your message CAN be heard - and it is a gospel of 'cheap grace' that is dangerously wrong. On the other hand there is a desperate need for the church to give space to the struggling, repentant sinner - on the basis that a church is nothing except a bunch of struggling, repentant sinners. A big problem of course comes when there is a belief that in fact they are OK and they've earnt their ticket to heaven; unlike that lot over there. And it makes for easy sermons for the pastor to focus on certain common sins, and indulge in cheap jibs about them. In that context the Gay community is a common target - and peds one of the easiest. The alternative problem is that the issue is never talked about. It is one of the most significant features of human being that if they don't keep reinforcing a belief, then it will fade out of acceptance, to the point where the church merely conforms to the world's standard on the issue. Therefore it is legitimate for churches that believe gay sex is always wrong to say so - but they need to do so in a way that doesn't come over as being generally rejecting of ALL gay people. THIS IS NOT EASY!! I don't know how far that answers your question - or even gives a hint. The recent flame war that I got caught up in started from asking the same question, and as a result we got distracted from answering it. It would be nice if we could have a better go at it this time. I attach a link to a fascinating article I read recently by an Anglican Monk; I hope you find it as helpful as I did (yes it's the same one as I linked to further down the board...) |
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