Re: You mean it's not as bad as I fear?
Submitted by Ray on February 10 1999 at 06:00:04
In reply to Re: You mean it's not as bad as I fear? Submitted by Oliver on February 10 1999 at 01:32:11
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F.O.D., The whole tone of this discussion makes me extremely angered and agitated because of the type of intepretation and application of scripture, understanding of revelation, and advice to you who are questioning. I would probably write a more pleasant response if I worked off the anger and agitation for a few days. But I've been dealing with your questions in one way or another for most of my life, and it's time I learn how to speak through the anger and agitation. First, several of the emphases in scripture! Creation, Genesis 2:4b-25: This passage (and quotes of vs 24 in Mt, Mk, 1 Cor & Eph) is usually interpreted to depict "God's plan" for providing a "helper" for man and ordering the world into male and female pairs. Ever since I noticed the word "Therefore" at the beginning of vs 24, I have come to understand it as an apology (formal justification) for heterosexual marriage -- which happens to reveal, as well, man's need for a "helper." The apology as to why a man would cling to a man or woman to woman as helper/companion is unstated, but assumed by Paul to be unnatural lust and idolatry, some of which he may have observed. Paul states in Romans that "Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way aslo the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another." (Rom 1:26b-27a NRSV) I certainly wouldn't state that intercourse between men and women is unnatural! But to assume that it is a full statement of all that is natural, I think, is irresponsible and naive! I believe it is natural for some persons to be attracted to persons of the same gender/sex and that it is natural for them to become helpmates to each other. What is unnatural is to expect them to bond and be helpmates to someone of the opposite gender/sex! It seems to me that it is only recently that society is beginning to overlay gender/sex with an analytical structure that is not bi-polar man/woman and allow public discussion, and that there is a long academically road to discovery of "God's plan" for women and men and society. Calling homosexual orientation immoral puts up roadblocks to that discovery. Discernment of what is and isn't God's plan is needed. I find that discernment woefully lacking in most debate I've observed over the last 15 years. F.O.D., sorry I didn't address your questioning and despondency directly. Maybe I have! I think it is righteous indignation at what I've observed of responses to questioning and despondency that is the source of my anger and agitation Ray P.S. (a note about the link below) Roberta Showalter Kreider also had written "Personal Sharing with My Church Family" which had been available on the bridges-across website, but isn't anymore. I'll have to check on that. |