Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsA Better Conversation about Homosexuality
The majority typically answers these questions for the minority, but O’Donovan entrusts them to gay Christians like Hill, who is admirably free of the liberal gay movement with its emancipation narrative and victim mentality. From a worldly perspective, the Bible’s no to homosexual practice is viewed as the impossible demand of a sadistic God and pharisaical church. We’re told that “being sexually active is the way to be most alive—to be fully, truly, beautifully human,” as Hill observes. But perhaps the Bible’s no to same-sex behavior is actually a yes to something even greater than sexual expression, which is good, no doubt, but also potentially idolatrous, especially in our oversexed culture, and certainly not our summum bonum (or highest good). Hill quotes philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre, “I can only answer the question ‘What am I to do?’ if I can answer the prior question ‘Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?’” It’s this prior question that gets ignored in the debate on homosexuality because the church has mistakenly given primacy to ethics over the narrative functions of doctrine and ministry.
Hill is learning to struggle well as a celibate gay man because of his embeddedness in “the true story of what God has done in Jesus Christ.” That story, which gives context to the particulars of his own life, promises the forgiveness of sins, reminds him that all Christians undergo a painful and yet glorious transformation of their affections, proclaims that our bodies do not belong to ourselves but to God and the church, and commends “long-suffering endurance as a participation in the sufferings of Christ.” Where others might regard his abstinence as “choosing to prudishly, pitiably shelter [himself] from the only life worth living,” Hill celebrates the yes of the gospel story over the yes of sexual fulfillment: “Imitating Jesus; conforming my thoughts, beliefs, desires, and hopes to his; sharing his life; embracing his gospel’s no to homosexual practice—I become more fully alive, not less. According to the Christian story, true Christlike holiness is the same thing as true humanness. To renounce homosexual behavior is to say yes to full, rich, abundant life.” If “Jesus is the model of the fulfilled human being,” as biblical scholar Walter Moberly writes, then the absence of sex in our Savior’s life means an absence in ours is not an impoverished existence—far from it. On the contrary, “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” are blessed, even when it’s painful and lonely to bear up under that burden in our fallen condition (Matt. 19:12).
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STEPHEN R CLARK
To paraphrase Kevin Anderson, "the road out of sin [is] a lifetime vigil, not a goalpost." I also agree with Tom Nash that "there are countless other sins in this fallen world. We all have our moral flaws [with which] we struggle to overcome." Even before reading this challenging review I'd come to the conclusion that to *be* gay was not a sin and a Christian who is celibate and self-identifies as gay is not a contradiction of terms. To grow in grace, we each must, in a way, be "celibate," not continuing to indulge in any sinful lifestyles/choices/behaviors/thinking/urges, whether our particular weakness is lying, stealing, cheating, indulging in porn, addiction, gossip, infidelity, vanity, abusiveness, lovelessness, anger, and so on. God created us perfectly. Yet, some sins choose us through Fall-affected genetics, and while this seems unfair, Scripture is clear as to our necessity for choosing non-futile resistance against these sins through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
J Thomas
I believe that this will be the issue that the progressive Leviathan uses to try to marginalize serious Christianity from American culture. You can already see it afoot in court cases (Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC). We may actually have to stand up for the gospel and against popular culture on this issue. As always, we carry that out in love, with humility, and with grace. But we should be serious about what God commands of us. The consequences of advocating sin publicly are grave in that we pave the way to Hell for those who are in jeopardy.
robert puharic
Being a non Christian familiar with the Christian scriptures, I'm amazed at how cafeteria bible reading has captured modern day Christianity. Do you people REALLY expect those of us who know scripture to accept the 'scriptural' definition of homosexuality when scripture is filled with ALL kinds of weird views of human behavior. Stoning women for adultery; acceptance of slavery; polygamy, etc etc. Why are you so ready to pick and choose among scriptural passages that lead to condemnation for people when your own scriptures have equally absurd passages describing OTHER aspects of human behavior. Christians generally don't have an answer for that. But cafeteria Christianity is all the rage. It's ridiculous.
James Aist
In effect, what gay theology is asking, rhetorically, is, “Did God really say that sex within the context of loving, committed, long-term homosexual relationships is wrong?” If the phrase “Did God really say…” sounds familiar to you, it is probably because that is exactly what Satan said to Eve in the Garden of Eden when he was trying to get her to commit the first sin: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1). And that is exactly what is happening in the Christian church today, in the form of gay theology. Satan is using gay theology to get Christians who are homosexual to continue to practice homosexuality and feel good about it, rather than repent of it. See more at http://rethinkingtheology.com/category/homosexuality/
Bob Bobo
Right on Dave B. But thats not "commentor' John Christinsons" or other poeple's theology here. I am perplexed at how intelligent compassionate bible believing christians can state the bible has no problem with same sex relationships. I don't care about the goverment, I don't think it should be a battle. But I'm just looking to understand how some christians here justify same sex marriage as OK in Gods eyes. If I could read a legit theologians stand the bible does relegate homosexuality as sin that woudl be great. But have'nt so far. Oh, last week a young lady posted that she's been to "bible school" and that all the versus agains homosexuality were added in the 20th century, not part of the original canonized bible. Give me a break. what lies people will beleive to justify there position. Or is it?