The following are notes of a ‘sermon’ (read ‘talk’)
I gave in a Baptist Church in Melbourne last night. Feel free
to fill them out and use them…

Sermon outline:

# May be no. 1 discussion topic on Internet newsgroups
- between Christians and with non-Christians

# Common theme in arts/movies – Priest, The Bird
Cage (top-grossing movie in Australia last week) – these days.
But many in their 40′s+ can’t remember discussing it as adolescents…

# Complex topic —> fear, hate (phobias like
xenophobia, homophobia – dealing with those not-like-oneself)

One homosexual’s story (interview with a Christian
male homosexual)

Definition: Male/female who has an erotic attraction
to/preference for members of the same sex (Greek ‘homos’ = same).
But not all homosexuals are sexually active; nor are all sexual
acts between members of the same sex ‘homosexual’ (eg. prisons,
the navy).

Incidence (‘Kinsey’s shrinking 10%’): According to
Time (26 April 1993) only 1% of males are exclusive homosexuals.
Project Male Call (Aus. gov’t survey 1994) found that 12% H. males
have regular unprotected casual sex; 49% _only_

casual sex; 19% are in a continuing relationship;
73% have multiple sexual partners. There are 10 homosexual bishops
in the Church of England in the UK

(Outrage).

What does the Bible say? Note: the Bible does not
condemn homosexuality per se.

(Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:26-27): homosexual
acts condemned (but also mixing wool and linen; not building a
parapet around the roof of your house; sexual intercourse during
menstruation, usury etc. Note that female non-virgins are to be
stoned; the Bible condones polygamy, slavery).

(1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10): promiscuity
or sex-for-payment not homosexuality as such. Note also the condemnation
of greed etc.

(Sodom: Genesis 19:1-11, Ezekiel 16:49, Luke 10:10-12):
gang-rape, not homosexuality per se. Sodom’s sins were larger
- pride, materialism etc.

Five points of view:

* Reactionary: ‘Kill them! They’re dangerous!’ (Homophobics/rednecks)

** Fundamentalist/conservative: ‘Ban them! They’re
evil/demon-possessed!’ (Pharisees). Emphasis on LAW rather than
love. Slogan: ‘God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!’ (Problem:
when should a ‘sin’ be a ‘crime’? Why in Tasmania are homosexual
acts between males, not females – and not adultery – a criminal
offence? (British law – back to Queen

Victoria who believed women wouldn’t do such things).
And what about ‘adultist’ behaviours which more seriously affect
the lives of the unborn (abortion) or children (divorce)?

*** Jesus: ‘Love them! They’re made in the image
of God! But go and sin no more.’ (Saints). Synthesis of LOVE and
LAW (in that order). Note Jesus’ love for lepers, Samaritans and
other marginalized people: love which was reciprocated.

**** Liberals: ‘Allow them to be fulfilled sexually
in mutual, responsible, reciprocal relationships.’ (Eg. Bishop
Spong). LOVE with a loose attachment to law. Liberal clergy may
bless same-sex unions; endorse avowed (or even practising) homosexuals
in priesthood.

***** Permissives: ‘Allow them the same rights as
heterosexuals! Encourage children to make an informed choice between
homo/hetero lifestyle.’ (Gay lobby). Christian Slogan: ‘Jesus
died to save us from our sins, not our sexuality!’ Approach to
law: generally antinomian. Message: ‘It’s not who you love or
how you love but that you love…’

Causes:

Either * ‘Emotional detachment / same sex
parent (psychology)’ (Elizabeth Moberly). So homosexuals may have
pre-adult emotional needs combined with adult physiological desires,
with ‘intimacy’ being related to genital sex.

or ** ‘It’s in the genes (biology)’ (LeVay). But
hormonal, genetic, neuroanatomic studies are inconclusive. ‘No
one has proved that a particular gene promotes gayness’ (Time,
June 12, 1995: ‘Search for a Gay Gene’)

Probably we are not exclusively ‘biologically hardwired’
or ‘psychologically determined’. It’s a mixture of nature and
nurture.

Can Homosexuals be changed? In my experience as a
counselor, all my H. clients did not choose to be that way; all
would like to change (that’s why they’re seeing me: but the gay
lobby discourages this sort of question); all feel, to some degree
broken/fragmented, sometimes-to-often suicidal (statistics: the
median age H. death from all causes in aus. – 42; only 1 % die
of old age).

Six comments:

1. 1 Corinthians 6:11: God’s in the business of
   changing/converting anybody from anything;
   
2. the person must _want_ to change;
   
3. it’s long, slow, and hard for most;
   
4. change won’t happen without the support of a
   loving community;
   
5. only about 10% will make it to a satisfying
   heterosexual lifestyle but
   
6. ‘they will never live as if they never were’.
   

What would Jesus say to us, tonight? First, if H’s
feel marginalized from us and our churches, but such people didn’t
from Jesus, we’ve got a problem. Count up the times Jesus got
angry: more often ‘sins of the spirit’ never (?) ‘sins of the
flesh’…

‘Judgment must begin in the house of God’ (1 Peter
4:17).

Although some conservatives may be compassionate
(eg. Alex Davidson, ‘Returns of Love’) generally H’s don’t _feel_
acceptance from them. Their strength: they are trying to be faithful
to Scripture. Weakness: an inadequate theology and practice of
justice-love.

On the other hand, liberals tend to be too permissive.
We can be changed. God’s Word about sin – any form of sin – can’t
so easily be explained away. But the strength of the liberal position
is their desire to treat others with respect/integrity/compassion.

Best option: ask: What would Jesus do?

And remember: ‘God does not divide love between all
of God’s creatures: all of God’s love is given to all of God’s
creatures’ (Hugh of St Victor).

Related Articles:

• The Parents Poem (Robert Bly)
• Gay man opposes gay marriage
• Being a Pastor Doesn’t Automatically Make You a Sex Therapist
• Is the Men’s Movement Dead?
• Making a Will

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