More on ‘Can you be a gay Christian?’ or so minded

In a previous post (Impossible to be gay & Christian?) I had attempt to deal with this question using my own experiences despite being openly gay but so Christian minded and drawing on my time at Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica, SCJ, the usual responses that followed then included prayer being offered to me or for me to get reparative or restorative therapy suggestions to sheer condemnation and ‘fire bun’ as usual, as if that is to scare persons straight. While we believe God’s power is unexplainable I do not see where I would have been created in his image and gay he would want to ‘change’ me when I am what I am. Why would I simply choose something or sexual orientation that could land me in problems, especially when so many species of animals display homosexual characteristics? Why can’t I and other homosexuals be who we are without to confirm to a hetero-normative expectation in order to be seen as Christian? Sections of fanatics in the faith (or pretentiously so) are aggressively on an exclusionist advocacy in a bid to ‘normalise’ living even as the bigger issues for God’s work are forgiveness or inclusivity and winning souls for the kingdom no matter who or what or the condition that that soul may be in.

What explains the person who enters the church to escape so called dirty feelings based on ignorance and a lack of self acceptance?

The usual Levitical response is a feature when this question comes up with Sodom & Gomorrah as the justified reason for condemnation when it is well known that homosexuality in and of itself is not the reason why the city was said to be destroyed; while totally ignoring the fact that Leviticus were a set of holiness codes for temporary use for a particular people at a particular time in lieu of instructions and rules for Hebrews moving from repeated slavery and oppression towards freedom and the promise of a new life. A people and a culture where open displays of same gender love, coupled with the silence and near invisibility of women, who are often seen as just incubators for sperm and children one would expect some resistance to any other way of existence.

The zeal at which so called Christians go after homosexual(s)(ity) is still baffling to me yet the other societal atrocities they do not do so, even when they participate in symbolic protests on abuse of children and so on but are near silent when one of their own as men of the cloth fall down and even sexually abuse children or vulnerable church sisters and brothers sometimes.

The disturbing thing lately is the open support of erratic and divisive Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump by some Christian fanatics namely Dr Wayne West of Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society, JCHS despite Trump himself tacitly support LGBT matters as he has relatives who are such. Groups and individuals are quite prepared to give their anti gay stance steam in the name of God while accepting implicitly racist stances, conservatism, underhandedness and a candidate who made disparaging remarks about women on tape, mocking persons with disabilities and one who while expressing blocking immigration is quite prepared to allegedly use undocumented immigrants as construction workers on his hotels’ construction in order to pay them less than market value yet this is the man some want to support!

A recent vox pop and discussion on the issue came up for mention and yet again the aforementioned expected responses came through.

LET’S face the facts — God’s love knows no bounds, and we are often told that Christ hates the sin and not the sinner. But when it comes to homosexuals, is there an exception to the rule? Can they rightfully proclaim that they are Christians, since Christ loves all?

It is often said that the litmus test with all things is scripture, and how one rightly interprets the word of God. As a result, scripture is clear that you cannot comfortably and habitually engage in sin and call yourself a Christian. This simply means that whether you are a fornicator, adulterer, homosexual, thief, liar, idolater — and the list goes on and on — it is still the same thing — sin.

Moreover, the Bible presents a lifelong marriage between a man and a woman as normal, and anything that deviates from that as reprobate. Two out of many passages of scripture see homosexual practices as a crime punishable by death — Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. However, in the New Testament, Paul indicates that the Gospel provided salvation to homosexuals and other sinners so that they don’t practise it any more, but live a life pleasing to God.

According to Reverend Karl Johnson, general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, the issue of homosexuality has become increasingly visible in our generation for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, acceptance of the practice by the media/movie/television industry; viewing the practice as a human rights issue and not a moral issue; legislative support by many countries and not just by the so-called ‘developed’ ones, and greater acceptance of the practice by some churches.

“All of the above has served to make a practice/behaviour/issue that was once viewed as taboo, vulgar, unnatural, abnormal by most societies, appear more acceptable. Clearly, from the above, the church, which is a part of society, and which is still seen by many as having the responsibility of being the ‘moral’ voice and authority, has contributed wittingly/unwittingly to both the increased visibility of the practice and the confusion/debate surrounding its acceptability,” Johnson said.

He said this background may be helpful in reflecting on the question of whether there can be a gay Christian or a Christian who is gay.

“Is the question an expedition of ‘oxymoronic’ proportions? With several biblical texts mired in debate over their meaning, for example, the Genesis 18/19 story of Sodom and Gomorrah; Leviticus 18’s pronouncement of death for those who practise such things; Paul’s words in Romans about ‘unnatural acts’, among others, I believe we have to develop an understanding of God’s intention for the relationship between the sexes. In doing so we have to tread carefully in selecting ‘proof texts’ and develop a wider understanding from the whole counsel of scripture,” Johnson explained.

He added: “Based on that, I submit that any attempt to portray homosexual activity and behaviour as normal and therefore as an acceptable equivalent of heterosexual activity and behaviour should be rejected. People with a homosexual orientation who profess the Christian faith should strive for celibacy, with complete dependence on the transforming, enabling and sufficient grace of God.”Johnson said perhaps the question should be rephrased, “Not... can there be a Christian who is gay, but can a professing Christian be a practising homosexual? And the answer is to let the jury decide.”

Below All Woman asked a few people whether they believe someone could be gay and proclaim themselves as a fellow believer.

Joshua:

I don’t think so. Many people like to say the love is universal and God loves everyone. He does, but what separates us is our sinful versus righteous living. If we are Christians we will go by the holy book, which is the Bible, and it specifically speaks about this. Even if we don’t want to look there, look at the animals. There is one male and one female. That’s the order of things. Sin is sin, they sin differently from a fornicator, but it’s still sin. So no, a homosexual, fornicator or anyone living in sin can’t be a Christian. You may believe in God, yes, but you can’t say you’re His follower if you’re going against what He teaches.

Ashley:

I’m agnostic, and I really think that people can identify religiously with whatever they feel, regardless of their lifestyle.

Chris:

Honestly, I’m God-fearing and I know the Bible says those who live a sinful life can’t enter God’s kingdom and the kingdom is for Christians. I know that homosexuality is not Christ-like, so no, you can’t be gay and be Christian.

Paula:

For me, coming completely out of a sinful life takes time. Today you accept Christ, tomorrow you won’t be perfect or even close to it. You take time to rid yourself of habits, but you consciously know that you can’t do certain things anymore. So if someone is gay and decides they want to be a Christian, I won’t judge them and say no, you aren’t. Temptations for that person will be greater. What matters is that they are taking steps to turn around their life. Saints are all sinners who fell down and got up.

Martin:

No. There is no explanation needed either. Same way if you see Jane stealing but is singing on the choir you’re going say she is no Christian, it’s the same way I’m going to look and say John who’s lying down with Tom is sullying God’s house.

We certainly have a long way to go on just basic understanding and misconstrued thoughts on what the teachings of Christ actually mean; which is definitely not exclusion, judgements and indeed selfishness. Paul’s own take on the issue of homosexuality is an opinion lest we forget whilst he and others were seeking to spread the church in new places, namely Corinth, a highly sexualised part of Rome at the time. A question I have often asked is according to Paul why would God give us over to sin when it is the very sin he was to redeem us from by way or his death and resurrection? I often reflect on this and await the answer(s) spiritually and otherwise. We must also not forget Paul himself by way of his writings has contradicted himself especially on women in the church and their leadership roles and voices obviously in the search and settling of the early movement as far as we know now, there are always new findings and writings out there, the recent 2000 year old papyrus that was found in the hands of thieves of precious artefacts which shows writings mentioning Jerusalem, I have no doubt that are lots of missing pieces out there.

In almost one breath Paul raises effectively to the peerage if you will the prophetess Julia for example who was also in Corinth and nearby areas teaching and leading the early church’s development, Paul encouraged persons to attend on her outfit but later the same Paul declares that women basically had no place in leadership and should remain silent for that matter. There is so much more to unpack on this but let us rest here for now.

More anon

Peace & tolerance

H

also see:

Slippery slope deception & conflation of incest with buggery’s decriminalization

No gay leaders in Jamaica's churches ......