sex and the lordship of jesus christ
Five anglican bishops in sydney have called on the anglican bishops of the world to oppose homosexual marriages, saying that those in favour of same sex unions “…have abandoned the teaching of Scripture in … a flagrant manner”. They went on to say:
The moment for silence is past. There are many ways in which the diversity among churches of our communion demonstrates different redemptive gifts. But the departure from centuries of agreed Biblical authority constitutes departure from the fellowship that has linked us together. Reversal of our Biblical and historical stance on sexual immorality is too drastic to pass without comment and action. Faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ who rules and guides his church by his word requires that this level of difference cannot be overlooked. The point at issue is the lordship of Jesus Christ expressed through the supreme authority of Scripture.
(emphasis added)
Seriously? Whatever you think about this issue, are we really to believe that whether or not healthy adult relationships between two people of the same sex are sanctified by the church impacts the lordship of Jesus Christ? If the church wants to present an argument that homosexual relationships are outside the will of God, then it should be presented properly, without resorting to this sort of senseless hyperbole.
Or maybe we should all just take richard’s advice:
Let’s give the same priority to sex that Jesus did — you know, like, none at all. Remember Jesus’ words about specks and planks? Let’s take them seriously and work on the planks in our own eyes before we trouble about the specks in other peoples. Or we could just continue in our sin, smugly ignoring the greed and covetousness most of us are a part of. But I hate to think of the consequences of that.
But you see, richard, greed and covetousness obviously doesn’t threaten the lordship of jesus christ. Check out the rest of Rich’s entry, which echoes some of my thoughts from a couple of days ago.
June 24th, 2003 at 11:58 pm
The Real Live Preacher found himself in the midst of quite a dust-up when he made similar comments about the scant scriptural reference to homosexuality and the far greater prevalence of and human suffering caused by sins about which people tend to get far less upset. This obsession with homosexuality must be deeply unhealthy for those condemning it. It’s hard to resist speculating about why they’re so fascinated with it.
August 4th, 2003 at 8:40 am
I read that the other way around — that the lordship of Jesus Christ impacts homosexual lovin’. And, you know, that’s like, their opinion, man.