July 9, 2012 issue
Seeking, finding
By Gary Schrag Overland Park, Kan.I appreciated Brian McLaren’s wonderful column, “Does Evangelism Equal Proselytizing?” (June 25). To be reminded of Vaclav Havel’s dictum, “Keep the company of those who seek the truth and run from those who have found it,” was especially nice. Then I read “Letters and Comments,” where once again I read letters from “those who have found the truth” regarding homosexuality. It may be fruitless to argue with those who are certain they know how to interpret Scripture, but I would like to raise three matters for those who might be open to a different point of view.
First, where does one find in the teaching and behavior of Jesus any reason to believe that Jesus would reject those that the culture so vociferously condemns? Second, don’t make up your mind about this matter if you do not have a significant relationship with a gay or lesbian person, and especially get to know followers of Jesus who are in a same-sex relationship. Finally, those who have a member of their family or a close friend who has “come out” often rethink their positions on this matter.
Comments
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homosexuality is a concept, not a person. it is a concept founded within a larger concept of sexual orientation which only recently has been determined by some people in certain areas of the world to be a real thing. it is easy for people to link their identity (their self) with any number of things that may or may not actually exist.
Jesus did not condemn THE WOMAN that was accused of adultery. He said "Go now and leave your life of sin." What he said is as important as what he did not say. He did NOT say "Go now and live as you desire."
I am not saying it is definitely (or not) a sin for two people with the same genitalia to commit their lives to each other in love and to express this love in ways they think Jesus would allow. I don't know right now. What I do know is that we are going to have to answer to Jesus, the Son of God, for what we do during this thing we call life....and WHAT we do (stuff of the body) is bonded to WHY we do things (stuff of the mind).
By the way, Muslims follow the teachings of prophets and Jesus is a prophet to Muslims. Therefore, unless your a Unitarian posing as a Mennonite, we should be mindful of the distances that exist between some of those included within this group called "followers of Jesus."
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