In Reply to: Re: I vote for accepting one another's individualities. posted by Farmer on March 26, 2007 at 07:43:01:
Farmer wrote: "Fact remains (the scriptural one): homosexuals are without the church & not within, anything else is heresy"
This is a very strong statement considering the fact that not all Christians or Christian churches are in agreement with you concerning the interpretation of the scriptures you referenced. I don't agree with fundamentalist interpretion of scripture on many questions of faith and morals, but I'm not inclined to call Christians of that worldview "heretics" no matter how much I may feel their interpretations do violence to the Spirit of the Gospel.
Christians with a differing interpretation than yours on Biblical references to "homosexuality" will argue, for example, that the "sin of Sodom" was not homosexuality, per se, but sin of inhospitality and the intent to do violence to visiting strangers. A differing scriptural interpretation would also argue that committed homosexual unions do not constitute fornication.
Finally, those differences in interpretation also argue that St. Paul's condemnation of "homosexuality" in the NT does not refer to the same practice as what is practiced today as a homosexual relationship between peers. Paul's references to homosexuality are actually a condemnation of pederasty/pedophilia, because that was actually the practice to which the pagan Greeks and Romans subscribed. The idea of two consenting, same-sex adults or peers in a committed, exclusive, monogamous union was unheard of in Paul's day--particularly with regard to women. Paul had nothing to say about contemporary homosexual unions that are modeled on Biblical principles of lifelong commitment, monogamy, sacrificial love, and openness to life. (Homosexual couples also give birth, adopt, and foster children.)
There is, in fact, an alternate interpretation to every scriptural reference that fundamentalists bring up as "proof" that the Bible condemns homosexuality.
I identify as a bisexual, but I live in a committed, monogamous relationship with a man. We each made a public commitment to each other in the presence of family, friends and our Higher Power. My decision to make that commitment was strongly influenced by a lesbian couple I know who have been together over 30 years. In my entire life, I had never seen a heterosexual marriage as loving and supportive and sacrificial as the one these two women share. Over 20 years of so-called "Christian" marriage to a man I met in TF caused me to totally reject the institution of marriage as an oppressive, soul-destroying, exploitative invention of men.
The loving witness of these lesbian "heretics"--who, incidentally are church-going Methodists--re-kindled my faith in marriage as a desirable and healthy social institution. You can call homosexual unions whatever you want, but calling it heresy that places believers outside the Christian communion doesn't necessarily make it so.