Can Affirming Gay Christians Be Evangelical?

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AbideWithMe said:
Respectfully, Elizium, you really are persisting in going off topic. Why not start a new thread for your topic?
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I don’t feel it’s off-topic. This goes to the heart of independent Scripture exegesis. If large swaths of Protestant/Evangelical ecclesial communities can come up with a completely reversed interpretation of the Bible when it comes to homosexuality, then there must be something fundamentally wrong with it.
 
Elizium23 said:
I don’t feel it’s off-topic. This goes to the heart of independent Scripture exegesis. If large swaths of Protestant/Evangelical ecclesial communities can come up with a completely reversed interpretation of the Bible when it comes to homosexuality, then there must be something fundamentally wrong with it.
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What “large swaths” among Evangelicals? There are some Evangelicals—but not large swaths— who do believe the Bible’s references to homosexuality don’t apply to modern, committed exclusive homosexual relationships. I think their arguments have more to do with how they understand natural law, the findings of science, and what they say homosexuality was in the past (a promiscuous or unequal relationship). Even if one entertains the idea that homosexuality references in the Bible don’t apply to a modern committed and exclusive homosexual relationship it can’t be denied, though, that the Bible gives a clear, substantial picture of the complementarity of the sexes as something ordained by God, while no such picture for sexual same sex relationships exists.

Elizium, if we go into the direction you’re trying to go with this thread, it will go on and on away from this specific topic with arguments from both sides about Biblical interpretation. You may think you’ve got a slam-dunk argument started, but, nope, the argument will go back and forth to 1000 posts, with this particular topic left behind choking and coughing in the dust. I think Trident has raised some fair ideas for discussion, for one thing, that will get buried in yet another general Biblical interpretation thread if everyone follows your lead.

I’m going to be a post-and-runner, Elizium, as I’m afraid I often am:o—got to get back to work.
 
I don’t know how this discussion could proceed on anything other than a treatment of interpretation of Sacred Scripture, since that is the fundamental and central tenet of faith for Evangelical. Their faith stands or falls based on how they read the Bible.

Among other things, this means that doctrine can change at any time. All it takes is a new majority to interpret a passage or passages differently and overtake the old guard in popularity. There is no Deposit of Faith other than between the pages of a KJV. There is no Magisterium other than Pastor Dave with his soul patch and praise band.
 
Elizium23 said:
Among other things, this means that doctrine can change at any time. All it takes is a new majority to interpret a passage or passages differently and overtake the old guard in popularity. There is no Deposit of Faith other than between the pages of a KJV. There is no Magisterium other than Pastor Dave with his soul patch and praise band.
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Your resorting to stereotypes aside, there has been remarkable consistency within Evangelicalism from the 1700s until now. When the mainline churches began to embrace theological liberalism in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, they lost the evangelical label while those churches and Protestants (largely outside of mainline Protestantism) who stayed faithful to biblical authority retained the evangelical identity.
 
dronald said:
One can be gay and a Christian, sure. Why not?
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This is true as long as they make the effort to live a chaste life or make an effort to marry the opposite sex as some have and build a family according to God’s wishes. It’s a tough subject as there are many of us who have family members who consider themselves gay…what do you do? Shun them? No, love them and hold them up in prayer to our Almighty and Powerful God.

Blessings

Rita
 
Elizium23 said:
I don’t know how this discussion could proceed on anything other than a treatment of interpretation of Sacred Scripture, since that is the fundamental and central tenet of faith for Evangelical. Their faith stands or falls based on how they read the Bible.

Among other things, this means that doctrine can change at any time. All it takes is a new majority to interpret a passage or passages differently and overtake the old guard in popularity. There is no Deposit of Faith other than between the pages of a KJV. There is no Magisterium other than Pastor Dave with his soul patch and praise band.
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Elizium, did you actually read the article in the opening post?

Again, what “large swaths”? Be specific.

We can discuss the article itself, or, as I said earlier, I think Trident said some things which are deserving of a thoughtful, serious response. This is a thorny, difficult subject that we all have to consider with compassion even if we don’t have all the answers.

The end of your post is pretty rude.
 
spedteacherita said:
It’s a tough subject as there are many of us who have family members who consider themselves gay…what do you do? Shun them? No, love them and hold them up in prayer to our Almighty and Powerful God.

Blessings

Rita
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👍
 
There are many Protestant denominations that do not recognize having an active gay lifestyle as sinful. I am not sure how they justify this, but perhaps they emphasize some passages and skip others?

I am a little confused when I contemplate the possible impacts for both pastors and congregations. Please let me know if I have it right…

A person who is deceived by their own church could be a very active member of any of these denominations. Is their open acceptance of their lifestyle enough to convince them that they are not sinning? If so, they could not be committing grave sins, correct?

I fear for their pastors who lack the courage to tell them the truth. Perhaps, we can assume the pastors are also deceived? If so, they may not be culpable for graves sins either, right?
 
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