(…CONTINUED & COMPLETED)
A reading of the sayings of the Desert Fathers convinced me of the radical love of God. And this understanding (which is admittedly limited!) of the awesome, burning, terrible, glorious beautiful love of God changed my life in a number of unexpected ways (I stopped being a republican, for instance). Furthermore, a look into Biblical exegesis on the passages in the Bible which many purported to be about homosexuality were revealed, in context, to be about something else–it became clearer and clearer to me that as a culture, our taboos regarding homosexuality were being read back into scripture; that scripture dealt with a misuse of sexuality within particular contexts–cult prostitution, institutionalized pederasty, materialism/hedonism, etc; that homosexuality itself was never once mentioned in the Bible (save in spurious translations) given that the word and the understanding of sexuality of which it is a part is a product of the 19th century; that given that the institution of slavery, which is manifestly sinful, was not directly condemned in the Bible it is reasonable to conclude that cultural values and biases particular to the time of the writing of the Scriptures would be present and that these biases and prejudices are not necessarily authoritative nor indicative of moral law; that the keynote of the Gospel was Love, and not a love circumscribed by law, but a Love which fulfills and transcends law. It is a Love without limit. Though of course it is a Love which calls us to relationship, to responsibility, not license.
After some time, I found myself at home in the Anglican church which, in the US at least, seems to be actively seeking to understand just how large the table of grace really is–and not only is this reflected in the classical via media position of Anglicanism, balancing Catholic tradition with Protestant reform, but also in a real commitment to the broader questions and challenges of social justice.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself in a 9 year (going on 10)
monogamous loving relationship with a really wonderful, intelligent, caring, gifted, challenging Christian man. Our relationship could hardly be defined as characterized primarily by our inordinate, disordered and hedonistic lust for each other (let me assure you, though, he’s one handsome guy). But sex is not the keynote of my love for him or his love for me. It is not, in other words, the foundation of our relationship. Have I misused my sexuality in the past? Definitely I have. I have sinned. It’s not something of which I’m proud. Am I sinning in my current relationship when I’m intimate with my partner? There’s certainly opportunity. But I don’t believe that simply being intimate with my partner is de facto sinful. Many here will probably say Yes! It is! But I don’t think so. And I firmly believe that neither the Bible nor Tradition speak in a condemning way of my relationship with my partner.
I hope that helps re: the initial question.
Prove to me were scripture condones homosexual practices/lifestyles.
Jay29, I’d be curious to see where you think the “homosexual lifestyle” and its attendant practices are mentioned in the Bible in contexts which conclusively indicate that what is being treated is the “homosexual lifestyle” alone. I think that would be very interesting. Moreover, I would be interested in you showing me a discussion in scripture of a loving and monogamous homosexual couple in which that couple is condemned for being a loving and monogamous homosexual couple. I don’t think you’ll find it. You’ll probably say, “I can’t find it because it’s impossible–such a thing as a loving and monogamous homosexual couple is impossible!” It’s alright to think that way, I suppose, though it goes against evidence to the contrary. But you thinking its impossible will not make it so. Simply because you think my relationship cannot exist doesn’t mean it will somehow vanish in a rueful puff of smoke. Simply because you don’t, won’t, or can’t comprehend the contours of this relationship (or perhaps any relationship you feel is inadequate, I don’t know) doesn’t mean that the relationship is not real. But. Be that as it may. I don’t expect I’ll have changed your mind or your convictions, nor do I think you’re a horrible person to believe as you do.
Under the Mercy,
Mark
Deo Gratias!
Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.”****142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.