That question is asked in this week's religion column in the Greensboro (NC) News-Record.
One of several interesting quotes in this column come from the well-known retired Bishop John Shelby Spong. He said, "There has never been a moment in the history of the human race where publicly debated prejudice continued to live." To support this, he cited slavery and rights for women as issues where public debate gradually changed our nation's society. I found that one of the more profound thoughts I have run accross in recent days.
Spong also cited poling data that shows younger people are much more comfortable with homosexuality and equal rights for GLBT people as a sign the tide is turning towards acceptance in mainstream society.
The Rev. Stanley Welch, the president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, sees it much differently. "We have stood together on this issue because it is very clearly biblical doctrine, and that's where other denominations have failed. ... They have allowed the times to dictate their doctrine," said Welch, pastor of Blackwelder Park Baptist Church in Kannapolis. "There's no way those two (same-sex marriage and biblical doctrine) are compatible."
I believe the best we can hope for in my lifetime (I'm 47 years old now) is that voices like Rev. Welch are clearly recoginzed as a minority and given less credence outside their particular circle of influence. That would be a great step forward for the GLBT community to be accepted as a full-fledged member of society.
It would also reduce (although not eliminate) scenes like this described by Rev. Julie Peeples, a Greensboro resident. "I cannot tell you how many people have sat on that couch wanting me to tell them that God doesn't hate them.....It's a real struggle for them to stop the voices they heard growing up."
People can tell you wrong and hateful things, but God is ALWAYS right, ALWAYS loving, and ALWAYS reaching out for us. We just have to ignore those who would tell us otherwise and press in toward Him, allowing His love to heal us and point our lives in the direction He has planned for us.
Many parts of society do not accept homosexual people, but God always has and always will.
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"We have stood together on this issue because it is very clearly biblical doctrine, and that's where other denominations have failed. ... They have allowed the times to dictate their doctrine," said Welch
ReplyDeleteLot's of pride there. That isn't the mind of Christ is it? 'Our church is best.' That reeks.
I was doing some study in the first part of the 2nd chapter of Romans over the weekend. I see in there some stern warnings not to judge, that that's God's job. That He's the One who gives His grace freely and doles out His patience on whom HE choses. That though we ALL deserve to perish, His longsuffering far beyond any reasoning is so those who are lost might turn and live for Him.
I kind of picked up on another good part of Bishop Spong's quotes... the one pertaining to youth.
ReplyDeleteHow important it is for us to get those people 18 -24 registered to vote and then doing it. With such progressive views, it only makes sense to have more of them vote. More progressive voters voting, then more progressive voting patterns on LGBT issues. It is nothing but plain, common sense.
For more see my entry on it at:
LGBT rights, youth and the future
Matt Hill Comer
MattHillNC.com