"Sometimes (Bible) Passages Can Be Interpreted Differently"

I'll bet you didn't expect that headline quote to come from a Southern Baptist preacher, did you? Well, I'm happy to say, it did. From the AFA's One News Now:



In a recent post on his personal Internet site -- also known as a "blog" -- Wade Burleson, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Enid, Oklahoma, said while he agrees that the essentials of the gospel should not be compromised, he believes too many pastors and leaders have dogmatic interpretations of tertiary, or secondary, issues in scripture. He notes those individuals sometimes refuse to fellowship with those who disagree with them on those secondary issues.


Pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention must be sure that their views line up with scripture, he says, and not tradition. "I guess what I'm saying is, when somebody says, 'Thus saith the Lord, ' they need to be really, really sure the Lord is saying it," he cautions. "And somebody [responds], 'But it's in the Bible.' Well, of course it is -- but sometimes passages can be interpreted differently."


Burleson made headlines two years ago when, as a committee member on the International Mission Board, he questioned a proposal regarding the use of a private prayer language for missionary candidates. He feels that situation illustrates the problems that can be caused by dogmatic interpretations of scripture on secondary issues.


"Baptists traditionally have said that tongues have ceased; but that's an interpretation of the sacred text," he says. "There are some conservative, Bible-believing Christians who believe that the gift of tongues continues as it did in the days of the apostles. I think both sides need to take a humble approach and say this is what I believe, but I could be wrong."


Burleson has been criticized in the past for posting information on his blog site that some Southern Baptist officials said was never meant for the public.



It's nice to see that same-sex "marriage" isn't the only word they put in quotes.



The point that Rev. Burleson makes is critical to the entire issue of the acceptance of homosexuality by the church. Some churches, small ones like mine or entire denominations like the Metropolitan Community Church, interpret scriptures to either accept or stay neutral on the issue of committed same-sex relationships. Many others, like the Southern Baptist Convention, believe the Bible says homosexuality is an abomination, among other things.



One of those views is wrong. Homosexuality either is or is not sinful, although I believe most Christians accept the idea of promiscuity, regardless of the genders involved, as being against God's wishes.



Anyone, and I mean ANYONE, who can not accept the possibility that they may be interpreting scripture wrong is waaaaaaay too sure of themselves and needs a major dose of humility mixed in with reality. God's ways are sooooooo far beyond what we can understand that no human being can rationally believe they have the full revelation of Him. It can't happen. Therefore, if we don't know the whole story, the parts we are missing could be critical toward understanding God's will for issues like committed homosexual relationships.



The obvious solution here is for Christians not to expend so much energy condemning people not like them and concentrate on reaching the lost and loving EVERYONE as they would want to be loved.



Unfortunately, that approach does not lead to political power and/or the accumulation of wealth. It doesn't make news or get fancy churches built.



Come to think of it, though, Jesus didn't have any of that either, and I've heard very good things about His ministry.