Affirming Words 2/3/10-"Bottom Are Tops in the Kingdom"

Here's an essay from the site CreatedGay.com:

Matthew 18:15-17 (CEV) If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower. But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses. If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector.



The Gospel passage is one that could bring back painful memories for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans-identified people who were disciplined by a church for just being who themselves. Generally, I’ve seen this passage applied to cases where one church member needed church discipline, or a church member had defrauded another church member.


Those who base church discipline practices on this passage often miss the real message. We are to treat those offend us like tax collectors. When we reflect on what that means, we need to reflect on Jesus’ life. How did Jesus treat tax collectors? He hung with them, He partied with them. He did not reject them, condemn them to hell, or tell them they were sinners who had to change.


While some principles from this passage can apply to church discipline, I am not convinced that is quite what Jesus was discussing. What Jesus was talking about might have much more meaning to the queer community than many of the more traditional interpretations of the passage on settling disputes in St. Matthew.
 
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