I am not sure who wrote this commentary posted by Thomas ("NDUNGANE'S
FABLES"), but a couple things came to mind. I am perplexed by the
prohibitionists (those who believe in excluding open homosexuals from the
workings of the Church) who continually try to frame this debate on the
back of revisionism, as if revisionism is always a bad thing. I am
certainly more conservative than liberal and have a very high view of
scripture. My thoughts are nothing new.

One of my favorite quotes: "All truth passes through 3 stages: First, it
is ridiculed; Second, it is violently opposed; Third, it is accepted as
self-evident." - Arthur Schopenhauer

Are the people who champion inclusion of honest Christian homosexuals into
the full life of the Church, including faithfully coupled homosexuals as
clergy, even bishops, revising the very Gospel of Jesus Christ? Frankly,
we don’t know yet. I say that because in the midst of change we have a
hard time knowing the right way – thank God for the guidance of the Holy
Spirit over time. Some revisions and revisionists that came to mind:
Jesus Christ himself who dramatically revised the religion of the Hebrews;
Galileo, who was condemned for his revisionist ideas until only recently;
then some time later Martin Luther, and maybe even Cramner. More
recently, there were those revisionists who championed the idea that
dark-skinned people where of equal humanity and required the same dignity
as white-skinned people; there were the revisionists who decried slavery
and won freedom for slaves; there was Martin Luther King, Jr.; and then
those who fought for the full inclusion of women in the life of the
Church, which is still being decided in many areas. Now we find the issue
of homosexual inclusion or exclusion, or whether scripture honestly
declares all expressions homosexual relationships sin.

Is homosexuality contrary to the scriptural mandate? Most of the Church
says, yes! Many say that the traditional understanding of the several
verses and pericopes condemning homosexuality is not correct. Only time
will tell who is right – thank God for the patient working of the Holy
Spirit. However, if being declared a revisionist in light of the “cloud
of witness” above means I will be condemned or denied ordination or
excluded from a parish assignment; then so be it. At some point in time,
will inclusion of homosexuals be self-evident?

Bob
Student - General Theological Seminary
- posted by Bob @ 3:06 PM