My random ramblings...: Who do you think you are?

My random ramblings...

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37v4.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Who do you think you are?

Ok.. so thats a question isn't it. Can been a simple question or a loaded question. Part of me would love to ask that question to folks who simply accuse people of lacking grace and love if they do not agree with them when it comes to controversial issues.

I don't often blog about issues like this, but this is bugging me. Not the actual issue itself, but the accusations which are floating around it with regards to which side of the fence you are on so to speak.

At the moment there is a big debate going on within the Church of Scotland, which has been put to the General Assembly in a couple of weeks time for them to debate. Basically an openly gay minister who lives with his partner has been appointed at a church in Aberdeen, and this has been challenged at presbytery by other ministers who do not agree with the charge. So... it goes to the general assembly to debate on the issue and decide whether they feel that it should be allowed or not. In anticipation of this, an online petition has been published for those who feel that this appointment is not in line with biblical principles. http://www.confessingchurch.org.uk/general-assembly-2009/ga09-support/

Now i'm not going to start quoting bible passages with regards to homosexuality being 'right' or not. But one thing that is bothering me amongst all of this is the fact that some seem to think that if you sign the petition against the charge being allowed, then you lack grace and love. That really saddens me. Over 7,000 people (including whole kirk sessions etc) have signed this online petition, and I can guarantee that all of those that i know who have signed it do not lack grace OR love when it comes to this very confusing, sad and hurtful issue.

Things like this often make me wonder that if Jesus was here in this place then how would he handle this situation? In some ways it's an easy question to answer, in others not so easy. But is that because we have made the Christian faith an ineffective faith? One which just rolls over to what the world demands?

In Romans chapter 12 verse 2, Paul says..."Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Sometimes I think that when it comes to issues like homosexuality that folks get so worked up about 'what MY rights' are and the fact that we need to treat each other with the grace and love that God has shown us, that they come to the conclusion that we almost have to ignore their faults, or even almost encourage them in them - in fact in some instances it feels that if you do not agree with them then you're made to feel that you're wrong to voice that opinion in any way. My understanding of Jesus' teachings across the gospels is that he does not condon sin, in fact quite the opposite. In many cases he is very accepting of the individual that has sinned and tells them to 'go and sin no more'... So when did our faith become something that we couldn't stand up for scriptural truth? Yes there is no need to isolate individuals who are affected by various sins, but I sometimes wonder if those who accuse people who do not agree with those sins of lacking grace are actually more at fault. In John's gospel, (13:35) Jesus says 'Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.' Does disagreeing on a controversial issue such as this mean that I am lacking love? No. If i were to conduct myself in an unloving way, then yes. I believe that although I do not agree with homosexuality and I do believe it to be a sin, I too have sinned in other ways, but by the power of Christ can still show grace and love to those who find themselves affected by homosexuality.

Now I'm aware that some would argue that homosexuality is not a sin, and quite frankly like i've mentioned before, I'm not about to get into a debate about that. In my current understanding of the world, the bible and in my relationship with the Father, this is the conclusion I have come to so far. Please respect that and stop accusing me of lacking grace and love just because I don't agree with you. tah =)

Labels: Church of Scotland, General Assembly, Homosexuality

posted by TLT @ 4:31 pm

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