The debate about homosexuality is heating up yet again with the appeal of UM pastor (once removed) Beth Stroud that will soon take place. Ms. Stroud had her credentials yanked for admitting to being involved in a "committed" relationship with her female partner. Now the case will be reviewed once again. **Sigh**
So what? What are we talking about here? Civil rights? Constitutional rights? Pastoral rights? Human rights? Women's rights? Gay rights? What?
A retired clergy related a story to me once about a dear friend of his who was homosexual. What kept this man out of trouble, however, was that he was not a "practicing" homosexual; he was celibate. And the reason, as it was told to me, had nothing to do with the UM Book of Discipline; it had more to do with how spiritually conflicted this man felt about his orientation.
So my question is this: what is the difference between a homosexual and a "practicing" homosexual? Could it be the same as the difference between a sinner and a "practicing" sinner? To be perfectly honest, I am extremely weary of the whole debate. If they want to have homosexual "civil" marriages, I am opposed but not nearly as concerned as I am that we continue to have this discussion/dialogue/debate within the realm of the Church.
The world will do what it will do, and the world will continue to reject the Gospel of the Lord. The world will continue to offer the instant gratification that it offers as a means to lure the innocent and the weary away from the Gospel.
The Church, however, cannot fall into this trap. The Church must necessarily stand as a sanctuary against these types of conflicts. This continuing conflict is the world battling against itself because the Church has a written Word, a LIVING WORD, that settled this conflict long ago.
So let's call it what it is. Ms. Stroud wants the rewards that this world has to offer. Let her have it. Pray for her. Mention her by name in your prayers. However, please do not pretend that this type of relationship is acceptable according to what essentially is the only Holy Scripture we have.
1 comment:
Joel,
Thank you for you comment. I would ask, however, how church law could contradict what is written in Holy Scripture since it is clearly written that such acts are prohibited. And if a "worldly view" would be more in line with the secular world and church law is (I think) more in line with what has been written for centuries, I don't see the conflict between man's "church" view of what is written vs what the world is trying to tell us to conform to.
As for whether Ms. Stroud is more spiritually mature than the average pastor is a matter of perspective or opinion. I don't personally know her and had never heard of her prior to this particular case. If you do not know her personally, I would suggest that your comments about her spiritual maturity are rather presumptious and also presume a certain level of guilt against other pastors whom you do not know.
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