Christians and lgbtq debate
The Bible and same sex relationships: A review article
Tim Keller, 2015
Vines, Matthew, God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same Sex Relationships, Convergent Books, 2014
Wilson, Ken,A Letter to My Congregation, David Crum Media, 2014.
The relationship of homosexuality to Christianity is one of the main topics of discussion in our culture today. In the fall of last year I wrote a review of books by Wesley Hill and Sam Allberry that take the historic Christian view, in Hill’s words: “that homosexuality was not God’s original innovative intention for humanity ... and therefore that gay practice goes against God’s express will for all human beings, especially those who trust in Christ.”
There are a number of other books that take the opposite view, namely that the Bible either allows for or supports same sex relationships. Over the last year or so I (and other pastors at Redeemer) have been regularly asked for responses to their arguments. The two most read volumes taking this position seem to be those by Matthew Vines and Ken Wilson. The review of these two books will be longer than usual because the topic is so contested today and, wh
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
With a total membership of approximately 600,000 people, individual congregations are organized in 32 self-governing regions across North America. Denomination-wide administration is exercised through participation on the General Board and at the biennial General Assembly, which calls on representatives from all churches and regions. While “matters of conscience” can be debated at the General Assembly, the voting body cannot dictate a particular stance for individual congregations. On “matters of policy,” however, the Assembly can request that congregations and regions adhere to specific standards, such as those related to ordination.
LGBTQ+ EQUALITY
ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION & GENDER IDENTITY
At the General Assembly in 2013, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) voted to affirm and welcome LGBTQ+ people in all aspects of church life, including governance. While the resolution does not dictate policy for individual congregations, the denomination actively encourages congregations interested in becoming more inclusive. (The GLAD Alliance provides in-depth practical support through a wide variety of
What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality?
What Does The Bible Express About Homosexuality?
Introduction
For the last two decades, Pew Investigate Center has reported that one of the most enduring ethical issues across Christian traditions is sexual diversity. For many Christians, one of the most frequently first-asked questions on this topic is, “What does the Bible utter about attraction to someone of the same sex?”
Although its unlikely that the biblical authors had any notion of sexual orientation (for example, the word homosexual wasn't even coined until the late 19th century) for many people of faith, the Bible is looked to for timeless guidance on what it means to honor God with our lives; and this most certainly includes our sexuality.
Before we can jump into how it is that Christians can maintain the authority of the Bible and also affirm sexual diversity, it might be helpful if we started with a brief but clear overview of some of the assumptions informing many Christian approaches to understanding the Bible.
What is the Bible?
For Christians to whom the Bible is God’s very written word, it is widely understood that God produced its contents through inspired
Transcript:
Alright, I’d just like to start by saying appreciate you to everybody for coming tonight – I really appreciate it – and for being interested in learning more about this subject. I also want to thank College Hill United Methodist for graciously agreeing to host the event. My mention is Matthew Vines, I’m 21 years old, and I’m currently a pupil in college, although I’ve been on leave for most of the last two years in instruct to study the material that I’ll be presenting tonight. I was born and raised here in Wichita, in a loving Christian home and in a church community that holds to the traditional interpretation of Scripture on this subject.
Just to extend a brief outline for this presentation: I’ll begin by considering some of the broader issues and divisions that are behind this debate; and then I’ll move to a closer examination of the main biblical texts that are involved in it; and then I’ll give some concluding remarks. The issue of homosexuality, of the ordination of queer clergy and of the blessing of same-sex unions, has caused tremendous divisions in the church in recent decades, and the church remains substantially divided over the issue today. On the one hand, the
How Should Christians Respond to Gay Friends or Family Members?
Caleb Kaltenbach (M.A. ’07) is an alumnus of Biola’s Talbot School of Theology, lead pastor of a large church in Simi Valley, Calif., and a married father of two. He’s also an emerging voice in the discussion of how Christians should engage the LGBT community. That’s because Kaltenbach has an insider perspective, having been raised by a dad and mom who divorced and independently came out of the closet as a gay guy and a womxn loving womxn. Raised in the midst of LGBT parties and lgbtq+ fest parades, Kaltenbach became a Christian and a pastor as a young senior. Today, he manages the tension of holding to the traditional biblical learning on sexuality while loving his male lover parents.
Kaltenbach’s unique story is detailed in his new publication Messy Grace: How a Pastor with Gay Parents Learned to Love Others Without Sacrificing Conviction and landed him on the front page of the New York Times in June. Biola Magazine reached out to him to talk about his book and his perspective on how Christians can improved navigate the complexities of this issue with truth and grace.
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