WHAT DOES JESUS HAVE TO SAY?

True story. He is a lawyer, a good one, who has argued before the Supreme Court. Not long ago he stood before that Court on behalf of those who wished to uphold California's ban on gay marriage. He supported the ban. While making arguments in the case, he learned that one of his children is gay. Now he is helping his daughter plan her wedding with another woman. In other words, he changed his mind.

About a year ago, a United States Senator, who was on record as opposed to gay marriage, also changed his mind when his son announced he was a gay man. The Senator said, "It allowed me to think of this issue from a new perspective, and that's of a Dad who loves his son a lot and wants him to have the same opportunities that his brother and sister would have--to have a relationship like Jane and I have had for over 26 years.”

In the Christian Church when one changes their mind it is called repentance.

I am glad these gentlemen love their children enough to see with new eyes, are willing to change their minds, willing to repent, and willing to say so out loud.

What makes me sad, a bit angry, is the fact that these two men were not able to see that everyone who is gay is someone's son or daughter. These men changed their minds only when they looked into the eyes of their own children. They failed to look into the eyes of other people's children.

We share this earth with a great variety of people. I remember in Sunday School singing “Red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

When God completed creation, “God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good (Genesis 1:31).” In truth, some of God's children are gay. They are born that way. And they are loved by God. Shame on us when we make others feel guilty or less or ashamed for who they are.

About this time, some of you reading these words are getting more than a bit upset with me. You will tell me to read my Bible. Fair enough. But then let us also ask some questions of the Bible.

I quote from David Lose, professor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, who asks, “What does the Bible really say about homosexuality?” Here is a part of his answer:

“Actually, a whole lot less than you might imagine! That may be hard to believe given the fierce rhetoric Christians often employ when talking about homosexuality, but there are really only seven passages in the Bible that refer directly to homosexual behavior, and none of them are associated with Jesus. Compare that to the more than 250 verses on the proper use of wealth or more than 300 on our responsibility to care for the poor and work for justice, and you appreciate quickly that homosexuality was not exactly a major theme of the Bible.”

(Huffington Post, Oct. 10, 2011.)

Leviticus (chapters 18 and 20) does include verses that speak of homosexual behavior as an abomination. But Leviticus (chapter 19) also gives instruction on how men should cut their hair and commands that no one get a tattoo. So what does one do with this book? Do the words of Leviticus finally guide us in faith and life?

The Apostle Paul, in letters to the Christian congregations in Rome (Romans 1:26-27) and Corinth (I Corinthians 6:9-11), and to his friend Timothy (I Timothy 1:9-11), wrote words of judgment upon homosexual behavior. But the passages raise the question of whether Paul was speaking of consensual, loving, committed relationships or was he speaking of rape?

I am a Christian who leans Lutheran. The Apostle Paul is important to me. “Justification by grace through faith” is a central tenant of our Church. But I don't agree with everything Paul says. Writing to the congregation in Corinth, Paul concludes “ . . . in all the churches of the saints, women should be silent in the churches . . . should be subordinate, . . .” (I Corinthians 14).

Paul lived in a different time. I believe today he would come to a different conclusion about the participation of women in the Church. In the same way, today we have a better understanding about what it means to be gay. That being gay is not a matter of choice, but a matter of birth.

So I ask myself, what kind of life do I want to lead? More importantly, who do I want to follow?

I do not wish to live my life making judgments upon others. Finally God will judge us all, and as Frederick Buechner writes, “the one who judges us most finally will be the one who loves us most fully.” (Listening to Your Life)

It is much more fun to live a life of welcome, seeing each person as a child of God, an heir to the kingdom of heaven, and enjoying their company while we share this earth for a brief time.

Finally, the writer of Leviticus is not Jesus. Moses is not Jesus. Paul is not Jesus. And I have decided to follow Jesus.

So then, what does Jesus have to say about homosexuality? Absolutely nothing.

Gary