As I'm getting ready to be a congregational observer at the ELCA churchwide assembly I am praying (and wishing) for wisdom. At the same time, as I read Solomon's story, I know how much of a bust wisdom was in his life. Known to be the wisest of the wise, Solomon made incredibly stupid choices which caused much suffering (see 1 Kings 11).
We need something greater than wisdom. We need God himself, his unconditional love revealed in Jesus, and his guidance. What we will be trying to do at the assembly, I hope, will be to remain faithful to how God has revealed himself (1) in Jesus Christ, (2) in the scriptures and (3) in creation. I hope we will keep the love of Jesus first, making sure that the gospel light shines brightly enough for all to see, while, at the same time, calling people to live in a way that honors the creator of all things.
Sitting up at Copper Falls Wisconsin State Park, I began writing the following thesis, hoping that I could post it and have people comment.
Because God has chosen to create, protect and nurture human life through the sexual act and committed love of one man and one woman, therefore we honor committed heterosexual monogamous marriage above all other forms of sexual intimacy.At the same time, we need to extend Christ's love to those who believe differently. Only Jesus can show us the way.
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Look at your thesis in the context of your conversation with Allan S. (our common friend) where you point out that you don't refer to Scripture in it...
ReplyDeleteIf we keep the conversation outside Scripture how do we know what God has chosen? Does nature indicate monogamous heterosexual couplings are what bring life. I would think several secular geneticists and biologists of other stripes might disagree with your assumed monogamy.
Additionally, homosexual activity (can not speak to coupling, as it is outside of anything have really even looked at) occurs in nature, outside of the human species.
Does your first assumption about what God has chosen to do, and through what agency, diminish the value of sterile marriages? I would think that if people could not or would not have children it would fall outside of what you seem to indicate is God's intended purpose.
Ah, but if you want to bring Scripture to bear on the issue, we have a different set of issues to discuss (translation, even application of hermeneutical methodologies, mistaking interpretation, something that happens in the human mind, for the text, etc)
Allan didn't 'sic' me on you. He just put your convo on his blog and forwarded it to a few of his friends.
Peace to you. :)
Thanks, "NonCharon"... I'll get back to you, if I have time, later... it seems to me that among human beings it is heterosexual monogamous couplings that bring life, at least without modern technology. And then there seems to be the affectionate lifelong bond between the parents that creates the continued nurture that is best for vulnerable children. Got to go.
ReplyDeleteThree years ago, NonCharon, you asked this question "Does nature indicate monogamous heterosexual couplings are what bring life?" and then said that some "secular geneticists and biologists" may disagree. Do you, or anyone else, have access to something written that would disagree from one of those geneticists or biologists?
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