I was really disturbed by a post I read this week on Cathleen Falsani's blog, The Dude Abides (http://www.cathleenfalsani.com/). Falsani is an excellent journalist, specializing in religion coverage, and has worked for the Sun-Times and written several books. I took a special interest in following her work when I moved to Chicago since she was local, and since I have a couple of friends who went to Wheaton College with her and have spoken about how sharp she is.
This week she wrote a blog post called "A Gay Awakening in the Church?" and it left me sad and shaking my head is disbelief. Why? Because in the post Falsani discusses Jay Bakker's newest book (he's Jim Bakker's son) and endorses his opinion that Christians have been translating scripture on homosexuality incorrectly (Leviticus), when, in fact, there's nothing wrong with it. She seems to be just one of a growing handful of evangelicals/emergents who are now making the move to embrace the gay lifestyle in the church. She ends her post by asking, "Might the evangelical church be on the verge of a gay awakening?"
Further disappointing was pastor and author Brian MacLaren's endorsement of Falsani's post just a few days later.
Interestingly, I could begin my own blog post in a similar way that Falsani began hers: "Some of my dearest friends are gay. Most of my dearest friends are Christians." But unlike Falsani, my friends and I agree to disagree when it comes to this particular lifestyle choice. It doesn't make us love each other any less, and some have gratefully left the lifestyle behind. Although many people struggle with this choice and find relief in "coming out of the closet," others find relief in getting out of the lifestyle.
Can you be gay and a Christian? Of course. But how long can we keep watering down scripture?
What do you think? Are Christians compromising in this area?
This Saturday’s Recipes by The Pioneer Woman
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This Saturday is a brand new episode of “Home Sweet Home” on Food Network.
My kids are helping me shoot it, my production company in the UK is editing
it t...
5 years ago
4 comments:
Wow, interesting post Laura. I haven't read any of the articles or blog posts you mentioned, but recently I read about Jennifer Knapp being gay which just blew me out of the water! I then read an interview of her's with Christianity Today and it was just really sad what she said. We can talk about it more later as I don't have all my thoughts clear (or the sources handy!)
I could not load the page to read the article but while I agree that we NEED scripture and REALLY need to always look to it as the authority on issues I think too often we define ourselves by what we are "Against" rather than what we are "FOR"- Jesus came to love, forgive, and regenerate us, all of us.
I agree, Roxanne, and I don't know that I would normally be outspoken on this type of topic, but it really bugs me that Christian influencers are questioning whether this scripture is interpreted correctly.
I agree with you Laura! I have friends who are gay and there is a couple that comes to our church occasionally. I love them like I love everyone else and I would stick up for them and serve them like anyone else. But we disagree on the lifestyle. I don't believe they should be in leadership in the church if they are continuing in the lifestyle. That of course is a whole other discussion. But I am sad that we are not taking the Bible seriously and we are not fearing the Lord. He's not someone to play with. To say that God didn't mean what He wrote is bold to say the least! Love reading your blogs, Laura! Miss you!
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