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Marc Mullinax - Associate Professor of Religion
3/8/2005, 12:53:10 p.m.
Messages to Robin, Aimee, Pamela, Kat, Stephen, Nicole, and Steve King above,
I'd like to address some of what you said.
To Robin, who wrote: "I agree with what Dirk is saying when he stated that Christians should embrace everyone,just as Jesus did. I think Marc has it backwards when he says Christians condemnation of homosexuality is a result of selective Bible reading. The Bible is very clear about this. Those who feel homosexuality is not a sin are the ones doing selective reading."
Marc responds: I would urge us all to see what the first hearers/readers of our Bible had in mind when they heard "homosexual". I really don't think that they had American views from 2005 in mind. If not, what???? Stan Dotson's message about how the culture influences our reading of Scripture (rather than the other way around) has real merit. I would be happy to read the Bible with you, Robin, and have you tell me what you think is important, and vice-versa. That said, I think each and every one of us has a selective reading of the Bible. Who else will admit their guilt here?
To Aimee, who wrote about her incident of thinking she might be gay, and also: "Homosexuality is no greater a sin than any other sin mentioned in the Bible, so I know that I am no better than any of my homosexual friends, or anyone for that matter, because I am in need of grace just as much as they are. God loves them just as much as He loves me, and no goodness on my part or badness on their part will ever change that."
Marc responds: First, thanks for saying this in public. You're probably not alone. I would comfort you in that one incident as you mentioned may not indicate much. Everyone has sudden doubts out of the blue about things, and while I'm not trying to discount your intense experience, I also would say that I would not worry too much about it, IF this is a unique/isolated experience.
Now, in the quote I lifted out, I want to wonder out loud to us all: What exactly is it that makes us concentrate like yellow jackets to spilled soda on homosexuality as the identified sin? If the Bible lifts out the sins of usury, poverty or war, why aren't we able to hear these? Why the focus on homosexuality? What do you think?
To Pamela, who wrote: "I do not believe that homosexuality is a sin, but the way the lifestyle entails, I do"
Marc responds that this sounds a bit confusing. I think you're trying to say that it's OK to be homosexual, but just not engage in homosexual behavior, right? If that's what you're indicating, then we have to apply the same standard: So does this sound equally applicable: "Heterosexuality is not a sin, but engaging in heterosexual lifestyle is" ??
If all sexuality is a gift from God, as I believe it is, then to tell someone that they cannot engage in **responsible** expression of it sounds a little ... can I use the word "arrogant?" (This is not a license for child molesters and others of that ilk!)
To Kat, who wrote: "Those who support homosexuality tend to be close-minded as well and judge all Christians to be the same."
Marc responds, "Amen, sister!" This is a call to those supportive of freedom of conscience in these matters to respect all minds, open or otherwise. As the late MHC religion professor Ellison Jenkins (Jinx) said: "The student is sacred, in mind and in body." To me that cuts all ways, left, right, center and in-between.
To Stephen, who wrote a very long, passionately-reasoned response, I want to commend him publicly for modeling what I wish more would do: Call up the person you disagree with, eat a meal together, and open up the Scriptures together. Stephen, I look forward to our next meeting!
To Nicole, Would you consider responding publicly to Cassandra's query of you? It was very brave what you said. Can you respond more?
To Steve King, who wrote: "If you name Jesus as Lord, allow the Scriptures to stand for themselves. In this regard, I don't find myself feeling a need to defend God's position. It is printed for all to read. I must point out that there is a tendency in some arguments to excuse sin."
Marc responds that I so love the Bible, that I have learned to read it in its original languages, so that I can read it more closely. The more I read it, the more I understand it's a very complicated book in many respects, and that God's heart may not be in much of the vigorous identification of homosexuals. God seems much more invested in the forgotten, the invisible, the weak, the poor and other mustard seeds of our world.
I do stand with the Word of God: Jesus as attested to in Scripture, who came to eat with and even party with the so-called lowest of the low in his time. I think it critical to CONTINUE this ministry of association. In my grandparent's generation, this ministry may have been to women seeking the vote, and are also human. In my parent's generation, it may have been to African-Americans seeking to change people's minds that they are indeed fully human. In our generation, we have an equally thorny issue: Is the homosexual my neighbor (in the Good Samaritan sense)? and Is homosexuality a gift or punishment?
What will our children think of us if we fail where past generations have mostly succeeded!?!?
Homsexuality in the Bible is never, in my reading of it, addressed. Homosexual acts, in the context of pagan and bad-religion rituals are addressed. It's much more complicated than just concluding that the Bible is against homosexuals or homosexuality!!! Much more can be seen (if one cares to be more educated about our beloved Bible), in The Church and the Homosexual,
by McNeill, John J. Publication: Boston Beacon Press, 1993.
Mr. King, I respect your views. I served on the mission field in Korea myself. I hope one day we can meet and model a Christ-like discussion on this very important issue.
To you all, thanks for your responses. I have learned a great deal from you. I also believe there's much more that unites us than divides us, and on that unity (in Christ) I thank you for your responses.
To a more well-read Bible, a God who places commas where we might want periods, and a thicker Jesus!
Marc Mullinax
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