Pastoral e-Note July 2 2015

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Dear Friends in Christ, I received an interesting question by email this week. I asked Katherine Orr's permission to share it with you, along with my reply. She was gracious to give me permission. I share it with you as a pastoral response to living in a 5-4 culture. Here is her question:

Dear Pastor, I know that you said you will be looking at pastoring in a 5-4 world later this week, but I had a question related to that. I know that in the 4 Gospels, Jesus does not mention homosexuality, but it is mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. I am not sure where I fall on the spectrum of this debate. I tend to search in the Gospels first, but do not always feel comfortable looking in what Paul says (I sometimes have issues with Paul). So my question is; can the Gospels only inform my decision? Am I being narrowminded and shortsighted for only looking in the Gospels?

Katherine Orr (My Response) Dear Katherine, I'd like to respond by first of all saying that I believe in the primacy of Scripture. The Bible is the primary source of revelation and truth.

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." I believe the Holy Scriptures are able to bring about encounter with God, understanding about humanity and instruction in our living. It has an authority about it for the faithful, but it is not authoritative. We do not worship the book of God. We worship the God of the book. Wesley

called the Bible "the first court of appeals." I agree.

Secondly, the Bible contains both universal truth and cultural truth.

Usually, where the church gets sideways is in distinguishing between what is culturally relevant and what is universally true.

For some, the practice of homosexuality is a line of demarcation.

Our current discipline speaks to the sacred worth of all people created in the image of God, and the need to offer grace to all. This is why (by the way) we Methodists have an "open table," thank the Lord. We are after all, all sinners saved by grace.

The Scripture says much about divorce, greed, and other issues that we tend to ignore. But this one seems to capture our attention.

Some see this issue as one of biblical authority. The Scriptures do have a number of texts (Old and New Testament) that speak of the practice of homosexuality as sin. Our current Discipline states in the Social Principles section that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." Some want to remove this sentence from the Discipline because it seems exclusive.

I don't think we can deny the tension in the Scripture. The question is, is this issue more culturally bound, like women with head coverings, keeping their mouths shut in worship? Or is it universal? Is this a litmus test of faith?

Psychologically, I've noticed in our culture, that we often try to fix problems by denying that there is a problem. I don't think denial is a helpful tool for reconciliation and restoration. Typically, in deep relationships, we must begin by naming the tension, and then agreeing sometimes to disagree, but doing so in a gracious way that does not demonize and dehumanize. Both the left and the right are often gifted in demonizing the other side. When this happens, it simply brings about a deeper polarization!

The question to me is - not just where you come out on this issue, or other controversial issues for that matter, but how you conduct yourself in the discourse.

In our culture, we have exploited every possible division of humanity.

We have set up false dichotomies that give only either/or distinctions.

For example, if you disagree with me, you're wrong, mean and hateful! And we then respond by being mean and hateful!

I followed a line of tweets the other day online, and to be honest, it sounded like a middle-school locker room. It was filled with pot-shots and slurs (on both sides). I realized how easy it is to resort to that kind of drivel when you have no relationship with those you are talking to!

No relationship - no responsibility.

In our cultural context, we don't deal well with conflict because we struggle to love people with whom we disagree. I am discovering as a spiritual leader of 33 years that life is not always about being right. It is more often about how we treat each other in the midst of a disagreement.

The media has given us limited talking points on such issues.

Personally, I don't find the talking points to be especially helpful.

None of them fully characterize me, or the church. In some ways, I am conservative. In some ways, liberal. In some ways, moderate, even libertarian. I am liberally conservative. I am conservatively liberal. I don't fit. And I do not appreciate people who bully and manipulate me into narrow categories, so that they can control the conversation.

What I can say for sure is that I am a disciple of Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the source of grace and mercy. He is the way, the truth and the life. But that does not make me narrow.

Neither does it make me right about everything! Hopefully, it makes me loving. And to be loving does not mean that I have no convictions.

I have many. It doesn't mean I look at the concerns of our world and say, "Whatever?" That's not loving. That's indifference.

But watch out for the false dichotomies. There are times where either/or is unavoidable. But more often than not, there are both/and moments. I can be in tension, and be loving. I can disagree and still be gracious and merciful.

Jesus never said, "By your stance on social issues others will know that you are my disciples." He said, "By your love, others will know that you are mine."

I have strong feelings about many issues. And I think it's important to be able to live out our convictions in a democratic society. I will fight for that right for every person. We must remind ourselves however, that people are not issues to be solved. People are souls to be loved.

The church is not the state. The church is not a legislative community.

The church is a covenant community. The constitutional law is not the law of the church. The United Methodist Church has its own process called General Conference, where every 4 years we come together for worship, prayer and resolutions.

In this covenant community, we are bound to one another by faith in Jesus Christ. We are family! I don't know how it is in your family, but in our family we don't always agree on everything! Sherre is usually right!!! But we are bound by a covenant. The Church is a covenant family. An inclusive family with an open table, where grace is freely given to all.

When we struggle with issues, we don't just legislate, we love. We conference, we talk, we pray. In Acts 15, the church had a potentially explosive issue regarding the inclusion of Gentiles. It takes up only a chapter. But it took years to figure it out. The key in that debate, and throughout the history of the church is PRAYER. When you pray, you listen to God, and to others. You're not just concerned with your own voice, but moreso, with God's voice. Prayer and fasting is often the church's initial response in difficult moments. It should also be for us!

As we, the body of Christ, continue to live pastorally and prophetically in a 5-4 world, I simply remind you of your primary identity. You are a disciple of Christ, bought with a price, infinitely loved and sustained by grace. You are made to live in community.

And you are sent into the world to be a transforming agent. As you continue to live out your call, may it be evident to all that you have, in fact, been in the company of Jesus.

The peace of Christ be with you!

Davis