Christianity at a crossroads over
issue of homosexuality
By Fr JOE BABENDREIR
The Anglican debate over the episcopal consecration of a practising homosexual in the United States has stunned African Christians, regardless of what church they go to. When pressed to explain why, they say it should be obvious: "We do not dispute such issues. The Bible condemns it. End of story."
But is that really the end of the story?
If the Rev Gene Robinson (the cleric in the headlines) told his congregation 50 years ago that he was gay, he would have been sacked on the spot.
Today, a majority of his peers want to make him bishop. These American church leaders read the same Bible we do. If the Bible is all we have to fall back on, what will prevent Kenya from following the same road that led these Christians to the current dilemma?
Like all gays fond of attending church, the Rev Robinson uses the scriptures to defend his position. He is a charismatic preacher with a knack for addressing youth. He wouldn't get very far singing the praises of same-sex attraction here. But in Europe, Canada and the US, things have changed. Anyone opposing gay culture is labelled a homophobic bigot.
Politicians figure prominently in gay parades. Lesbian partners get artificially fertilised and become 'mothers' so they can have their own 'family'. Some gay 'couples' have managed to adopt a child. Students in public schools get sex education classes where they learn to view homosexual acts as a normal option depending on personal preference. The latest trend is to hold gay weddings in church and some pastors are ready to oblige.
For all the furore over letting the Rev Robinson become a bishop, a good number of those in his community will continue to consider him a caring, competent priest, whether he gets promoted or not. What is he good at? Among other things, he has perfected the art of interpreting the Bible contrary to tradition. A local decision to break off relations with Anglican brethren abroad (and losing funds from the rich dioceses in the US) is the tip of the iceberg. Lurking beneath is a far more troubling issue. Kenya's Anglican leader, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, stated that the money doesn't matter. It's biblical teaching that counts.
The Rev Robinson is forcing the issue. He says Jesus is 'daring' him to be the homosexual 'God created him to be'. Regardless of how men get to be gay, does God ever bless sodomy? A significant number of Christians are saying yes, claiming to have scriptural evidence for it. What makes their interpretation of God's revelation wrong and Archbishop Nzimbi's right? What about other disagreements (polygamy, abortion, divorce) among the various Christian denominations? Why not let pluralism rule the Church? Wouldn't that end all the arguments?
Anglican bishops in Africa argue that some interpretations do damage. (Do you want a homosexual priest taking care of the youth group where your children go to church?) As clear as this may be, it doesn't get to the heart of the controversy. The battle over Rev. Robinson's consecration puts pressure on Christians everywhere to address the one prickly topic that generates the most heated arguments.
Everyone who studies this stumbles upon the Apostles' Creed, a text � older than the New Testament � that the first Christians used for prayer and worship. It states that the Church is 'catholic', which literally means universal. The early Christians thought it essential for everyone all over the world to believe the same thing, especially when it came to interpreting sacred scripture. As the �Acts of the Apostles� says, they "remained faithful to the teaching of the Apostles". They looked at themselves as a community of faith. Anyone who did not believe what everyone else believed was no longer a member of the Church.
This was clear in the beginning but it's a problem for today's Christians. When it comes time to decide what everyone is supposed to believe, who decides? Perhaps Jesus foresaw the difficulties his Church would face with the passing of time and, for this reason, the night before he died, prayed that his followers would be united.
Comments\Views about this article
