The Kingdom of Heaven will look something like this. The bishop of an unnamed denomination called in two new probationer ministers to make appointments to two churches based, of course, on the gifts and graces he perceived in each candidate. After interviewing the two probationers, the bishop appointed the first to a suburban church with over five hundred members and a brand new, spectacular building. The second was appointed to an inner city mission church with less than a hundred members and a somewhat dilapidated building located in a blighted neighborhood. The bishop, of course, disappeared from view until it was time for the next round of appointments.
Continue reading ‘The Parable of the Ministers’
Archive Page 15
14
Jan
09
The Parable of the Ministers
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WHAT IS REALLY AT STAKE
What is at stake is the outright condemnation and rejection of a significant portion of God’s children by the church based, according to most, on scriptural authority. I argue that the very few Biblical passages that possibly decry homosexuality lose their veracity since the Levitical condemnation of “abomination” is, at the least, suspect. It is incumbent on the church to wrestle out the implications of this in a very public way,
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THE ORIGINS OF “AS WITH A WOMAN”
Where, then, did the English translations derive the meaning so frequently interpreted as a prohibition against same-sex relations. We need look no further than the Vulgate, the Latin translation of scripture ascribed to St Jerome in the early fifth century. Continue reading ‘The Case Against LGBT – no, the KJV Part 4’
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SO WHAT IS THIS PROSCRIPTION REALLY ABOUT?
In true scriptural fashion, virtually all proscriptions are repeated several times – not just once or twice. While versions of the Decalogue – the Ten Commandments – appear three times, the admonishments contained therein are far more repetitive. Patterns and frequency of use, as mentioned earlier, help determine the meaning of difficult passages. There is, in fact, a pattern with regards to the significance of ‘bed’ in both the Hebrew and Greek.
Continue reading ‘The Case Against LGBT Falters – Part 3’
13
Jan
09
The Case Against LGBT – Part 2
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WHAT DOES “…AS WITH A WOMAN” MEAN?
Lev 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Lev 20:13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. (NRSV)
The wording of different English translations differs little with regard to these passages and, therefore, offers little help in examining meaning. The level of confidence in their validity, as prohibitions against same-sex relationships, is directly proportional to the credence given ‘literal’ readings of scripture. More literal – more important and damning; less literal – less consequential. I will argue, however, that the translations found in most English bibles are not very literal at all. In fact, quite generous interpretive licenses have been taken in the first place. Continue reading ‘The Case Against LGBT – Part 2’
12
Jan
09
Yes, it’s California, but …
Despite nationwide media attention, I have stayed out of the discussions, on other sites I frequent, regarding California’s Prop 8 and the ensuing Supreme Court battles. The reason has not been due to support or lack thereof, but with the major dis-ease I have suffered over the concept of voting on rights. When rights become the purview of the majority to grant or take away, they are no longer rights but privileges.
Continue reading ‘Yes, it’s California, but …’
12
Jan
09
We Can’t Stop It
It’s coming. We don’t know when. We don’t know from where. But come it will.
It won’t be denied. It won’t be stopped. It will instill fear to our very core – fear that cripples us as we see the fabric of our illusory faith rent apart.
Continue reading ‘We Can’t Stop It’
MINISTRY FROM TWO POLES 
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