What does the Bible offer us about being an Open & Affirming Church?
Members of your ONA committee attended a webinar on this topic sponsored by the UCC. We began by considering what verse, saying or story in the Bible meant the most to us in times of loss, fear, anxiety and when we needed encouragement, hope and consolation. In sharing these sacred texts, it was clear how much we have in common. These verses have accompanied the members of every congregation throughout their lives. We could see quickly that we all have Biblical values in common.
To approach what can sometimes be a confusing, even contentious topic, specifically gay marriage we should consider that the 31,000 verses in the Bible. Eight of them are used to condemn “gay” relationships. This is 0.02% of the bible. The speaker pointed out that less than 1% of a text should not control the conversation or have the final word. In fact, after looking at the cultural and theological framework, and the work of contemporary scholars, even these eight verses, in context, have little to nothing to do with same sex marriages of today.
We were reminded that the focus of the bible is to learn how to be in relationship with God and each other and how to live as a community.The Bible was written in a very different time, place, and culture. When reading the Bible, we hear the word through many voices, not just one. When seeking the meaning of texts, it is important to look at the context, specifically the time, events, traditions, and situations. Our ancestors never isolated the text from the rest of the Bible. The context was from all 31,000 verses.
We see the texts today as helping and guiding us to be able to interpret how we should be acting as loving Christians in the world. For example, we should consider Matthew 7:12 - “The Golden Rule” - “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” in our day to day lives.
It was pointed out to us that the Bible never asks the question, “Are loving same-sex relationships between equal partners a sin?” The point being that we should consider the context at all times in which something has been written. For example, in the times of Jesus, hospitality was not about just being nice. The stranger was a sacred person to be sheltered, fed and welcomed.
In Genesis 19, there are two principal parts to the story. First, Abraham’s hospitality to strangers brings “life.” Sarah is “with child” after this hospitality is shown. This is in stark contrast to Sodom. Sodom’s violation of hospitality brings death and “destruction of the city.” The “sin of Sodom” is not described anywhere as being gay or in a loving consensual relationship. It was a threat of violence against a stranger, specifically sexual assault. This begs the question as to what happens to a society when it threatens strangers, such as refugees and immigrants, with violence?
To turn to the Old Testament for a purview on sexual ethics we would find that:
1) Polygamy is normal and quite common
2) Adultery, incest, and rape were allowed by men. Only a woman could be guilty of any of these as well as prostitution.
3) If a new bride was found to not be a virgin she could be stoned to death.
4) New grooms do not have to be virgins.
The word “homosexual” first appeared in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible in 1946. Prior to 1946, earlier versions of the Bible used words that when translated only make reference to “young boys or young child” or “boy molesters”.
See Resources below
The bible provides language and direction concerning idols and the consequences of Idolatry. According to Paul (Romans 1), the sin of idolatry is misdirecting human worship away from the one true God to other images of mortal man or animals. Paul believed idolatry led to moral chaos. His list of moral chaos included same sex relationships. At the time, same sex relationships were allowed as part of the spoils of war, as young boys captured in war could be sold into the sex trade. These relationships were clearly not between equal loving partners. Power over another person was the basis of the relationship. The same is true in the story of Sodom. Regarding sexual ethics Paul didn’t believe Christians should marry as the end was near. Marriage was only for those men who couldn’t contain their lust.
The bible is to teach biblical values and was never intended as a book of sexual ethics. The biblical values we all share are easy to find, and echoed in Romans 15:7, “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” To use the bible to discriminate against same sex marriages has no theological basis. To use the bible to cause harm and to separate one from another is not what the United Church of Christ stands for, and not the message we want our community to hear from us. To become an Open & Affirming Church would make it clear that we are a church truly based on biblical values.
In service,
Mary Brown, Natalie Coe, Karen Festa, Celia Schneider, Lynn Stack
FHUCC Open and Affirming Committee
If you would like to bring anything to the committee, please contact Mary or Celia.
Mary Brown [email protected] 802-345-4502
Celia Schneider [email protected] 802-273-2406
Please note that much of the provided content has been taken from a presentation by Andy Lang, Executive Director, UCC Open and Affirming Coalition. You may reach the coalition directly by emailing ed@openand affirming.org and we encourage you to visit their website: https://openandaffirming.org
Additional Resources
United Methodist Church - Homosexual Perspective
Human Rights Campaign - Bible - Homosexuality
Members of your ONA committee attended a webinar on this topic sponsored by the UCC. We began by considering what verse, saying or story in the Bible meant the most to us in times of loss, fear, anxiety and when we needed encouragement, hope and consolation. In sharing these sacred texts, it was clear how much we have in common. These verses have accompanied the members of every congregation throughout their lives. We could see quickly that we all have Biblical values in common.
To approach what can sometimes be a confusing, even contentious topic, specifically gay marriage we should consider that the 31,000 verses in the Bible. Eight of them are used to condemn “gay” relationships. This is 0.02% of the bible. The speaker pointed out that less than 1% of a text should not control the conversation or have the final word. In fact, after looking at the cultural and theological framework, and the work of contemporary scholars, even these eight verses, in context, have little to nothing to do with same sex marriages of today.
We were reminded that the focus of the bible is to learn how to be in relationship with God and each other and how to live as a community.The Bible was written in a very different time, place, and culture. When reading the Bible, we hear the word through many voices, not just one. When seeking the meaning of texts, it is important to look at the context, specifically the time, events, traditions, and situations. Our ancestors never isolated the text from the rest of the Bible. The context was from all 31,000 verses.
We see the texts today as helping and guiding us to be able to interpret how we should be acting as loving Christians in the world. For example, we should consider Matthew 7:12 - “The Golden Rule” - “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” in our day to day lives.
It was pointed out to us that the Bible never asks the question, “Are loving same-sex relationships between equal partners a sin?” The point being that we should consider the context at all times in which something has been written. For example, in the times of Jesus, hospitality was not about just being nice. The stranger was a sacred person to be sheltered, fed and welcomed.
In Genesis 19, there are two principal parts to the story. First, Abraham’s hospitality to strangers brings “life.” Sarah is “with child” after this hospitality is shown. This is in stark contrast to Sodom. Sodom’s violation of hospitality brings death and “destruction of the city.” The “sin of Sodom” is not described anywhere as being gay or in a loving consensual relationship. It was a threat of violence against a stranger, specifically sexual assault. This begs the question as to what happens to a society when it threatens strangers, such as refugees and immigrants, with violence?
To turn to the Old Testament for a purview on sexual ethics we would find that:
1) Polygamy is normal and quite common
2) Adultery, incest, and rape were allowed by men. Only a woman could be guilty of any of these as well as prostitution.
3) If a new bride was found to not be a virgin she could be stoned to death.
4) New grooms do not have to be virgins.
The word “homosexual” first appeared in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible in 1946. Prior to 1946, earlier versions of the Bible used words that when translated only make reference to “young boys or young child” or “boy molesters”.
See Resources below
The bible provides language and direction concerning idols and the consequences of Idolatry. According to Paul (Romans 1), the sin of idolatry is misdirecting human worship away from the one true God to other images of mortal man or animals. Paul believed idolatry led to moral chaos. His list of moral chaos included same sex relationships. At the time, same sex relationships were allowed as part of the spoils of war, as young boys captured in war could be sold into the sex trade. These relationships were clearly not between equal loving partners. Power over another person was the basis of the relationship. The same is true in the story of Sodom. Regarding sexual ethics Paul didn’t believe Christians should marry as the end was near. Marriage was only for those men who couldn’t contain their lust.
The bible is to teach biblical values and was never intended as a book of sexual ethics. The biblical values we all share are easy to find, and echoed in Romans 15:7, “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” To use the bible to discriminate against same sex marriages has no theological basis. To use the bible to cause harm and to separate one from another is not what the United Church of Christ stands for, and not the message we want our community to hear from us. To become an Open & Affirming Church would make it clear that we are a church truly based on biblical values.
In service,
Mary Brown, Natalie Coe, Karen Festa, Celia Schneider, Lynn Stack
FHUCC Open and Affirming Committee
If you would like to bring anything to the committee, please contact Mary or Celia.
Mary Brown [email protected] 802-345-4502
Celia Schneider [email protected] 802-273-2406
Please note that much of the provided content has been taken from a presentation by Andy Lang, Executive Director, UCC Open and Affirming Coalition. You may reach the coalition directly by emailing ed@openand affirming.org and we encourage you to visit their website: https://openandaffirming.org
Additional Resources
United Methodist Church - Homosexual Perspective
Human Rights Campaign - Bible - Homosexuality