GOD EMBRACES EVERYBODY - ( Why pews are empty )

Press-Telegram ^ | August 17, 2003 | the Rev. Bryan Jones

[UnklGene]

GOD EMBRACES EVERYBODY

By the Rev. Bryan Jones

In her religion column on Aug. 9, Pamela Hale denounced the Episcopal Church's decision to confirm the election of the The Reverend V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, to be the bishop of New Hampshire. By citing two of the handful of references to homosexuality in the Bible, Ms. Hale argues that the decision disregards the essentials of "the word of God," which never change.

In doing so she confuses the word of God with the words of the Bible. By the same line of reasoning should we: Execute people who work on the Sabbath (Exodus 31:16)? Slaughter enemy populations (I Samuel 15:3)? Prohibit women from speaking in church (I Corinthians 14:34)?Comples slaves to be obedient to their masters (Ephesians 6:5-7)? No Christians today would argue for those "biblical" positions?

Literal reading of the Bible is always done selectively. The Bible is not a simple rulebook that provides neat answers to every life question. The Bible is a vast collection of writings written by many authors in many different contexts over many different centuries (over 1,000 years for the Hebrew Scriptures and at least 100 years for the New Testament).

Scripture holds authority for Christians because, taken as a whole, it tells the wondrous story of God, gracious and loving, reaching out to establish relationships with the people of Israel and the people of Jesus' community, the Church.

The rich variety of Scripture alwayts reflect both the goodness and limitations of its human authors. The word of God speaks through the messy human story, never in some pure form apart from it.

The Episcopal Church takes the authority of the Scripture very seriously, byt most Episcopalians recognize that to read it literally is to rob it of its depth and often to distort its call to justice, compassion and faithfulness.

In the Anglican Communinion, of which the Episcopal Church is a part, the authority of the Scripture has always been understood in the light of two other sources of authority, tradition and reason. Tradition, because God's holy spirit continues to be present in the Church down through the centuries. Reason (originally defined as the ways human beings have of understanding, including thinking, feeling, experience, academic disciplines, science, art and literature), because the holy spirit is also present in our own lives today.

It is true that there are about nine passages in the Bible that condemn homosexual acts. The first six passages, found in the Hebrew scripture, refer either to pagan temple prostitution or to the purity code that proscribed wou could enter Jerusalem's temple. The oft-referred-to story in Genesis about Sodom and Gomorrah is actually about failing to do justice and provide hospitality to strangers; at least that's how the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah read it.

Of the three New Testament passages, Romans is the most often quoted. In it Paul simply reflects some common assumptions of the day about human nature. He assumes that homosexual acts are ahainst every person's nature. Although beautifully right about God's grace, Paul was wrong in this matter. We know now that in all human cultures a fairly set percentage of the population is gay. This has as much to do with out biology as anything else.

In other words, it's natural for some human beings to be gay. It's part of God's creation.

More importantly, those of us who share the Christian life with sisters and brothers who are lesbian and gay know that the love they give to each other and share with the rest of us is as much of a channel of God's love as anybody's else's. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the word of God. He is the standard by which Christians judge everything else, including Scripture.

Jesus spent his life and went to his death actively including people in his fellowship that others around him considered impure, unclean and unworthy. He announced that no one is automatically excluded from God's saving embrace. In each age Christians are called to respond as God continues to widen the circle of His embrace in new ways.

We in the Episcopal Church confirmed the election of Bishop Robinson because we prayfully discerned that being faithful followers of Jesus joyfully required it.

The Rev. Bryan Jones is priest in charge at St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Long Beach.

[UnklGene]

The Rev. wonders why the people stay away from his church in droves!

[Voltage]

Because it says so in the Jones book of the bible.

You will need a recent edition!

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

I don't understand that line of reasoning AT ALL!It sounds like opening the door even wider for satan while telling somebody,"let your guard down and don't worry about it".I ain't falling for that!

[AnAmericanMother]

The problem with this approach -- that something is "natural" and hence must be O.K. by God -- is that it ignores the reality of fallen human nature.

Follow this reasoning to its logical conclusion, and nothing is ever deserving of condemnation or blame. God embraces everybody just exactly like they are? No need to change? No need to "deny thyself, and take thy cross?"

This is exactly what's wrong with the Episcopal Church. A few more compromises along this line, and we'll be indistinguishable from the Unitarians.

I will, however, be long gone at that point.

[Texas_Dawg]

In doing so she confuses the word of God with the words of the Bible.

This statement says it all. Amazing.

[keithtoo]

Lets just start serving beer in church. I've always said that would guarantee attendance. I mean as long as rules dont mean anything, what would be the harm?

Of course, it would be simpler to put steeples on top of bars.

.....or massage parlors,

......or casinos,

......or whereever lib-whackos congregate.

Whoops, that's already happened.

[Van Jenerette]

The Rev. Bryan Jones is priest in charge at St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Long Beach.

What a wack job!

[wimpycat]

"In each age Christians are called to respond as God continues to widen the circle of His embrace in new ways."
The Gospel according to Jones

Hmmmmm.....

The Gospel according to Matthew:


13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.


15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The Gospel according to Luke:

Luke 13
23Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
24He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.'
"But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'



I think I'll take Matthew's and Luke's (and therefore Jesus') word for it.

[Ahban]

I want this man to do the eulogy at my funeral. His 'sermon' will undoubtedly tourque me off so bad that I will hop out of that casket and give him a savage beating, to the wonder, amazement, and joy of the congregants.

I'm talking about the kind of beating where the officer on the scence says, "What kind of an ANIMAL would do this to another human being?".

Only when he hears that it was a liberal Episcopal "priest" who thinks that his opinions are closer to God's heart than the words of the Bible will the officer finally understand, and hopefully get his baton out to administer round two.
/sick humour mode

[Ahban]

ping and note post #10

[Birdsong Bay]

You said it!!! You can't bend the Word of God to suit your sin!! (I don't mean you you - I mean them!!) They forget that God does LOVE everyone- that is why He gave us guidance how to live here on earth and provision for our salvation and future in Heaven. There is no acceptance for sin that will destroy us in the Word or in God's LOVE!!

[wimpycat]

I'd rather just leave him for God to handle.

[WOSG]

"Jesus ... He announced that no one is automatically excluded from God's saving embrace. In each age Christians are called to respond as God continues to widen the circle of His embrace in new ways."

Ah, so he cant wait for that embrace to include pedophiles. There are some de-frocked priests who will be glad to hear of it and re-join the party.

[johnb838]

It's the penile-anal contact, stupid. The anal intercourse. S0-called anal "sex" (which it is not). The hershey highway. The packing of the fudge. Sh!tty "fun". This is the abomination, this thing that accompanies homosexualism. Were the Rev. Vicki celibate, then in wouldn't matter who gave him a rocket in his pocket. But the act of a man putting his penis into another persons sh!tty ass is intrinsically disordered, vile, and a public health matter, as well as a moral abomination. It can be argued that most of the old Jewish Kosher laws were established as protection against real dangers to the community, some of which do not apply today. Well this one does. Rampant homosexualism with the misery and disease that it spreads, threatens our society today. Therefore it is NOT a private matter between consenting adults, it affects each and every one of us and our children.

[gcraig]

...it's natural for some human beings to be gay...

Wrong. Homosexuality is a mental illness.

[Vinnie]

Rev. Bryan Jones,

You are nuts.

Go ahead and fill the pews from that 2% of the population, the other 98% will go elsewhere.

[nightdriver]

"The oft-referred-to story in Genesis about Sodom and Gomorrah is actually about failing to do justice and provide hospitality to strangers; at least that's how the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah read it.

No, "Rev." Jones, God did not rain down fire and brimstone and destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for failing to provide hospitality to strangers, and Ezekiel and Isaiah do not imply that He did.

You've been blinded by your own perversion just like the men of Sodom. Read it again.

[MamaB]

Amen!!

[madprof98]

There are people who eat this stuff up. Just yesterday, this letter appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

I find the backlash against Bishop-elect Gene Robinson highly offensive. Religion is not a static event, and neither are the Scriptures. Whether religious people or leaders want to face it, the word of God has been filtered through 2,000 years of humanity.

Fear is everywhere, and I see it reflected in the letters that speak out against Robinson. Having a gay bishop or affirming gay marriage does nothing to diminish the love and commitment between heterosexual couples.

My religion tells me to love. It does not tell me to deny that which is most basic in me, the need to love and be loved. I am humbled by Robinson.

SARA BAYER-BLESSING, Smyrna

Unfortunately for those who must pay the light bills, the hypenated-name crowd is not all that regular in attendance at services.