The Triumph of “Hubris” or Faithfulness?
Rev. Dr. Jeffray Greene, F.O.C.L. Point Editor
Truth be told, we are all sheep that have gone astray. Too easily we see when another goes awry, but it is not so easily when we are the ones who stray. F.O.C.L. Point readers like to think we’ve been better at staying the course, and maybe we have – the Lord will judge – but while we struggle with our own faithfulness, we are not called to run a blind eye to the general struggle for faithfulness to the Word within the ELCA. To many of us, the ELCA is in severe crisis, and much of that crisis finds its roots in the human penchant to play God, a.k.a., hubris.
The difficulty is not just in the ELCA, or even limited to Lutherans. Mainline churches have been fighting for years with the same or a similar struggle over how Scripture speaks to us in matters of faith and life. The Church around the world has its own struggles that the devil seeks to use to tear the Church apart – hence a portion of this F.O.C.L. Point devoted to a faith statement from our brothers and sisters in Tanzania.
In fact this special issue (the second of five special issues prior to the Churchwide Assembly) offers F.O.C.L. Point readers several declarations of faith from various church bodies confessing the primacy of the Word above all else in life. More specifically, these declarations address the struggles the Church is facing regarding human sexuality. Many mainline denominations have been and continue to be in a struggle over what the Bible says about homosexuality and how the interpretation of the applicable passages influence their practices and policies.
The reason for reprinting these declarations is three-fold. First, to show that around the world and across the United States, there are those who are struggling to find a faithful way to both be the Church and reform the Church. The common cord in all of these statements is an understanding that Scripture comes from God and that it is not simply a collection of stories about God. The Church is in a struggle to understand once again what it means to be faithful. And the struggle facing the Church is increasing by the day.
Second, the ELCA is in the midst of a study that will lead to a vote in the summer of 2005, and to a position and teaching concerning human sexuality that will define its life and approach to mission for perhaps generations to come. And third, to encourage a traditional and historic approach to Scripture and the interpretation of it, especially in light of the sexuality questions and challenges we now face.
The Word In Our Own Image?
There are, it seems, two parties at large in the Church: those who believe homosexuality to be a gift from God to be enjoyed and celebrated, and advocate full support and acceptance of gay and lesbian persons and their ordination within the Church, and those who believe gay and lesbian sexual practice to be contrary to God’s created and intended will, and seek to maintain 2000 years of Church teaching and tradition concerning ordination of gay and lesbian people. Although the struggles between the two groups are intense and the divisions clear, few see it as a question of salvation. And yet, even though the struggles may not be salvation related, they do get to the heart of how we approach Scripture and how we live the Christian life. Thankfully, God is the final judge in this matter.
Throughout the ages, members of the Church have misused God’s Word in many ways and for many purposes. The vast majority of Christendom, however, has sought to remain faithful and true to the written Word of God in the Bible and the Living Word of God revealed in Christ. Throughout the ages people have struggled with sexual sins. And yet, God has continually sent the same message: “Turn from your ways and know that I am God.”
But today, it seems, the Church is wrestling with those who would self-validate rather before accepting Scripture as the arbiter of their faith and norm for their daily living. In short, the world is seen through the filter of hubris. We now fight a world that wants not only permission but Church blessing when it acts contrary to two millennia of church catholic teaching. And that desire for approval rears its ugly head in a variety of areas and around a variety of sexuality-related issues. We see it, for example, with abortion. We see it with sexually transmitted diseases. We see it in the area of pornography, even though the issues surrounding pornographic material and its acceptance in our world are somewhat different. The point is still the same: if we listened to Scripture, many of today’s hot-button issues would go away. If a man would cleave to his wife and a wife enjoin herself solely to her husband in matters of sexual purity and faithfulness, as made clear to us in Scripture, much of the struggle facing the Church today would no longer exist.
Take for example, the issue of AIDS and its rampant spread in African nations. The sad truth is that AIDS and the complications arising from it are killing close to seven thousand people every day. It’s pandemic. The answer to the problem is nothing less than the directive God gives in His Word: abstinence. That is also why, for example, Christ Hope International, a pan-Christian ministry in Southern Africa, has been invited by the governments of Namibia, Zaire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to teach abstinence, using their own printed publication in the public schools. They’re teaching the godly principle that the only ‘safe’ sex is a lifetime commitment to a monogamous relationship. (Can you imagine a school district inviting an overtly Christian group to teach a sex education course in the United States?)
We westerners, though, play games saying, “It’s none of your business what I do or how I do it.” Not only that, but we are supposed to celebrate the ‘choices’ I make, regardless of their moral implications. The book of Ezekiel speaks to those who worship all kinds of idols in secret and how God hates the desecration of the true Holy of Holies, our heart in which He desires to dwell.
A generation ago mainline church bodies would not have fathomed a day when sexual behavior outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage could be sanctioned by the Church. Even most the most liberal leaders did not advocate rewriting this fundamental covenant of sexual relationships. And if we go back two, four, seven, or fifty generations, we find the Church’s understanding of sexuality unchanged.
Our culture is narcissistic. To think that God is revealing only now to our generation ‘truths’ that up to this point in time He has kept hidden is hubris so colossal as to dwarf the landscape of 500 years of Protestant history. It is even more so the case when one recognizes that this ‘new basis of understanding’ for our human expression of sexuality goes directly against what God has already said unequivocally in Scripture. The only way the pro-Gay Lesbian Transgender Bisexual (GLTB) rhetoric lines up Scripturally is to discount the related passages by using an historically unfaithful hermeneutic.
Being Christian is about following the Savior and Lord of us all, Jesus Christ, on HIS terms, not our own. The answer is found in faithfulness to the one who is the Head of the Church - the same one who said, “Come and follow Me.” At Jesus’ baptism and again at His transfiguration it was the same directive from God: “Listen to Him.” It seems that often the last thing we want to do is listen to Jesus. And that’s why we’re in a struggle between the primacy of Scripture, and the primacy of hubris.
The call is to be faithful. The Church is in a struggle to understand once again what that means for our faith and life. We often use words of faithfulness and devotion to Christ, but define those terms according to what we want or hope to be true. That can never be the answer. Each of us has gone astray, which is why we need to look to the Great Shepherd to bring us back on track. Until the Lord leads us elsewhere, we need to stay the course of faithfulness. As tempting as it might be to try and run out ahead, there is only one Head and that is Christ. Jesus told His followers, “A house divided cannot stand.” You can bet the devil wants nothing more than the Church to be divided. The answer is coming. It’ll get here when our Lord reappears. Until then, we follow faithfully in His Word.
Read the declarations of faith contained in this issue of F.O.C.L. Point. Ponder their words. Seek a spirit of like strength and conviction, and pray, “Come Lord Jesus, quickly. Amen.”
Church Split?
Gay bishop must go 'or the church will split'
By Jonathan Petre, Religion Correspondent
Anglicanism's first openly gay bishop was invalidly consecrated and must be stripped of his post if the worldwide Church is to avoid schism, a leading conservative demanded only a few short months ago.
In an extraordinary twist in the civil war over homosexuality, the Primate of the West Indies, Archbishop Drexel Gomez, said Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire must be replaced or the Church would split in two.
The ultimatum by Archbishop Gomez, a member of the Lambeth Commission set up by the Archbishop of Canterbury to broker peace between the warring factions, will outrage liberals and further polarize positions.
It would be unprecedented for a bishop to be stripped of his post after his consecration. Dr. Jeffrey John, the gay cleric named as Bishop of Reading last summer, withdrew before the ceremony.
But a paper prepared for Archbishop Gomez by prominent theologians, thought to include the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt. Rev. Michael Nazir-Ali, uses arguments similar to those by Dr. Rowan Williams during the Dr. John furor.
The proposals were presented to the 17-person-strong commission during a critical meeting in America in mid-June. The commission's final report, on which the future of the worldwide Church will hang, was due to be published in October.
Hate-Crimes Legislation Passes Senate
by Keith Peters, Washington, D.C., correspondent
Perennial gay activist legislation is back on Capitol Hill.
The Senate in the early summer months approved a measure to expand federal hate-crime laws to include homosexuals, adding it as an amendment to a defense authorization bill that is a must-pass measure for Congress this year.
The vote was 65-33 in favor of the hate-crimes provision. A co-sponsor of the proposal, Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., called it the Christian thing to do. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., doesn't agree.
"I do not believe that this legislation is necessary," Brownback said. "Crimes against another person are crimes of hate regardless of who the individual is. This is a hateful thing to do."
Robert Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute at Concerned Women for America, said the hate-crimes language violates one of the most basic tenets of American justice: equal protection under the law for all citizens.
"When you start dividing people into categories and devote more resources to some victims rather than others," he explained, "you're violating equal protection."
The Defense Authorization Act, if the Senate also approves it as a whole, will go to a congressional conference committee -- made up of House and Senate members who will reconcile the two chambers' versions of the bill. Tom McClusky, director of government affairs at the Family Research Council (FRC), said he hopes the hate-crimes provisions will be stopped there.
"We have faith in the House conferees that this will be stricken from the final bill," he said. "We will be fighting to make sure that does happen."
Knight, meanwhile, said, we need to stick to enforcing criminal law to protect everyone regardless of who they are, and not create separate categories for different groups.
"I do not believe that this legislation is necessary. Crimes against another person are crimes of hate regardless of who the individual is." Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kansas
The Dorado Covenant
Editor’s Note: At a recent conference a number of senior pastors of larger ELCA churches came together out of great love and grave concern for the EvangelicalLutheranChurch in America. Concerned about relativizing mission and the downgrading of Scripture which dilutes its final authority in all matters of faith and life, this group stated that they believe the Bible should critique our worldview, and not vice-versa.
Out of this concern, the Dorado Covenant was created with the hope of collecting thousands of signatures and passing them along to Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson and the Task Force on Sexuality by November 1. We believe this effort will make a substantial impact as the Task Force prepares its recommendations to the ELCA, scheduled to become public in mid-January 2005.
We also believe this statement is a good example of the faithful thinking found in many within the ELCA. It serves as an example of how we can helpfully address the issues facing the ELCA and at the same time be clear in our message that changes in our Church’s understanding of human sexual practices are not an option.
The Covenant states:
1. We covenant to teach a high view of Scripture. We trust the Bible to be the only final authority for all aspects of life.
2. We affirm an aggressive, positive stance on kingdom expansion and congregational growth.
3. We choose to advance the use of all spiritual gifts through unleashing the priesthood of all believers.
4. We teach and practice that a full sexual relationship belongs exclusively within the biblical boundaries of a publicly committed legal marriage between one man and one woman.
5. We believe that mission and ministry is best accomplished within the context of congregations. Facilitating that mission and ministry should be the central focus of all expressions of the Church.
Bishop Mark Hanson Avoids Crucial Issues
At a recent synod assembly Bishop Mark Hanson, in giving his report on the ELCA, addressed several of the issues facing our church. One example was his comment on the suggestion of a non-geographic synod for those desiring to remain within the ELCA, but who find themselves not in agreement with new positions, policies, and practices. Bishop Hansen’s response was simply to state that there was no need for a non-geographic synod to exist.
Such a response from our leadership is, while perhaps predictable, completely disconnected from the ELCA’s grassroots considering the widespread support for such a non-geographic option. Constitutional changes may well be in order. Questions of implementation and structure may well need to be thought out and made clear. But to simply dismiss the need and to thereby dismiss those asking the question is questionable leadership at best.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. No human serving the Church is her head. No matter what the position or title, no leader has the right to adopt a dismissive posture of speaking to a question and ruling it out of order without allowing a discussion to ensue that might explore the reasons that underlay the question. (As a pastor, this editor has been guilty of the same sin of being dismissive, to be sure. But the question remains: Why are we afraid to explore one side of an issue while almost recklessly exploiting the other side?)
There are many in the ELCA who understand that the Church, although it belongs to Christ, is their Church. How can that be? The Church is not the edict of a person or persons, but the gathering of God’s people in a particular place. As long as that people seek to remain faithful to Christ, questions resulting from a desire for faithfulness must be addressed.
Continuing the discussion, Bishop Hanson described his conversation with a bishop in Tanzania, alluding to, but not naming the Bukoba statement (some of which is in this issue). He asked the bishop, “What are the sexual issues you are dealing with?” The bishop from Tanzania said that the number one sexual sin they deal with it that of the polygamists who join the church. “Which wife do they recognize?” “Which marriage is primary and to come first?” The implication, well received, was that the local church is struggling with sexual issues, albeit different from the sexual issues facing the ELCA. Bishop Hansen’s response did not include the word, ‘sin.’ And, at least for the moment, that seemed to put things at rest.
Later, in a private moment, a delegate from the assembly approached Bishop Hanson and asked, “Sir, would the church in Tanzania ever make one of the polygamists who joined the church a leader?” The answer was that they absolutely would not make the polygamist a leader in the church. The bishop excused himself before the delegate could ask the next question, which she intended to be, “Then why are we so eager to seek to make homosexuals leaders in our community?”
That we are called to wrestle with those who have a difference of understanding from us can be no question. That we are to be inviting, open and willing to meet all whom the Lord would bring into our midst is a scriptural imperative. The question remains. How do those who feel fervent in believing that the course set for our church is a wrong course faithfully address their concerns? How do those who want to remain a part of this church we call the ELCA do so in a way that upholds understanding faithfulness in a historically consistent way? How do those who feel leaders are dismissive, controlling and unwilling to allow variant voices from being heard in a mainstream way participate in the life of the greater church community?
Send us your money, bless our decisions and follow our lead is often the perceived message that is received.
There must be a better way to be the Church. God has blessed us in so many ways. We have a breadth and depth of understanding. Our heritage is rich and gifted. The only one who ‘wins’ with all of the energy spent on endless discussions of human behavior is the devil. We are in the midst of the ongoing spiritual battle that has left casualties throughout the ages. But greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world.
Bukoba Statement
Editor’s Note: The following declaration comes from the Church in Tanzania and its attempt to remain faithful to Scripture in dealing with issues of human sexuality. In a time when many are leaning toward apostasy, the TanzanianChurch is seeking to clearly communicate its understanding of Scripture with its members and the worldwide Church.
Although the specific issues facing the Church in Tanzania are somewhat different from those we are dealing with in the ELCA, the core issues of scriptural faithfulness and interpretation remain the same. As you read this statement from our brothers and sisters in Tanzania, look for their faithfulness to Scripture and hear their desire to uphold and maintain biblical truth.
The Preamble
The Conference of Bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) met in Bukoba between February 2-9, 2004, for spiritual retreat and prayer. In the said conference we reflected also on numerous issues facing the church and society in Tanzania and beyond. We are aware of our duties and responsibilities to pray for, teach, discipline and forewarn the community of faith in our nation and the larger community worldwide. In the face of many other issues facing our society, we have decided to give a conscientious statement on a few critical challenges facing the Church and society. Two critical challenges that we reflected upon are effects of globalization and current/contemporary trends in human sexuality. Subsequently, both challenges debilitate our efforts in fighting HIV and AIDS.
HUMAN SEXUALITY
3.1. The ELCT Position (Conviction)
The Conference of Bishops of the ELCT believes that the Holy Scripture is the foundation of Church teaching. By reading the Bible in its original languages, foreign languages, and our mother tongues, we have come to believe that God uses His word to show the way to salvation. Thus we strongly affirm that:
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living. So that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Through this foundation we acknowledge and believe that:
"…no one can explain by himself a prophecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the will of man, but men were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God". (2 Pet 1:20-21).
Thus, the Conference of Bishops of the ELCT firmly attests that the Word of God as it is recorded in the Holy Scripture (Bible) is the solid foundation for the faith and life of every Christian.
3.2. Homosexuals and their Actions
3.2.1. We acknowledge that homosexual people, with their differences and special problems, are present within our society and our church. At the same time, it is true also that homosexual acts and sodomy are condemned by Holy Scripture because they go against God's plan (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Romans 1:26-27). We, thus, are obliged to stand with Holy Scripture, which is the sole guidance for decency and ethical human behavior.
3.2.2. We believe that people with homosexual inclinations/orientations and other related problems need teaching, counseling and pastoral care that leads to repentance and restoration. Furthermore, we also clearly see that homosexual acts such as sodomy are against natural order and thus against the law of God's creation. These acts are not good and are rebellious.
3.2.3. We believe that the creation of a human being is completed in and by the relationship between a woman and a man. A woman and a man are created in order that each one of them shall complete one another for the purpose of also continuing creation.
3.3. Foundation of Creation
We firmly see Genesis 2:24 as being in harmony with life in an African context. It demonstrates that the union between a man and a woman is the blessed tradition upon which human sexual life and behavior is based. We thus strongly reject the act of a male taking on a female sexual role or vice versa. We therefore believe in and value the beauty and completeness of a man as a man and a woman as a woman.
3.4 Legalization of Homosexuality, Its Acts, Sodomy and Same Sex Marriages
3.4.1. We object to legalization of same sex marriage, which in essence is not a marriage but a complacent act of giving in to human desires. The only marriage act that we can bless is the union between two different sexes. This understanding of marriage is derived from God's order of Creation of man and woman. The entire order of creation, including other animals and plants, was then declared by God to be "very good" (Gen. 1:31). We thus find any attempt to change God's intentions "for the sake of a few individuals with divergent sexual views and acts” is, in itself, sinful and evil.
3.4.2. We are objecting to this legalization because it is also against human dignity and Tanzanian culture. We are convinced that this is not a natural constitution of a human person anywhere. We believe that the cultural decency that we are protecting and defending is not against God's will. ELCT is objecting to the homosexual lifestyle because it deviates from fundamental biblical teaching.
3.4.2.1. We believe and affirm that legalizing homosexual acts, sodomy and same sex marriage rebels against God and misguides society.
3.4.2.2. Thus, legalizing, authorizing or accepting same sex relationships is to undermine the institution of marriage and its sanctity. This institution is the foundation of community welfare. To sabotage it is to sabotage God's command that establishes this important institution.
3.4.2.3. We admonish all human communities in the world that to endorse, legalize or encourage homosexual acts in any form is to reject natural ethical codes that humanize society. It is thus to violate God's Creation.
3.5. The Church's Responsibility
3.5.1. The true Church of Christ would fail in its responsibility if it were to concede to the pressure from homosexuals and sodomites. The Church has a duty to help homosexuals and sodomites to accept their condition as a spiritual and physical problem.
3.5.2. Homosexual acts and sodomy are traditionally understood as an extreme sexual desire, and if a person under this possession is not helped, it can lead to bestiality. We affirm that sexual acts must be confined to the marriage union of a man and a woman.
3.5.2.1. We deplore distorted explanations by several people who use the term "human rights" to justify homosexuality and sodomy. We find this as a deliberate misuse of a good term "human rights". It should be remembered that those forced to accept these deviated lifestyles also have their rights, which need to be protected.
3.5.2.2. Marriage is the only institution God ordained through His Word to be the foundation of reproduction, growth and civilized society. We thus ask: is it not also a human rights issue that children be raised in community with father and mother?
3.6 Misusing Biblical Texts
3.6.1. Although we are aware that Holy Scripture forbids homosexuality and sodomy, there are theologians who interpret, exegete, and misuse Holy Scripture to support and endorse homosexuality in its many forms.
3.6.2. The Conference of Bishops rejects biblical expositions done by some theologians and scholars with intent to affirm and legalize homosexuality. The Bible is the foundation of Christian faith and thus the Church has an indisputable authority to rightly and scripturally explain faith based on God's Word. The Church's expositions do not necessarily have to agree with those of the scholars.
3.7 Homosexuality and Priesthood (Ordination)
We do not agree with those seeking to ordain homosexuals into the ministry of Word and Sacrament. We even do not accept evangelists, elders and other Church-rostered servants who are homosexuals. Instead we call upon the Church of Christ worldwide to sympathize with them, pray for them and counsel them how to be transformed in their thoughts and intentions.
The full Bukoba Statement may be found at: http://www.elct.org
“We object to legalization of same sex marriage, which in essence is not a marriage but a complacent act of giving in to human desires. The only marriage act that we can bless is the union between two different sexes. This understanding of marriage is derived from God's order of Creation of man and woman.”
Catholic Church Addresses Sexuality Issues
Catholic World News Brief – July 2004
The editor’s first article for F.O.C.L. Point was about the Church’s struggle to remain faithful and how that struggle is nothing new for us today. Although we may look to the particular contemporary “sexuality issues” as the reason for our lament, the underlying difficulty lies not with those who will faithfully seek Scripture’s direction in matters of faith and life, but with those who seemingly disregard either the historical understanding taught throughout the ages, or outright declare the ancient voices to be null and void. The following declaration, viewable at http://www.stnm.org/CenterforTheology/index.html is another of the many voices that cry out to our church to stop abandoning its historic mooring.
The Hickory Declaration regarding the Apostolic and Catholic Faith, the Model of Creation, and the ELCA Sexuality Study
Out of a sense of deep compassion for those who struggle with homosexual orientation, and desiring for them the fullness of life in Christ, and in the communion of the Body of Christ:
We declare that the apostolic and catholic faith revealed in Holy Scripture teaches and affirms, in both Old and New Testaments, the model of creation as male and female[1]; and,
We declare, that the Lutheran Confessions also teach the model of creation as male and female[2]; and,
We declare, that the Constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America commits “this church” to Scripture as the Word of God “the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.” [3], and to the Lutheran Confessions as “a true witness to the Gospel,” and “valid interpretations of the faith of the Church” [4] and to an understanding of the “Nature of the Church” as being, “in length…… in the historic continuity of the communion of saints” [Chapter 3.02], i.e., one with the Church of all times and all places, faithful to the faith and practice of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; and,
We declare, that the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church has –– in all times and all places –– affirmed the model of creation as male and female, and has upheld the sexual ethic of faithfulness within marriage and abstinence outside of marriage [5]; and therefore,
We declare, that the doctrine of the model of creation as male and female is subsumed within the “Confession of Faith,” [Chapter 2, Constitution of the ELCA], and therefore not dependent upon “study” or subject to vote; and further,
We declare, that the sexual ethic of fidelity within marriage and abstinence outside of marriage is faithful to the faith and practice of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and is subsumed within the “Nature of the Church”, [Chapter 3, Constitution of the ELCA], and is therefore also not dependent upon “study” or subject to vote.
SWEDISH MINISTER JAILED FOR "ANTI-GAY" SPEECH
(U.S. MINISTERS NEXT?)
Stockholm, Sweden, Jul. 06
(LifesiteNews.com/CWN) -
Editor’s Note: Threatened in Canada, enacted in Sweden, reaction against those who ‘stood in the way’ of a new understanding of sexuality have now seen the debate come full circle.
The Rev. Ake Green, the pastor of a Swedish Pentecostal church in Kalmar, Sweden, has been sentenced to one month in prison for inciting hatred against homosexuals. Green was prosecuted in January for "hate speech against homosexuals" for a sermon he preached last summer citing Biblical references to homosexuality.
Sweden has a “hate crimes” law that forbids criticism of homosexuality. According to the church newspaper “Kyrkans Tidning” , the prosecutor in the case, Kjell Yngvesson, justifies the arrest of Green: “One may have whatever religion one wishes, but this is an attack on all fronts against homosexuals. Collecting Bible citations on this topic as he (Green) does makes this hate speech.”
Closer to Home: Cincinnati, Ohio
On February 5, 2003 the Cincinnati City Council voted 7-2 today to expand the city's hate-crimes ordinance to protect gays and lesbians. This in effect reverses the city ordinance the AFA has been using as their sole example (in the entire United States) of intolerant public policy and was the basis of the language in the failed Traverse City Proposal 1.
The implication is that this may well set the stage for what happened in the Swedish Church. If preaching against gay and lesbian sexual relationships becomes another “hate-crime” act in the United States, then the Christian community and its pastors in this country is not far from facing the same reality faced by the Christian community and its pastors in Sweden.