Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/88

Contributor - Will Kroon

Title - Another Sexual Issue to Deal With

Topic - Homosexuality

I still recall the time that my home church (in Holland) made a public statement on having a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Couples who "had to get married" were required to make public confession of their sins in order to get married in the Church. Since that time the Church at large has spoken out on many sex related issues such as prostitution, pornography and abortion. This year some churches are about to make a public statement on yet another sexual concern, namely, on homosexuality. Classis Ontario has already done so.

Why bring it up?

1. First of all, the United Church of Canada is presently making the headlines in the newspapers for it is about to publish a discussion paper on homosexuality and on whether or not declared homosexuals may be ordained to the Gospel ministry.

I have not seen the report but we are given to believe that many members of that denomination are not too pleased at what is recommended by the committee in question. Some even threaten to withhold financial support if the recommendations are accepted by its General Assembly.

On the one hand it is tempting to avoid writing on this subject, for the topic of homosexuality is controversial. on the other hand, we cannot avoid dealing with this issue indefinitely, for more and more pastors, consistories, parents and teachers are faced with it and seek guidance on how to respond to those who privately, or in public, declare their homosexual inclinations.

2. Homosexuality is not new to the Church, for the topic is frequently mentioned, both in the Old and in the New Testaments. What is new, however, is that more and more persons are beginning to reveal their long-held secret that they are attracted to persons of the same sex. It also is becoming evident that this kind of sexual orientation is also found within the Church. in other words, it is becoming clear that even some Pastors, Priests, Elders, Deacons. Teachers, as well as a few respected individuals in the community are, and have for many years, been homosexual. This is shocking, but not surprising. for it is estimated that between 10 - 15% of the population is homosexual.

3. I believe that we have to be awakened to the fact that sexual issues are also religious issues. What I mean is that we ought to realize that these issues affect our spirituality. God has created our sexuality as a gift, as something good and beautiful. It was meant to enhance our relationship with others and to strengthen our intimacy and companionship with them. However, as is the case with so many of God's gifts, this gift can also be used to undermine and destroy human relationships.

One of the reasons why the Bible is as outspoken about homosexuality and other sexual perversions is that they were often a part of pagan ritual and worship. As such, they posed a threat to the spiritual well-being of the people of God.

4. Last but not least, there is a need to specify again what the sexual norm is for the people of God in our time. There is such a need, for the Christian moral values of the past are being questioned and society is bombarding us with examples of sexual promiscuity. The "soaps" on T.V., the rental movies, as well as many cheap novels, seek to stimulate a sexuality that is against the teachings of the church. This increase in moral decay as gone far enough for people to long for a norm to look up to. Even those outside the Church take notice of the ominous rise in divorce rates, the proliferating pornography, society's preoccupation with sex, the increase of rape, child prostitution and incest. The Church may be powerless to change all that, but it can make a contribution through spelling out and modeling a biblical norm of human sexuality for our time.

Is Our Attitude Conducive Towards Listening?

Since most Christians are not experienced in dealing rationally with sexual issues and feel easily threatened when long-cherished moral positions are challenged, they tend to be poor listeners. They are bound to react in an explosive manner whenever controversial issues are being discussed. For instance, some members of the United Church already began to react angrily when they heard rumours about the commission's recommendation to possibly allow the ordination of declared homosexuals. Such a reaction is understandable, but not helpful, for it blocks real communication; it puts them in such a frame of mind that real listening becomes impossible.

It is not my aim to approve or disapprove what the report is recommending. What I am advocating is cool minds and warm hearts as we seek to deal with this very complex problem. I hope that we do not fall into the trap of lining up the "good guys" to make angry pronouncements on the sexual behaviour of the "bad guys", whether they are homosexual or otherwise. It is tempting to d so and lash out in anger at the sin of others, as Jimmy Swaggart did, for it helps to silence the inner voice which says: "You are not without sin either."

On the one hand we need to declare our stand on the issue of homosexuality for the matter is before us. But on the other hand, we need to remain humble, for we too are among sinners who miss God's norm about sexual behaviour. Our catechism keeps on reminding us of this when it states that God also forbids unchaste actions, gestures, words, thoughts, desires, and whatever may excite another person to them" (Q. 19 of Heidelberg Catechism).

What is the norm?

In order to detect what is sexually abnormal we need to know the Biblical norm for human sexuality. Without going into detail I believe that we already get a pretty good idea of what God has in mind for us when we study Gen. 1:27. Here we read that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This passage reminds us that God was thinking of a male-female relationship when He created us. In the same chapter He adds the command to "be fruitful and multiply. . ." These passages may not give us the total Biblical norm for human sexuality but they do point out that homosexuality does not fit into that norm.

Of course there is also a playful side to our sexuality. Our sexuality makes us think and feel as male and female; it also makes a young man comb his hair and a girl pay attention to how she looks. in other words, it encompasses many different aspects of life.

Homosexuality

As I mentioned above, it is obvious that the Bible sees homosexual behaviour as an abnormal act. To be more specific, it views it as a deviation from the Biblical norm. This, however, is not the end of the discussion. There are other aspects of the problem to be considered before we are ready to make a statement on homosexuality. First of all we need to keep in mind that in some of the Biblical passages, where homosexuality is condemned, it is not clear what the real issue is, or why the Bible condemns the behaviour in question. For instance, some scholars feel that in Genesis 19:1 - 26 the lack of hospitality to strangers is being condemned as much as the sexual behaviour of the people. or, in the case of the New Testament, homosexuality does not stand alone but in a context that includes public nakedness, irreverence for parents, drunkenness and pagan worship.

Lest we loose sight of the totality of the problem under discussion, we do well to keep in mind that homosexuality was not the only form of sexual expression that was condemned by the Biblical writers. They equally abhorred prostitution, adultery, divorce and incest, to name only a few. Even though some of these devious sexual practices were to be punished by death, there were times when no action was taken to punish the person(s) in question, and at other times their behaviour was tolerated or forgiven. What I want to point out is that God shows us a norm, but there are occasions when He is merciful and willing to forgive those who have failed to keep the norm.

It is also important to keep in mind that the medical profession does not know for sure whether a person is born a homosexual or whether he becomes one through various circumstances. There are many who believe that a homosexual is born with that condition even as one is born left handed. if that is the case, it is inappropriate to make a person responsible for the condition he/she is born with and cannot change.

It may also be in order to urge people to show a bit more compassion and understanding to the persons who suffer from this tremendous burden. And a burden it is, as we see in the case of a Pastor of strict orthodox Reformed persuasion. When his son, age 20, told his father, after months of hesitation, that he was homosexual, his father kicked him out of the house never to be seen again. Would our Lord ask us to treat people in need in such a way? It is one thing to condemn homosexual behaviour but it is quite another thing to condemn a person who is born with a condition he/she cannot change.

These are some of the questions then, that the commission of the United Church wants us to deal with.

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