Tread lightly on the things of earth

My friends keep putting words in my mouth — in ways that I treasure. :-)

Kynn observes, clearly and reasonably:

I’ve heard a lot more outrage directed against the idea that a gay man, in a committed and loving relationship with both God and his chosen partner, could serve as a bishop in a church than I have outrage against an unjust war, against children starving in America, against 1 out of 37 citizens going to jail.

Funny. What did Jesus talk about? Let’s see, according to the Gospels, he spent approximately zero percent of his time talking about gay people, and nearly all of his time describing a new social order emphasizing care and love for all people, especially the weak and poor and outcast.

Yes. The acquiescence to violence, social injustice, economic injustice in parts of the Church Universal — all in direct disobedience to Jesus’ words and emphasis — for me eclipses the issue of homosexuality in the church. To splinter the Church Universal over homosexuality when you’re not forcibly addressing the larger picture of obeying Jesus in fundamental ways is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Kynn’s minister Randy Leisey — as quoted by Kynn from a June 2001 North County Times [San Diego and Riverside counties, California] article — brilliantly captures what I observe to be crucial, too:

“How a congregation perceives authorship of Scriptures has a lot to do with it. If Old Testament is the only basis, then it’s open-and-shut. It’s more theological than biblical.

“If you’re open to the spirit of God, then you come to a different conclusion.” …

“Biblical scholarship, like law, is based on precedence,” Leisey said. “The Christian perspective has respect for the law. But when you look at the Ten Commandments and the rules in Leviticus, it’s easy to come to certain conclusions. When you throw in Jesus and the Holy Spirit, you come to different conclusions.” …

Leisey said he has no dispute with the fact that admonitions against homosexuality are written in Scripture.

“The question becomes whether or not God is still speaking to us,” Leisey said. “Biblical literalists would say we have all we need. But if God is still speaking to us, the latest manifestation of the Episcopal Church sees a different view of our sexuality than the admonishments.”

Yes. God through his Spirit is still speaking to us. Scripture is vitally important, yes. Read it, study it, ingest it. But give it precedence over God’s living presence and “still small voice” among us? Surely that’s insulting to its Author and qualifies, in fact, as bibliolatry.

The Spirit of God whispers to us now. Be still. Be mindful of Jesus’ emphasis. Don’t react. Listen.