Years later I don’t think it had anything to do with my parents. I think it had a lot to do with how we are made. I was being convicted of sin but instead of dealing with my lost state I projected it onto my parents and my upbringing.

What happens when the church accepts this behavior as our culture already has and the feelings of guilt don’t go away? What happens when that deep knowing can’t be blamed on culture or Christ? What then?

In the meantime, here are three immensely helpful books I’ve read They’re all from the perspective of Anglicanism, but there are obvious theological cross-overs. Furthermore, I think it’s helpful to see how another Christian tradition is grappling with this issue. Perhaps it is a look at what the Churches of Christ will face in the future?

The first two are short and can be read in a couple of hours. The first one is available to download online at the given link. The third is longer and consists of a collection of essays.

To Set Our Hope on Christ, a Response to the Invitation of the Windsor Report, ECUSA

This Far by Grace : A Bishop’s Journey Through Questions of Homosexuality, by +J. Neil Alexander

Gays and the Future of Anglicanism, ed. by Andrew Linzey and Richard Kirker

I know that there is an agenda out there that many people are trying to push, but we as Christians are called to rise above this. Agendas should never be the reason that we cut off dialogue with different people. If the entire church were to cut off communication with those that they felt were pushing agendas, the Church in essence be condemning those people. If those that have the light refuse to share it than how will those that don’t have it recieve it? It is my prayer that the Church will accept homosexuals just as they accept other sinners. They accepted me for crying out loud!!! There is so much more that I want to say on this, but it is time for me to go to class. I will leave you with this thought however. Apart from having Christ in our lives (as Disciples of Christ) how is our lifestyle any better than those that are living a homosexual one?

Soulforce’s Smedes article was much more conservative than most of what I’ve read from gay-affirming scholars, esp. regarding his handling of scripture and theological methodology. I’m by no means an ‘expert’ in the field, but Smedes stuff didn’t seem very representative of the other pro-gay Christian stuff I’ve read.

Linda Dickerson

“It wasn’t until years after I came out did I realize that being openly gay is an act of honesty, an act of courage, an act of integrity, and an act that God celebrates.”

God is now CELEBRATING homosexuality, huh?

I would also like some resources from “both sides” of this issue.

GR-

I would appreciate your take on something I wrote on my blog today.

http://www.chrisfield.blogspot.com

Blessings on this conversation.

That being said, I think GR’s request was a fair one. So how about it Mike? Any suggestions on books that offer a wider perspective on the discussion? I’m just starting to get interested in learning more about this topic and it’s always nice to have a firm foundation of balanced resources to start out with. In the past I delved into “women’s role” and now I have an entire bookcase of diverse resources and opinions. And I wouldn’t have considered developing my own firm opinion unless I could articulate both sides of the debate. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that there is room for solid scholarship on both sides of many complicated issues.

Linda, I appreciate your comments… As for GR’s anonymity, if you honestly don’t see the need then you may benefit from spending some time listening to SoulForce. And I mean that in the most sincere and loving way possible.

I originally chose to remain anonymous in the blogosphere for two reasons: 1) out of respect for my family, and 2) so that I would not be asked to leave the church I was attending.

I was asked to leave my church, so #2 no longer matters. People say some really mean things to me, and I receive quite a few nasty emails. I can take it. I don’t, however, want my family to have to deal with it (especially one of my younger siblings who attends a C of C school right now). It’s hard enough having a gay kid without people whispering behind your back, telling you what you did wrong as a parent, and offering suggestions about what to do next.

The situation is not ideal, I grant that. But I see no other viable option.

Best,
GR

I think we have a misunderstanding here, and you seem to think my comment was something I did not intend it to be. I meant ‘affirming’ in the more technical sense. Churches, like the UCC, that accept and welcome ‘practicing’ gays and lesbians often label themselves ‘open and affirming.’

As for the scholarship Mike recommended, you don’t have to tell me about the credentials of these scholars. I’ve read all the books and recommend that others do the same (except, perhaps, for Webb’s book; I didn’t think it was quite on par with the others). You are correcct: these authors are top-notch scholars. I don’t dispute that at all.

Having read (what I think to be) a fairly significant chunk of the scholarship in this area, I also know that there are definitely two sides to this debate. All I meant to ask is if there were any books Mike would recommend that reached conclusions different from his own, or if there were any books that made him consider affirming gay Christians (in my, not your, sense of the word ‘affirm’).

My post was intended as an honest question, not as an attack. I apologize if it was received differently.

-GR

If you visit Gay Restorationist’s blog, you will see why he doesn’t use his real name. It isn’t that hard to figure out. Despite the good reception that some gay people received recently at ACU, many Churches of Christ are still not safe places for openly gay people.

Brian

Kent and I enjoyed the blessings of ACU’s attitude when I was a student there [concerning him being divorced and remarried]. This powerful treatment of others [when you are respectful to other people while maintaining the integrity of christian beliefs] can make a big difference… . I hope other colleges will learn from Abilene’s example.

….and my apologies for getting off topic here…specifically to Gay Restorationist, the author of this blog is not incognito, why must you be anonymous?