Faith and Sexuality: a synchro-blog

Greetings all those who pass this way today.

I’m sorry that my post is hitting the charts a little late.  You’ll have to forgive me, I was participating in an alpine hike that ended up being a little more grueling than I had anticipated!

Today I am a part of a synchro-blog…a conversational blog between many writers.  Here is the host site: www.btgproject.blogspot.com where you will find other (more punctual!) writers.  Our synchro-blog is centred around the topic of faith and sexuality.  The project is hosted by New Directions – a Canadian organization which reaches out to people who are asking questions about  faith and sexuality.

The Christian Church always has a particular dillema on its hands:  we are called to live peaceably together and yet we find ourselves disagreeing on certain doctrinal points or positions.  Aside from faith and sexuality this exists in many different areas: in church polity (one church has pastors – another is run by elders); in sacramental positions (one dips, one sprinkles, one fully immerses); in worship (brass bands for some, pipe organ and choirs for others, guitars and drums for yet another).  Even within any particular denomination or sector of the Christian Church there is a lack of harmony for any number of reasons (just ask my Catholic friend Jackie).  I’m pointing this out because I think it is valid for us to notice, at the outset of this discussion, that Christians agree on very little accross the board – – except for the most very basic doctrines…and even these are debated by some!

Still, we have learned that having these differences among us is not the end of the world!  In time we come to overlook the things in our fellow brothers and sisters that we may not fully understand or agree with – important things! – and we offer grace…because that’s what Christ has offered (and continues to offer) us.

I don’t want to be branded a heretic, but I believe that one thing we can do begin to bridge the gap between those who are LGBT affirming and those who are not is to experience the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper together.  It is one of the most profound moments in our churches worship service because it is at that moment that Christ comes to each of us – as we receive the body and blood – and imparts grace to us.  No one around us is more fitted or worthy.  No one beside us is granted a ‘special’ blessing in its impartation.  It is truly unifying.

Since we are not the judge of any person’s heart, I believe that it is incumbant on the Church to do this – to receive the elements together despite differences and to pray that God would grant us diving insight into how his grace ought to be poured out freely to those around us…especially brothers and sisters in Christ.

Now I know that there are many churches who view same-gender attraction and/or same-gender relationships as sinful.  This is tricky because these people often exclude the LGBT community from the Lord’s Table (in the same way it might exclude someone who has gotten a divorce or cheated on their taxes…really?).  I would say that the church needs to revamp its understanding of this sacrament.  I believe that what makes a church sacramental is not that its members receive the sacraments…but that the church offers it.  And if Christ himself has offered himself for the world, who is the Church that it would turn ANYONE away from the Lord’s Table…regardless of its view of the human form receiving it.  This principle goes far beyond the discussion of faith and sexuality…and I think it has the potential to be contentious – – not something that the BTG Synchroblog is looking for.  However, I need to at least suggest that one of the reasons that the LGBT Christians in our churches have felt and have been marginalized, is that their ‘offense’ is so public.

We all, regardless of sexuality, life-philosophy, brand-of-Christianity, or our favorite colour of jellybean, approach the Lord’s Table as humans broken and fallen.  The Church best not be so proud as to look at any specific ‘group’ of people, wag its finger and say keep away…not if it has any measure of self awareness.  Let the table be a place of welcome, a place where even the seeker is permitted to partake.  Not just for the straight Christian, but for his seeking friend.  Not just for the lesbian Christian…but her lesbian friend who is not a Christian.  I think we would be completely amazed at how God works through the administration of his grace…he is so good at that.

Peace and Love