I live in Texas. It ain't easy sometimes. We have more than our fair share of the nation's wing nuts.
We have a governor flirting with secessionist language.
We've recently learned of a pustulous pocket of hate out of Amarillo - Christian Army of God Militia Terrorizes Amarillo.
Last month we had a domestic terrorist fly his plane into IRS offices in Austin (although he originated from California.)
Every day on my way to work I drive within blocks of the retirement home of The. Worst. President. Evah. (the guy actually hails from Connecticut, though)
So imagine my feelings on opening my morning paper to read:
A church, like a person, can come out of the closet. And that's what Royal Lane Baptist did recently.
http://www.dallasnews.com/...
There's much more to the story:
"In effect, this is a collective coming out about who we are and have been for a long time," said Ruth May, vice chair of the deacons.
The Web site now includes the line: "We are a vibrant mosaic of varied racial identities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and denominational backgrounds."
Matthews, who became Royal Lane's pastor last year, said the Bible "understood through the prism of Jesus" calls for full acceptance of gays and lesbians.
"The thought of Jesus being unaccepting of somebody because of their sexual orientation – not their choice, but their orientation – that's unthinkable to me," he said.
The story ends with
Our consensus was there's nothing more important than being truthful about who you are as a church and what you value," she said. "If any organization has a problem with that, that's their problem."
But buried in the middle was this little nugget:
May, a lesbian, said that when she joined the church in 1994 it already had a reputation for welcoming gays and lesbians. Longtime members include Bruce Lowe, a 94-year-old retired Baptist pastor whose essay "A Letter to Louise: A Biblical Affirmation of Homosexuality" is widely circulated on the Internet and argues that the verses generally cited as condemning homosexuality have been misunderstood and taken out context.
I had never heard of this "Letter to Louise" written around 2002 - many others may have. It's a long piece - a very, very, very long piece; built around ten mainpoints, each with numerous citations and explanations of his reasoning. There are additional appendices, delving into specific scriptural references and the nature of sin.
It starts:
Your heavy-hearted words to Anna Marie and me the last time we saw you will always burn in our hearts: "My brother hates God because God made him gay, and he knows he is going to hell, and I do, too, for that is what the Bible says." I struggled for a response, realizing suddenly that what I knew about gays and what the Bible says about them was very superficial.
The ten points:
One. Homosexuality is an unchangeable nature; it is not a lifestyle choice.
Two. All people are created in the image of God. The homosexuality of gays and lesbians, created by God, is good and not evil.
Three. The homosexual is just as normal a person as a heterosexual and should not be thought of in sexual terms.
Four. Several passages in the Bible speak of same-gender sex. In every instance, the Bible is talking about heterosexuals who, filled with lust, have become sex perverts. The Bible says nothing about innate homosexuality as we know it today or about people who are homosexuals.
Five. The burden imposed on homosexuals by society is a great evil. We should stand in revulsion against, and do all we can to oppose, the prejudice, the hatreds, and the condemnation of a society that make the homosexual's life so difficult.
Six. Homosexuals are being sinned against by our churches. Like our society, our churches need to change.
Seven. Gays and lesbians in general have the potential for outstanding character and accomplishment; some may have greater potential than most heterosexuals to be exceptional persons.
Eight. It is not only unrealistic to expect homosexuals to live without sex, but also it is psychologically harmful to them for them to do so.
Nine. Full acceptance by society, including the blessings and legality of marriage should be extended to gays and lesbians in the same way it is extended to others.
Ten. As in society, gays and lesbians should be accepted and affirmed in our churches and given any opportunity for service, including ordination, that others have.
Then the appendix on interpreting the Bible, followed by scriptural references - both Old and New Testaments
Nevertheless, there are Bible passages used by some people today to condemn homosexuals. I want to discuss each passage in some detail to show that not only is there no statement about homosexuality, but also that there is no statement applicable to homosexual sex if that sex is not lustful. Many authors write on this subject, and I am indebted to many of them.
Then, discussion on sin:
When we say to homosexuals, "We love the sinner but hate the sin; go clean up your act and then we will welcome you," what they hear us say is, "you" are sinners and "we" are not. Since we know that everyone is a sinner, what do we mean? "You are great sinners and we are little sinners"? Or possibly, "Well, everyone knows what your great sins are, but ours are hidden from other people"?
He goes on to do a fairly nice job on the Sodom story.
http://godmademegay.com/...
As I said it is a very long piece. I'm going to have to read it in fuller detail, and think about his various points. But all this, from a true "old-time religion" Baptist preacher. Wow.
I am neither gay nor Baptist, but I'm mighty proud of these neighbors of mine today.
UPDATE:
ExStr8 recommends a book by another Baptist minister, entitled Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse.
WearyIdealist suggests "Letters to Luke" from an Ohio University professor, addressed to 15 year old boy inquiring if God hates him because he's gay.
Thanks to both for some additional resources.