Taking a Stand on Shifting Ground: Day 21
Author: Andrew Comiskey
November 03, 2020
‘In the cultural,
political, religious, and academic arenas of our lives, issues related to
homosexuality and homosexual persons are pervasive and hotly contested...Public
and private policy debates rage about such issues as antidiscrimination laws
regarding housing and employment; hate-crime legislation; statutes that
redefine marriage and/or grant domestic partnership status to homosexual
couples; educational and training programs that promote tolerance and diversity…The
church…divides because of fierce disagreements about the status of homosexual
Christians, their relationships, and their qualifications for ministry. One
side appeals to explicit statements in Scripture regarding same-sex
intercourse, the structures of God’s creation, principles of sexual holiness,
two millennia of church tradition, the influence of environment on the
development of homosexuality, the dearth of long-term and monogamous homosexual
relationships, and the negative health effects of homosexual behavior. The
other side points to genetic causation, the fruit of caring homosexual
relationships, the antiquated worldview and obsolescence of other parts of
Scripture, and such Christian virtues as tolerance and inclusion.
In the
academy today, speaking one’s mind is especially perilous for those who
question the morality of same-sex intercourse. Opposing intolerance of the
sexual practices of others functions as a badge of intellectual open-mindedness
and membership among the avant-garde of cultured society—part of a cherished
self-perception of being on the ‘cutting edge.’ There is an undeniable,
built-in bias among many of the intellectual elite against advocates of
traditional sexual values. Attitudes toward homosexuality cohere with this wider
bias. It is into this context that I put forward my own best argument, well-aware
of the risks.’ (Robert Gagnon, The Bible and Homosexual Practice p. 26)
As the nineties became the
new millennium, I heard wars and rumors of wars about ‘gay marriage’ in the
USA. We fought hard for state constitutional amendments to keep marriage true
to its essence--one man, one woman, joined in love for children. By 2003, the
state of Massachusetts determined otherwise and for the rest of the decade we
fought a good, losing battle. Similarly, our churches were becoming sickly
merciful toward the ‘gay-identified’; increasingly, claims of transformation
became suspect, even framed as abusive.
Thank God for Gagnon’s
The
Bible and Homosexual Practice! It lit our way as we mobilized throughout
the USA with the good news of human sexual dignity and Jesus’ insistence on
redeeming our indignities. Hail humanity as male and female! In spite of our
cracks, something truer and more authentic endures in our image-bearing. Robert
Gagnon beefed up that truth boldly by writing the best book ever about
homosexuality, and God’s will for our sexual humanity.
An Ivy-leagued New
Testament scholar, Gagnon’s tome combines a one-two punch that floors me today,
20 years after its initial release.
First, his scholarship.
Gagnon parses scriptures relevant to homosexuality with an unparalleled grasp
of biblical languages and textual criticism; he augments his exegesis
(interpretation of precise biblical texts) with ancient literature that informs
thorny, obscure word meanings and applications. Secondly, his hermeneutics--taking
the sum of his ace exegesis and interpreting it. He does this in two ways. He
counters scholarly ‘pro-gay’ biblical arguments with logic like a laser. Then
he applies his argument to key social scientific (sociology, psychology,
politics), medical, educational, and ethical considerations surrounding
homosexuality. He is fluent in all the above. Marvelous. Well-muscled,
super-structured minds like Gagnon’s are a gift when inclined toward heaven.
He ventures like a ninja
into the great cultural divide (see above quote) and blows up faulty bridges. He
ploughs a deep, narrow way straight up the middle for Christians who love
persons with same-sex desires but despise the socio-cultural-deception that
seduces persons into ‘gay destiny.’ Especially those who invoke Jesus as their
‘rainbow’ champion. After Gagnon’s book, one may still prop up the ‘gay’ self
but must surrender Scripture as a support.
A former Presbyterian
seminary professor embroiled for decades in denominational battles over ‘gay’
everything, he lost favor as the rainbow gods overtook the PCUSA. Gagnon now
teaches at a Baptist Seminary. I’ve witnessed this warrior getting trounced for
decades by the intellectual elite who nevertheless cannot refute his book. It
is just too good.
‘Gay’ is now but one of
many LGBT+ destinies and ‘gay marriage’ destabilizes our national foundation. In
growing darkness, The Bible and Homosexual Practice shines brighter than in
2001. Its ‘gold standard’ luster is richer and more relevant than ever before.
‘Thank You, Jesus, for
Robert Gagnon. May we aspire to his dense and firm reasoning. May we grow in
biblical fluency on sexuality as to apply it to our culture. May we aspire to
greater fluency in understanding our culture as to extend the good news well.
May love flare up on the sure ground of truth.’
‘Jesus, show us Your way
through the uneven, deeply divided ground of our nation. Please compose and restrain explosive
hearts. Use us as instruments of Your
peace. “O blood and water which gushed
forth from the heart of Savior Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, we trust in
You.”’
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