Are Evangelicals Handling the Gay Issue all Wrong?

Throughout this chapter there were pretty interesting ideas, statements, and stories. I will go through and provide highlights.

Tony and his wife Peggy disagree on this issue

• Peggy believes that the church should legitimize gay marriages to enhance the persons' humanity
• Tony believes that same gender eroticism cannot be reconciled with scripture
• Tony and his wife do not divorce over the issue and he feels neither should the church

Make sure and read the story about Roger, it's heartbreaking

Tony on Orientation vs. Behavior

• Orientation- who you fantasize about and who you are attracted to
• Behavior - what you do about it
• The "homosexual lifestyle" is an overgeneralization in that homosexuals have different lives and have no one lifestyle
• There are folks who are Christians who are homosexual by orientation but remain celibate
• "...There is not enough evidence to support any theory conclusively."
• "There is one thing of which I am convinced, and that is that homosexuals do not choose their orientation"
• Can Orientation be Changed? - Possible but Unlikely

Did God Make People Gay?

• There are churches in existence that would answer in the "affirmative and would say that people who are gay should celebrate their God given gift
• "Every denomination has an association of such churches, well as a significant minority of churches that do not take an official stand on the issue but quietly welcome gay and lesbian singles and couples into safe places where they can be sure that they will not hear anything hurtful from the pulpit."
• Lewis Smedes, former professor of theology and ethics at Fuller Theological seminary, believed that although homosexuality was not Gods' intention, that it is possible to have a "committed, lifelong, monogamous relationship between homosexuals" and that it "may be what he would call the 'circumstantial will of God' "
• He describes as the ultimate will if God to be parents who raise children"in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
• Smedes also argues that homosexuals can live the "ultimate will of God" by having "binding relationships that deliver them from loneliness and enhance the humanity and spirituality of the partners."

What About Scripture - Many evangelicals would "cite various passages from the Bible that prevent them from accepting gay and lesbian marriages. It is important for us to survey those survey those verses and see how pro-gay Christian activists handle them, even if there is objection to their interpretations." Check it out because it would be hard for me to condense and also so that we can engage in the homosexual discussion. Tony end this section by saying "It is painful for me that heterosexuals seem unable to comprehend their[homosexuals] estrangement and loneliness. Yet I believe that there are some solutions to this dilemma of evangelical homosexuals."

The Church Needs to Repent and Starved for Spiritual Connection

Does the church need to repent? How? What do you think Christians can do to bridge the gap between the evangelical church and homosexuals? What options that can be offered? Are the options in the book feasible? Do you have homosexual friends? What if you found out one of your friends is gay, what would you/could you share with them? To hear Tony's story from this section click below. The audio is an exert from one of his sermons entitled "Compassion for all Creation" and can be found in its entirety at: http://www.tonycampolo.org/media.php

Note from D Lopez or Danny L

We are going to be finishing the book late November or early December. From there we will finish out the year with an activity, some informal discussions, and then we'll be ready for the coming year. There are still plenty of opportunities for all you to chime in. The postings from myself will be shorter and be done in bullet form, that way it isn't a pain to read. Lastly, Campolo writes from or presents view points from a more "leftist/liberal"* social/political/theological point of view. It may be easy to go on the defensive but I would challenge you guys to pay attention to all of the information being presented. There is a lot that can be gleaned from this book, especially the section on homosexuality. Campolo can be more liberal/conservative than you may think.

*Sometimes I wonder about things that are considered "liberal" by some evangelicals, i.e. the environment, pacifism, social programs, etc if they are liberal or overlooked.