This is the longer text of an article I wrote for our Parish Magazine, to be published around 27th July.

The Rector Writes 16th July 2008

As a write Bishop Gene Robinson is appearing on television to promote homosexuality as a legitimate sexual way of life for Christians. He says that he loves and supports the Archbishop of Canterbury, yet he has clearly come over to England to make things difficult him. The Archbishop has not invited him to the Lambeth Conference because the North American church has gone against the teaching of the worldwide Anglican church in ordaining a practicing homosexual.

It has been said that the church is obsessed with homosexuality, and I think this is a valid comment. This needs to be looked in the wider issue of human sexuality. The questions that needs to be answered, I would suggest, is "Is it God's will for there to be sex outside marriage?"

Jesus addressed this issue when he was asked about the controversial subject of His day, divorce. It can be found in Matthew 19:1-12. There were two parties in Jesus day. The liberals, who permitted a man to write a Certificate of Divorce for his wife for the most petty of reasons. The conservatives saw marriage as a life long commitment between a man and woman, indissoluble, except, perhaps, for marital infidelity. Jesus agreed with the conservatives and quoted from Genesis 2:24 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." The one flesh alludes to the sexual act as well as the indissolubility of the relationship in God's sight. This instruction given by God was immediately after creation and, therefore, outside any cultural situation. It involves exclusive, life long, unconditional commitment. So, marriage is the only place where sex is to take place. Adultery, co-habitation, fornication, paedophilia, bestiality, necrophilia are contrary to God perfect will for his people. Jesus didn't explicitly condemn any of these but adultery, but this doesn't mean he endorsed them.  All other references to human sexuality are founded on the theology in this Genesis verse, I would propose. When we look at the way that God created the sexual organs of a man and woman, this suggests that his intention was for humankind to be heterosexual.

Jesus' disciples found His teaching so shocking that they said, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry." Matthew 19:10.  We still have the problem that many of Jesus' followers cannot cope with His teaching.  The problem today, though, is that this rarely leads to abstinence.  We live in a culture where people think that they have a right to follow their feelings.  Where the measure of success of something is "How did it make you feel?"  I recently read a letter from a Christian homosexual who had struggled with his sexuality and came to the conclusion that he was created by God in this way and, therefore, was free to have a homosexual relationship. I don't want to be insensitive to his situation and ignore the pain he has endured, but just because we feel something doesn't necessarily mean that it is from God or that we are entitled to give in to those feelings. If we follow this theology/philosophy then we can legitimise anything we "feel" like doing, from necrophilia to stabbing someone.

One Bible reference sometimes quoted by supporters of homosexuality, including Gene Robinson, is Leviticus 18:22 " `Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is an abomination." They argue that this is an obsolete law. They point to other Old Testament laws that are clearly dated, such as the prohibition of certain kinds of food or clothing, to dismiss this passage.  This is a spurious argument because Leviticus 18 doesn't deal with these other issues but a number of prohibited activities we would still reject today including bestiality, adultery, incest, as well as the sacrifice of children. If the North American Church and others get their way over homosexuality perhaps they will be consistent and start campaigning to support these other issues, too!   It would be naive to suggest that this issue is merely about sincerely held theological views.  It is also about power.  This can be seen in the way that some of the leadership of the North American church are persecuting conservative clergy and congregations, even taking them to court.

The issue of what Old Testament rules apply to today is relevant.  This was dealt with by the first ever church "Synod" or "Conference" in Jerusalem, Acts 15.  One of the few issues they considered relevant was sexual immorality, which they banned, verse 29.

One of the reasons why it is so important for the church to follow God's will in human sexuality, as well as other equally important but less controversial issues, is that the Bible warns that certain conduct will exclude people from God's presence. 1 Corinthians 6:9, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders ¹⁰ nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

God calls his people to live life His way. This will not be easy. We are called to deny ourselves and take up our cross every day, Luke 9:23. Sometimes we will have to obey Him rather than our feelings. When we fail we need to say we are sorry and turn back to God, something alluded to in 1 Corinthians 6:11, above.

As disciples of Jesus we are to follow the ways of God.  To lead people astray with false teaching can lead to condemnation, so teachers and church leaders have an onerous responsibility.  We are all called to urge fellow Christians who sin to repent and to forgive them if they do so, even repeatedly.  ( Luke 17:1 ) Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2 It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, `I repent,' forgive him."  

The teachings of the Bible and the tradition of thousands of years should not be used to support homophobia. God loves everyone, but He calls His followers to be holy, set apart, different for Him and like Him.  Not because He is a spoilsport, but because He wants the best for everyone. If His ways concerning human sexuality were followed  this would drastically reduce many associated problems we have in our society today, for example sexually transmitted infections.

This is obviously a complicated matter, and there are many issues I cannot deal with in this short article. I know that some people will not accept the views I have expressed. My desire is to do God's will in everything and to ensure that people's salvation and the health of the church is preserved.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Yours in His service,

Rev'd Jim Pye    www.sermonsplus.co.uk