Faithful may struggle with loving someone with different beliefs

The Rev. Randy Beeman, pastor, First Christian Church, 1000 Ky.:

I can’t believe that I eavesdropped on a conversation downtown. But it was so interesting.

“I can’t believe how judgmental you are. We should just accept people. Can’t we just love everyone? Your beliefs are founded in fear.” The other responded, “I do love all people. But I can love the person and not like what they do. I believe that God said some things are right and some things wrong. An example of wrong: your stubbornness.” They laughed.

It was not a laughing matter, though. Why does the issue of homosexuality divide people who all love God so much?

What do you do when you passionately believe something is the truth, but you disagree with someone you love about that truth? This is the dilemma.

Some of my dearest friends who love God believe the Bible says that homosexuality is wrong. They don’t dislike people who are homosexual, and they aren’t afraid of them. They just passionately believe the Bible says that God has a better plan than homosexuality.

My other friends believe that the Bible isn’t so clear about homosexuality. They say that there are greater grievances against God, such as hatred and war. They suggest that loving people where they are is what Jesus teaches.

So what divides us? It isn’t the truth we believe or our love of God. Even God told us to “speak the truth in love.” May I suggest that the difficulty is that we have a hard time loving someone unconditionally who believes differently than we do?

Maybe next time the truth you believe collides with the truth someone else believes, you could ask yourself first, “Do I love this person?” After all, I think my boss once said that loving someone is the greatest thing we can ever do.

– Send e-mail to Randy Beeman at rbeeman@sunflower.com.

Biblical narratives set perspectives for ideas about homosexuality

The Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway:

The Bible identifies two prominent narratives of the relationship between God and humanity. One focuses on human sin and unrighteousness. This theme suggests that humanity is unworthy to stand before a holy and righteous God, and that we need to be cleansed from our sin. The Hebrew Scripture is rich with detailed descriptions of such cleansing rituals. The Christian Scripture claims that the sacrifice of Jesus cleanses us from sin.

The second, and equally important, megastory is God’s activity of liberation, freeing people from their oppression. This story finds its foundation in the great story of Exodus, where God brought the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt. It is also seen in the words of the Jewish prophets during the exile and in the healing life and ministry of Jesus.

Those who shape their faith by the first narrative tend to see homosexual relationships as sin. A lesbian or gay Christian who is in a sexual relationship commits sin and is therefore not sufficiently righteous to serve as a minister of God. Those who hold the second view tend to see gay and lesbian persons as being different only in whom they come to love. With this understanding, the biblical ethic of justice decries discrimination, and calls for the full integration of these people into faith and practice, including service as ministers.

Christians have been divided over the narratives of righteousness and liberation for generations. These divisions were apparent in the debates over slavery, divorce and remarriage, and the equality of women in the church. Ultimately, the difference is one of interpretation and how we see the nature of God.

– Send e-mail to Kent Winters-Hazelton at fpcpastor@sunflower.com.