Take my hand, and meet me at the Cross
I just stumbled upon Brian McLaren's "synchro-blogging on sexuality" post. I had no idea this was going on today, which means I am really out of the loop or this movement was really under the radar.
Nonetheless, I thought I would prayerfully post on this issue. I have a great deal of respect for Brian, as well as Tony Campolo, who has also written and posted on this subject.
Personally, I am nowhere near where I was on this issue some 20 years ago; in fact, I find myself in a very questioning position because it is far more complex than it is often presented in the Christian community -- which means, it is more complex than I presented in prior writings.
Truth be known, I am nowhere near where I was theologically or positionally on this issue five years ago. The main commonality between the hugely conservative viewpoint I had in the late 1980s, the viewpoint I had when writing about it in 2004, and the viewpoint I have today is this: If your heart is as my heart is, then give me your hand.
In other words, meet me at the Cross.
I want to be a part of Bridging the Gap, so if I had to stake some ground tonight it would likely be somewhere in the same acreage of Bridging The Gap: Tony Campolo's take on "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin."
Still struggling, but still open ...
Grace and peace ...
Nonetheless, I thought I would prayerfully post on this issue. I have a great deal of respect for Brian, as well as Tony Campolo, who has also written and posted on this subject.
Personally, I am nowhere near where I was on this issue some 20 years ago; in fact, I find myself in a very questioning position because it is far more complex than it is often presented in the Christian community -- which means, it is more complex than I presented in prior writings.
Truth be known, I am nowhere near where I was theologically or positionally on this issue five years ago. The main commonality between the hugely conservative viewpoint I had in the late 1980s, the viewpoint I had when writing about it in 2004, and the viewpoint I have today is this: If your heart is as my heart is, then give me your hand.
In other words, meet me at the Cross.
I want to be a part of Bridging the Gap, so if I had to stake some ground tonight it would likely be somewhere in the same acreage of Bridging The Gap: Tony Campolo's take on "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin."
Still struggling, but still open ...
Grace and peace ...
Labels: bridges
posted by Pastor Buzz at 10:43 PM
2 Comments:
Hey, I'm still struggling, too. But thanks for being open. That's a place more people need to be. I appreciate it when someone is willing to admit that they don't have all the answers. When I was growing up, my pastors had an answer for every question, and we were supposed to accept it, even when it didn't seem to fit. I walked around thinking I had an answer for every question once. Now I'm getting to the place where I think maybe some questions just don't have answers this side of heaven, and the ability to be without answers but to still believe that's ok with God is an indescribable gift.
I am so glad you posted on the synchroblog, Buzz.
My hope and prayer from this event is that gays and Christians across the world will realize that "your heart is as my heart is."
I'm going to challenge you to come over here and take a stroll through my world. As a pastor, you might look at my link to a discussion I had with Pastor Christian Cryder for some answers to questions most Christians are unwilling to ask. Christian's reach-out to me was the first experience I ever had of someone trying to "bridge the gap."
We may not agree - but we might still be friends.
And if I'm ever passing through Knoxville, it would be good to meet and have a cup of coffee together. The invitation stands if you're ever near Champaign/Urbana.
Steve
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