Homosexuality

The second sexuality sermon (on homosexuality) has now been delivered. A manuscript is available at the BWCOB website: http://bwcob.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/09Oct25ResponsetoHomosexuality.pdf

Several comments have already been offered under the previous post on sexuality, so do check in there to get caught up on the conversation. I will be responding to the comments offered there, but I am hoping that the continuing conversation related to how we as a church respond to homosexually oriented persons shifts to this post.

I am very interested to hear how people are responding and what continuing reflections and reactions are being generated. Hopefully we shall have some good, honest conversation...

Sermon 1

Well, the first sermon on sexuality is in the books. If you missed it, or want to check it out again, a manuscript is available at the BWCOB website: http://bwcob.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/09Oct18HumanSexuality.pdf

As I reflect on the responses I have been getting, I continued to be amazed and humbled by how many have commended me for being "courageous" enough to address the topic. I have been fond of responding that the line between courage and foolishness is thin -- perhaps its not the place to go for an extended walk!

Be that as it may, I am indeed hopeful that these sermons will not be simply 2 weeks and done, but will spark some discussions and conversations that develop depth and continue well beyond the week of delivery. So to that end, I post this sermon excerpt, followed by two questions for us to consider:

...the church has largely surrendered its ability to speak on the subject of sexuality in a meaningful way in our culture, and even in the lives of many Christians. In our overwhelming silence concerning most matters of sexuality, we have left individuals and young people pretty much on their own in expressing and understanding their sexuality. In our overwhelming negativity and judgmentalism when we do speak about sex, we have rendered the church – and by association, the Christian faith – practically irrelevant in sexual decision making for the majority of people whose feelings and life experiences do not confirm a negative attitude toward sex.

But I believe that our faith is relevant to the expression of our sexuality, and that that relevance extends well beyond a laundry list of sexual sins to be avoided. I believe that sex is a precious and beautiful part of our human nature, a gift of God woven into the very fabric of creation. Furthermore, I believe that sex is more than a private matter, and that contrary to much popular rhetoric that would suggest that what we do between the sheets is nobody’s business, sexual expression and ethics is a legitimate community affair – indeed I believe sex is everyone’s business.

So: 1) Do you think that sex/sexuality is indeed everyone's business, or would society and the church be better served by following a policy of "don't ask/don't tell" and/or "to each his/her own"?
And 2) If sex is indeed a legitimate community affair, how does the church claim or reclaim a meaningful role and voice in a context that includes media, science, civil authority, social norms and taboos, etc?

Sexuality

This weekend I will begin a two week sermon series at BWCOB on sexuality. The sermon this week (10/18) will focus on sexuality in general, and the second (10/25) will deal with how the church responds to homosexuality. It is not the first time I have preached on these topics, and I am sure it will not be the last. They stem from two basic convictions: 1) that the church (generally speaking) is/has been sorely negligent in addressing these topics in honest, helpful, and relevant ways and 2) that the church has more to say in the conversation than "thou shalt not". It is my hope that these sermons will help to engage at least our congregation at BWCOB (and maybe some beyond) in a healthy and ongoing conversation about issues of sexuality, sexual ethics, inclusion, justice, morality, biblical interpretation, and more.

I will be posting links to the sermons which will be posted online at the church website after they are delivered, with the hope that this blog will be a place where the conversation can develop and continue. While I have been slow in posting on this blog to date, the opportunity to have continuing coversations in this way is one of the primary reasons I decided to give blogging a try.

I hope you'll be a part of it...