Letting God outa' the Box

Friday, January 23, 2004

 
Fun Friday Daily Lectionary question of the week:
Did Christ baptize people or not?

John 3:22 "After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized."

John 4:1-2 "The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.
Fr. Bill 8:19 AM

|

Friday, January 16, 2004

 
First, "Thank you" to everyone for your comments...even the condescending ones.

A friend related to me a story of having to explain 'catholic' (note, little c as in the Nicene Creed) to some kids. First pointing to its meaning, "universal", suggesting that the Christian church is open to all. I think that is the greatest thing. No one explained that to me as a kid. I was lead to believe only the well-behaved kids were loved by Jesus. Thank be to God, someone explained it to me differently in my 20's.

This same colleague and I were involved in a discussion of the word 'respect', especially pertaining to its use in the BCP Baptismal Covenant. He mentioned the entomology of respect being 'to look at or see, again'. A quick trip to the dictionary, found 'to feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.'

So what is 'respect' in the use of "respect the dignity of every human being"? How may respect guide us in our differences?

My friend at the seminary noted the many 'conservative' comments and posited that my Blog is bent a more 'liberal' side than is my nature; I have always been drawn to an underdog. So with regard to this question within the proximity to the question of the sexual choice, understand, I am not aiming the question of respect at either side of that issue. It is pertinent to anyone regardless of stance on that issue, whether in debate or not.
Fr. Bill 9:41 AM

|

Saturday, January 03, 2004

 
IS SEXUALITY A CHOICE?

I received an article ("The Episcopalian Preference" by Philip Turner published in Nov. '03 First Things) via snail mail that set about to condemn PECUSA...stating that the church had lost its way and was no longer being lead by God but by preference. The argument infers that sexuality is a choice...and this is where the argument lost me. In my personal experience, sexuality was not a choice. Why is it assumed that sexuality, especially homosexuality, is a choice?

When I first sought to understand what homosexuality was about, I went to what I deemed to be a source, a gay friend. From him, as well as many others, I was told that their sexuality was not a choice either. So much for the simple answer (at least in my mind).

What if our sexuality, hetero or homo, is not a choice? Do we know for sure that it is or is not? Are we just condemning what we do not yet understand?

This feels like beating a dead horse to me...but, since the continuing fervor surrounding this issue is robbing me of sleep, I figured I would ask this simple question to a public forum...Is sexuality a choice?

(Please, no long diatribes about circumstances such as prisons or long voyages at sea)

Fr. Bill 2:00 AM

|