Born in 1936 and having grown up in a Christian Reformed Church, I don’t recall ever deciding that very same intercourse attraction was mistaken. It was simply assumed! As uncritically as we could have been studying the Bible, the message was merely that God condemns homosexuality. As for the idea of same-sex marriage, it was not even imagined.

My first critical encounter with the topic was in 1973 when CRC Synod determined that same-sex attraction was not sinful however that sexual exercise was. Principally, I filed it away and most well-liked not to consider it. Homosexuality got here up once more within the limitless conversations about ordaining girls to church workplace. Conservative voices warned: If we ordain girls, subsequent factor we’ll be ordaining gay individuals. I used to be supportive of the previous however couldn’t think about the latter. 

My subsequent main encounter was in 2006. I had turned 70, my child sister 50, and we spent per week collectively on the west coast. That week, she confided to me that she was homosexual and in a same-sex relationship (“I fell in love, and it simply occurred to be a lady”). After an ungainly pause, I advised her I cherished her, and God cherished her, however that I wasn’t positive what to suppose. I did pledge to provide it additional thought and prayer, which I did sporadically. 

In 2013, I dived in with James Brownson’s Bible, Gender, Sexualty (Eerdmans, 2013). And different affirming authors. I discovered their arguments believable however nonetheless had many questions. 

Two years later, as clerk of Classis Grand Rapids East, it was my process to do a remaining edit of its 2016 examine report on “The Biblical and Theological Help At present Provided by Christian Proponents of Identical-Intercourse Marriage.” I used to be relieved I didn’t should signal it, however I used to be moved to start valuing love over data (1 Corinthians 13). All of the whereas, God additionally started bringing extra LGBTQ+ Christians into my life, to the second and third era. 

Fifteen years after my child sister got here out to me, I had my very own “popping out” in assist of identical intercourse marriage. Beneath I summarize what I’ve come to consider is a trustworthy interpretation of what the Bible does and doesn’t say about identical intercourse attraction and marriage.

MY NEW PERSPECTIVES

Reformed and All the time Reforming. The Christian life is a lifetime of studying and rising; in prayer, in religion, in fruitfulness, and in higher understanding what the Bible says and the context wherein it says it. Peter challenges us to develop in our religion and data in Christ (2 Peter 3:18), and this has been my constant Christian expertise—in my training and energetic ministry in addition to in my retirement years. I pray that God will proceed to reform us all in our posture towards identical intercourse attraction and marriage. 

Sexual Prohibitions in Scripture. The Bible’s prohibition of identical intercourse habits refers primarily if not solely to prostitution, promiscuity, and different exploitative sexual abuses similar to males molesting boys. In fact, the Bible condemns such sexual habits. On the identical time, the Bible offers no indication of condemning and even recognizing identical intercourse attraction as an orientation, or of getting any consciousness of mutually dedicated and unique identical intercourse relationships. 

Creational Range. The Belgic Confession teaches that God makes himself recognized in two methods: by his holy and divine Phrase and by means of the attractive ebook of the universe (cf. Article 2). A typical interpretation of the Genesis story is that God’s good creation is restricted to female and male. A contrasting interpretation, additionally knowledgeable by scientific examine of that lovely ebook of the universe, is that very same intercourse orientations should not beginning defects or problems ensuing from the Fall however are regular creational variations. God’s creating of female and male has developed over time into a spread of variety on the human gender and sexual orientation spectrum.

The Picture of God in Everybody. No matter our sexual orientation, all human beings are created in God’s picture. God forgive us if we regard identical intercourse attracted individuals as inferior picture bearers and consider them as issues or tasks undeserving of human intimacy. It is just pure for LGBTQ+ individuals, as true picture bearers of God, to want bodily, emotional, religious, and relational intimacy with one other human being, and to flourish inside the items and duties of marriage as a loving, unique, life-long relationship. 

Love Supersedes Data. When Christians interpret scripture otherwise on disputable issues, we’re cautioned by Paul’s instruction in 1 Corinthians 13, the well-known chapter on love and data. As essential as data could also be, data with out love is an enormous zero (vs. 2). What’s extra, data is non permanent (vs. 8), data is partial and incomplete (vss. 9-10). What we all know now could be solely a uninteresting reflection of what’s to return (vs.12). Against this, love is the one ingredient that provides worth to all the things else (vss. 1-3). Love is affected person and sort, love rejoices in reality. Love “all the time protects, all the time trusts, all the time hopes, all the time perseveres” (vss. 4, 6-7). Paul concludes: “And now these three stay: religion, hope and love. However the biggest of those is love” (vs. 13). Backside line: “Love by no means fails” (vs. 8). 

What Christian Love Seems to be Like

Towards Identical Intercourse Attracted Folks. Whether or not identical intercourse attracted individuals select singleness or marriage, as siblings and kindred in Christ we consider their testimony, rejoice them as God created them, and we want and encourage their flourishing, which incorporates making full use of their items in God’s church and kingdom, together with ordained management and repair. 

Towards All in Christ. In Christian love we pray for, bear with, and bless each other, whether or not in settlement or in disagreement over disputable issues, within the conviction that unity in Christ is foundational to our religious vitality and Christian witness. 

THE NEW COMMANDMENT

Jesus mentioned, “A brand new command I offer you: Love each other. As I’ve cherished you, so you need to love each other. By this everybody will know that you’re my disciples, in the event you love each other.”                                —John 13:34-35

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