Gay leadership within the Church.

Liking a quiet life, I have tried to ignore this issue but recent events in Scotland have forced me to nail my colours to the mast.

The Church of Scotland has been much exercised lately by a congregation wishing to appoint a gay minister. This should not be confused with criticism of gay Christian members, it is the fact that an actively gay person is in a leadership role that is seen as the problem. One side quotes the Bible as their authority against such practices and has no interest in arguments that have no scriptural foundation. The other side has little regard for scripture and regards the way of the world as the way to go. In other words the two sides are talking in a different language and there is no compromise position.

Whichever side of the debate you are on, the fact is that the Bible has nothing good to say about homosexuality. If you regard the Bible as simply the words of  men then that may not be a problem for you but if you regard it as the word of God then, for you, that is probably the beginning and end of the debate. So we have these two groups, the evangelicals who want to uphold the traditional view on the authority of scripture and the liberals who want the Church to move with the times.

We can parallel this debate with an example that has nothing to do with religion: Once upon a time an alcoholic wished to set up a new A.A. group. Normally this would be fine but this particular alcoholic denied that he had a problem with drink and even said that there was nothing wrong with getting drunk. Funnily enough the ruling council refused him permission but did say that he was welcome to join an existing A.A. group and seek their help. I am sure you would side with the council and not the alcoholic.

Is it right to join an organisation and then turn its rules upside down? Would your golf club, school board or political party welcome you for doing that? No they would not, so is it surprising that the evangelicals are up in arms over this issue?

Looking at the other side, the arguments for  gay lifestyle are not strong.

“It’s the way God made me,” if allowed becomes the one size fits all excuse for all sins. Adultery, embezzlement, paedophilia, theft, murder and even genocide will all have to be allowed if we adopt that line! Try telling the traffic cop that your speeding was God’s fault and see how you get on!

“It is loving,” well if I happened to fall in love with an underage girl, I would end up in jail and whether or not the love was genuine would be entirely irrelevant. True love presents people with the truth and does not seek to placate them with what they want to hear. Evangelicals do not hate gays, otherwise they would keep quiet and let them face the wrath of God. Instead they care for the wellbeing of all who fit the biblical definition of, “Sinners,” and call them to repentance.

“Inclusion,” is the buzz word. Christ did not come to condemn therefore Church should be inclusive, but think on. When the woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus he said, “I do not condemn you but go and sin no more.” We all like the first bit, “I do not condemn you,” but the second bit is not nearly as popular, “Go and sin no more.” What if she had sinned again? The implication is that she had better not. The lesson of the Old Testament and Israel’s continuing unfaithfulness is that although God is patient, his patience is not limitless, consequences, dare I say, “Judgement,” will come.

In conclusion those who wish to be free from sin and struggle with it daily are welcome. Your sin and mine may be different but we are all sinners. I do not win the victory every day nor do I expect you to do so but we must be engaged in the war. Now to those who wish to change the Church I offer these words,

It is the job of the Church to convert sinners. It is not the job of sinners to convert the Church.

John Coupland, Church of Scotland elder. 2009