really?

In my reading and research for the final essay of term I naturally wanted to look at some views from both sides of the 'debate.'  On this website I found the following quote:

"When Christians today condemn homosexual behaviour as a sin and contrary to God's purpose they invariably quote the bible to back up their arguments.  Put crudely, but I don't think unfairly, the argument goes 'Homosexuality is condemned in the bible: the bible is the word of God: ergo, homosexual behaviour is sinful.'  Actually, as I said at the beginning of this book these people are not being honest.  The reason they condemn homosexual behaviour is because they are homophobic, the bible is simply an excuse."

The Oxford English Dictionary defines homophobia as follows:

"An intense aversion to homosexuality and homosexuals."

Based on this definition I would have to say that the statement above is incredibly unfair because even where a person believes that homosexuality is outside of God's purpose the majority of these people (in the case of people I know who take this stand, 100% of them) would have an incredibly warm and welcoming attitude to homosexuals.  It is something of a Christian cliche but it really is a case of 'loving the sinner' whilst 'hating the sin.'  This is also, as I discussed with a friend last night, just one area amongst many which the church needs to be focussing in on in the lives of her members.  Unfortunately the fact that this is the issue threatening to tear the church apart means that it is the one to which most space is given at the current time.

In my essay I also used the following (challenging) quote from Dr Margaret Gill's book Free to Love: Sexuality and Pastoral Care:

"It could be that God is less concerned about the rights or wrongs of homosexual practice than some of his followers."

I am not sure if "less concerned" about this issue is the right way of looking at it.  However I am pretty sure that, as I tried to make clear above, he is 'more concerned' about a bunch of other issues than some of us (myself included) realise.

So; Is it really true that those who oppose homosexual practice on biblical grounds are actually using the bible to cover up their homophobia? I would conclude with a resounding "No" whilst acknowledging that there will be (unfortunate) incidents where this is not the case.  I will finish with part of the concluding section of my essay, which I hope outlines the struggles that I am acutely aware of existing in this area:

"I agree with Margaret Gill who acknowledges at the end of her chapter 'Homosexuality and Same-Sex Friendships' that this is an extremely difficult subject to confront as, like her, I have a number of both close friends and relatives for whom homosexuality and (for some) the faith struggle is a daily issue."

It sure ain't easy is it?  But then who said it would be:

'Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me..."'

A Prayer:

O God, make clear to us each road.  O God, make safe to us each steep; when we stumble, hold us; when we fall, lift us up.  When we are hard pressed with evil, deliver us; and bring us at last to Your glory.