A lady in her 40s saw me studying the Bible at Starbys today. Conversation went something like this...
Lady: I see you're reading the Bible.
Me: Yeah, I'm a minister, so this is kind of my thing. =)
Lady: What church are you a pastor at?
Me: [Fill in History Church details] Do you attend church anywhere?
Lady: Well, I sorta go to Mclean Bible Church, but I have some problems with it.
Me: Oh really? Like what?
Lady: Well, they believe the Bible is all true... inerrancy, and I just don't believe that. I don't think the Bible means the same thing to everyone. It's a magical book, and it just meets you where you are. It says different things to different people.
Me: Is there any particular issue in the Bible that you disagree with?
Lady: Yeah... [as if she were ready to burst]... like homosexuality. I know the Bible says in several places that it's wrong, but I have several friends who are homosexuals, and I think it would be denying who they are.
Me: I imagine that's really hard for you...
Lady: [blank stare]
Me: ...to have the Bible teach against something that affects your friends.
Lady: Yeah.
Do we somehow think that God is not at all compassionate about the human experience? Do we doubt the goodness of a god who would forsake Heaven to be born in a stable, to be tortured, and to die for a people who didn't want anything to do with him? And we trust our compassion over his?
Denying who we were created to be is tragic... But to trust our feelings over who Our Creator says we are? Even if I were skeptical about the Bible... I would dare not act on my impulses before thoroughly exhausting ~ with an open heart ~ God's intents and desires for my life. Yes, denying who we were created to be is tragic.
Absolutely knocked it out of the park with your answer to this lady...
Posted by: Johnny | January 24, 2006 at 08:11 PM
Excellent post. Thanks.
Posted by: josh | January 24, 2006 at 10:52 PM
Those last remarks were my thoughts later in the day. I didn't sense that she had an open heart to any other view.
Posted by: Ben | January 25, 2006 at 09:21 AM
Ben, I needed to read that today. I just had this conversation recently. I don't understand how I can "guess" a child will end up being gay and be correct (anyone remember the show Who's the Boss? - did anyone not think that the kid on there would "come out of the closet" one day?)
When I hear people debating this issue, a lot of times I just say - you know, I don't understand it either, but I do believe what the Bible says... and while I won't point the finger and cast my judgement on others, I think some people lose their focus on the original intent of creation of man....
I'm so glad you didn't say "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" - that phrase irks me so bad! lololol :D You have a way with words, and it definitely shows in how you spoke to her... that is definitely your gift.
Posted by: Jodie | January 26, 2006 at 01:41 PM