What’s The Best Balance?

SUN., MAY 19, 1991, 5:40 AM
FARM, STUDY

You attended your Church’s meeting yesterday and heard enough about the sexuality issue to know that your judgment is accurate in terms of what your denomination will and will not do in relation to this. It is a situation somewhat similar to the Cuba-Emmaus contrast that you developed earlier this year. So this morning, when I did awaken you in time, you shall hear what I have to say about this balance.

For, yes, each Christian, each denomination, each church, even the whole Church must be continually balancing the actual words of the Scriptures, covering something over 2,000 years of Middle East history, with the conditions of present, “modern” life, now nearly 2,000 years after those Biblical times. What truths remain? What truths are changed by developments, physical and social, that were not part of the Biblical experience?

One big question is… how does the concept of love apply in relation to sexuality? One part of the question is… how good a criterion is love for determining the appropriateness of sexual intercourse? The other part is… should love develop into forgiveness for sexual acts that are not “approved”. Is love the heart of the Christian gospel, or is it My judgment as interpreted solely by the Holy Scriptures?

You know that My Teachings to you emphasize the importance of love, forgiveness, and grace. My very presence, as often as you choose to hear Me, tells you that I am concerned about adapting the Christian message to late 20th century U.S.A., middle class. I tell you to remain an active Presbyterian, a rather middle-of-the-road group of Christians, but that you should know the Holy Scriptures better than most of your fellow Presbyterians.

Further, I have given you and Lenore certain sexual experiences, a homosexual son and nephew, and a number of gay and lesbian students, with whom you have related well. I have not rejected you, and you have not rejected yourself for these experiences. You shall read, shortly, the sermon which won the seminary preaching award for Nancy, one of My chosen ones, one with sexual leanings that would not allow her to be ordained in your Church. Should sexual “appropriateness” be this important an issue in determining who shall serve Me the most directly?

As you observed the appearance and age of those who were the functioning Presbytery yesterday you were assured that they could not approve a stance with too much focus on love and forgiveness. It is “safer” to hold to traditional “standards,” even as this requires harsh judgments on certain individuals. Some of them could be forgiving of certain individuals, like members of their own family, but could not accept such expression of love as a standard for the Church.

I do not call on you to be an advocate of this position of love and forgiveness that you hold. You know what is right for you, but it shall not seem so for many of your fellow Presbyterians. Recall, of course, that, as Jesus, I had this experience. I emphasized love, justice, and forgiveness much more than was the Jewish “way” of the time… and that Jewish way was based on Commandments and rules that I had given as Almighty God. Why would I go against Myself? But I did, and most of My own people did not follow Me.