Concerning homosexual behavior, a simple reading of scripture reveals this: an attempted gang rape of the two angels by heterosexual men in Sodom (Gen. 19); the Levitical code prohibition for the Jewish nation (Lev. 18: 22; 20: 13); heterosexual men who because of their idolatry and lust committed homosexual acts contrary to their nature. I do not accept Gagnonç—´ interpretation of Noah and Ham (I think it is these two!?), which postulates Ham homosexual raped his father. Even if that were true, we would have a heterosexual male involved in an incestuous rape.
What scripture condemns is heterosexuals engaged in homosexual acts � whether gang rape, or mutually agreed upon acts between heterosexuals. Likewise, scripture presents the boundaries within which sex is to be engaged, whether by heterosexuals or homosexuals, in my humble opinion.
I知 not trying to find loopholes, and I am not trying to force Scripture to say anything other than what it actually says and presents � honest exegetical investigation and hermeneutical application to current situations.
What does scripture _actually_ say? A whole lot about heterosexual relationships, but even when it talks specifically about marriage, the type of marriage it speaks of is not generally what we conceive of marriage in 21st century America. It speaks of abusive homosexual sex acts, understood then to be engaged in by heterosexuals. It speaks of heterosexuals giving up their heterosexual nature and engaging in homosexual sex. If we can resist reading into Scripture and making is support our particular wants or views, we can get down to what it actually means and what it actually says for us today.
Furthermore, science has not proven one way or another what causes people to be heterosexual or homosexual. What scientific research has shown is that for whatever definitive reason, the homosexual orientation is something that is not controlled by the individual. It is something that happens so early in life, if not during the earliest stages of fetal development, that the individual is not responsible in any way for the orientation � again, whether heterosexual or homosexual. Behavior is under our domain of control, orientation is not. The orientation, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is not changeable. To demand homosexuals live celibate lives is contrary to Paul痴 admonition that if one cannot abide in celibacy, then one should be married. How this is worked out in the lives of homosexuals is still undetermined, but is what much of this debate is all about.
In my opinion, Scripture does not oppose same-gender, mutual, loving, life-long relationships � it is within the permissive will of God, not declared forbidden by Scripture. If the whole institutions of marriage and family will be destroyed by a small minority of people having legal recognition of their same-sex relationships, then the institutions of marriage and family are not a very stable, strong, and viable institutions to begin with. How little faith in heterosexual marriage and families people must have to think that homosexual relationships can destroy something God has instituted. How little faith in God, and how much faith in the ability of Satan to destroy that which God has institute, is implied in all this rancor.

I was reading Ex-Gay Watch this morning. Mike included information from the new Exodus ad campaign unvailed in Cincinnati. The “Question Homosexuality” campaign, which includes newspaper ads like the one appearing in the Cincinnati Enquirer, seems to be a good effort.
If I am honest, which I have no problem being, there are times when I still question whether I simply did not try hard enough, pray hard enough, get psychoanalyzed enough, or grit my teeth hard enough to resist the whole homosexual thing. Change did not come, despite all that I did. All one has to do is read the testimonials/auto-biographies of people year after year after year to realize that scores have tried and tried again to change their orientation to no avail. The success rate of Exodus and their methods are dismally low – and this fact comes from those involved with the methods/programs.
Have some changed? I don’t know. All we have to do is look at those who have claimed healing and change and later failed/fell/admitted the truth that they still have same-sex attraction to know that just because some say they have changed does not mean much! Yet, there are those few who do say they have no attraction to the same sex any longer. Are they lying or have they changed? If they have changed, then why or how? Did they prayer just the right amount of time? Did they cry to just that point where God figured He might as well do something? Did they grit their teeth hard enough and now are simply enduring an incongruent life? Is it because God truly zapped them and turned them into heterosexuals or enabled them to realize their true heterosexual selves? Is it because they were not truly homosexual to begin with? Is it because God wishes for all homosexuals to realize they aren’t really homosexual and that if we do just what Alan Chambers did that every one of us will be zapped, too?
There are simply too many individuals who have done everything and anything to change (relying upon God and everything) who have not experienced changed. What does that mean? Does God not love them, but does love Alan Chambers and his crew? Is God fickle? Does God play favorites? Did these people not have the guts or endurance to realize their change – they simply quite too soon? Maybe these homosexuals were predestined for hell by God, so they aren’t going to change no matter what anyone does (a good application of Calvinistic double-predestination!)?
There is nothing reliable, verifiable, and consistent that presents to me the honest notion that homosexuals are not homosexuals because that is what they are – that God changes homosexuals into heterosexuals, or that reparative-therapy actually works. Why are people homosexual? We don’t know, yet. Scripture does not support what the Church has traditionally claimed concerning homosexuality. Science does not support ex-gay ideology, theology, or psychosocial theory. Yet, sometimes I wonder whether I just didn’t pray enough, cry enough, study enough, grit my teeth enough, or get analyzed enough to change.

May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

I’m up early again this morning. I don’t have to be, but I am. It just is. I figured I might as well read my e-mail and catch up on some of the weblogs I haven’t had a chance to read in a while. Jason and Jodie’s wedding CD was sitting on my desk – I remembered one of the songs that played from the CD during the reception. I was struck then, even in the midst of all the celebration, a quiet song, a worshipful song from Third Day – “God of Wonders.” So, I’m listening to the song.
I’m not sure how to put down in written form any of this stuff. Most of it is emotion, but the important thing is that which elicits the emotion. Not simply emotionalism, but the remembrance of being in the presence of God during the act of worship – that sense of the presence of God being strong, real, manifest – peace that surpasses understanding, joy unimaginable, better than the best dark chocolate. The Presence so strong you don’t want to move, you don’t want to talk, just be still and bask in the Presence of God that feels thick. The presence of the Spirit of God so real that no one wants to leave the place, like a refreshing far beyond anything experienced from the physical world. How I miss that certain kind of presence.
“God of wonders beyond our galaxy – you are Holy, Holy. The universe declares your majesty – you are Holy, Holy. Lord of heaven and earth, halleluiah to the Lord of heaven and earth.”
God, how do I do this? I don’t know how to do this? The beauty and transcendence of worship using all the senses is magnificent and honoring to a Holy, majestic, and worthy God, but without the interior sense of God’s presence – not just in the bread and wine – but here with us, surrounding us, enveloping us, manifestly present all about us is beyond anything seen by the eyes, smelled with the nose, heard by the ears, or bodily felt with hands or tongue. How do we have both – the worship experienced within and without? The Via Media? Is it within the “Three streams – one river” idea and experience?

This morning I begin CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). I will work as a hospital chaplain intern for the next 12 weeks, and I’m not sure what I think about it. For some, it is a great experience, and of course for some it is not. We shall see how things fall for me.
This is going to be a very tight summer financially. I can’t work because of CPE, and I will not have enough money to make it through the summer, all things staying the same.

I realize without doubt that I am in great need of God’s grace! There is no hope in me without grace and mercy. The Law has revealed that we are incapable of measuring up to God’s standard of holiness and “rightness.” My life reveals the same thing.
It can be easy to extend this understanding of our inability to do anything to warrant God’s favor to making excuses then for my failure and my turning away from longing for and striving for holiness. Simply because I cannot does not mean I do not put myself in the position to. Not by my own effort, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work I am able to move forward to the prize for which I (and we) have been called by God to realize. The Spirit calls, I respond. I, of course, have to make the effort and then it is the Spirit of God that enables me to arrive at the goal. Even when I am not able to make the effort, the Comforter is there to aid and to encourage and to forgive when needed.
What is the goal? To love God with all my heart, for in this my being will desire not that which satisfies my old nature, but that which builds up my new nature. To love my neighbor as my self, for here I find my own expression of God’s love and the embodiment of the image of God within me. I am to put my hands to the plow and not look back so that I (and we) may move into the Way of God. In this is life to the full.

Now that my Internet connection has been restored and final exams are over…
I went out for Sushi with Kendal and Mindy and Nick tonight. On the way back, Kendal and Mindy ask me to be their yet-to-be-born son’s Godfather. I’m very honored, but conflicted. They will be in Oregon next year, and I have no idea where I will be. Isn’t it more ideal to have a Godparent close by?
I would truly love to be his Godfather. I’m not sure of what will be best for him.

Too much to do. This time, however, it is different – well, really my attitude is different this time, alone with more responsibilities due to our field-placement duties. Field-placement is a saving grace! A funeral on Wednesday, Maundy Thursday service last night, Good Friday service today at noon and Easter Vigil tomorrow night. Then comes the big day itself: Easter.
This is the first time I have gone through this season in an intentional way. I was a passive participant/observer before. Growing up, there was only Easter Day – no thought about seasons of the Church or their effect on our spiritual formation and relationship with God. I am still more observant than participant, even though I am actively doing the stuff of the liturgy. One of these days, it will hit.
After nine years as an Episcopalian and one and a half years in seminary, I am recognizing the strength of the Anglican-Evangelical emphases, but I am truly drawn to Anglo-Catholic piety and worship. As a community event, High-Church worship brings together so many different elements as an act of worship. If there is not the interior spiritual life, the worship truly can be not much more than empty ritual. The communal worship must begin with the individual interior experience with God. Likewise, those who have the interior life and yet do not engage in the communal experience/worship that can only be accomplished in community are deficient in their entire Christian experience. Something like that, anyway…

Todd and Louri had a new baby boy a couple days ago! Lucas Jensen Griffith.



I’m not sure what Cory thinks of his little brother, but I’m sure he will be a good big-brother!