I skipped over from Bobby Grow’s site and wanted to let you know I appreciate seeing another believer considering this issue from a different angle than it has typically been viewed.

A while back, I examined the Christian-pro homosexual tension and noted that a singly-focused “because God said so” argument tended to close people’s ears pretty quickly.

One element I believe is missing from much of the discussion is a visible, Christlike compassion for those who “feel gay”. Of course, sin is sin, but when we behave as though certain sinful behaviors are beyond God’s ability to forgive, we tend to push people away from the love and support they need in order to effectively do battle with temptation.

Anyway, Thanks for the brain food.

Evangelicals are now such a diverse group. I think we have seen that in NZ with the recent dismal attempts of Kiwi party/ United Future/ Destiny/ etc to get off the ground. We are naturally divisive and schismatic, what started as a willingness to stand on principle has become a destructive tick that we can’t seem to shake.

On the subject of thoughtful and intelligent voices, on the topic of homosexuality I cannot mention anyone better than my friend and colleague Dr Laurie Guy, who has literally written a book on homosexuality in NZ and as a church historian, NT scholar, and committed servant of Christ has much insight to give. The problem with people like Laurie is they are more concerned with srudy and service than self promotion so they seldom enter the limelight.

i look forward to your thoughts on the issue. as for me, I would not claim to be a voice only a wannabe Biblical scholar who writes about sex more than most, but only by a twist of fate. but that is another story. For me on homosexuality see
http://xenos-theology.blogspot.com/search/label/homosexuality
i’ve got more to come but we’ll get there in due course. Ka kite!

I’m not sure I’d characterise the prevalent evangelical voices on the matter as shrill and intolerant. Sure, those voices are there, but my point was that even the more measured people who try to tone down the rhetoric come across as oppressive intolerant (and often “shrill” is mentally imported into that) merely because they use arguments from authority.

I’m curious who you’d point to as “the thoughtful and intelligent voices”. My observation has been that many who try to become more appealing either sell the farm to some degree, or just avoid the question (Andrew Marin being the foremost example of the latter to my mind). If you have people you can point to (even yourself if that’s the case) I’d be *very* interested.

You’re right that the lack of a larger controlling body makes things more difficult, but I believe there are ways to change the presentation of this issue so that a solid block of evangelicals will better represent truth. I’m just not completely sure what that presentation looks like.