I thought the images were very interesting and appropriate to discuss during Holy Week. I am not surprised that some Christians do not accept this vision of Christ's ministry, but I continue to be heartened by the growing acceptance of Gay Christians in even some of the most fundamental of Christian denominations.
Last week I sat behind 2 ladies in church who were obviously new to Anglican liturgy. My only interaction with them was to exchange the peace.thanks for sharing that experience, I think that this experience is being repeated over and over again in the Christian communities across the country. I was raised Southern Baptist and have sporadically attended church most of my life : Easter, Christmas, etc. increasingly I am finding that it is not rare for Southern Baptist Convention churches to as congregations welcome warmly not only single gays but gay couples. My own church, although a member of the SBC (which as a convention does not look kindly on same sex marriage), has always been inclusive and open to gays. in fact I joined that church specifically because my friend Van Cliburn was a member of that church, and as most know Van was openly gay going back to at least the 1980's.
On monday night I received a phone call from the curate of my church. He is evangelical, unlike my vicar and bishop, and I had an hour long session with him last year in which he told me he is moving towards acceptance of gay marriage.
Anyway his call was because he was worried I my have overheard one of the women. He said they are new Christians and live near me and one made a very homophobic comment to him. He told her she should not say that as there are gay Christians in our congregation. I told him I do get upset about official comments but would not take much notice of a visitor even if I had overheard her. However it was nice of him to phone and show concern.
My vicar and bishop are very supportive of same sex marriage ( a reason for moving to live here) but they are a little cowed (in my opinion) by the nosiy opponents who threaten to leave. I would say 'good riddance' but understand they cannot do that so easily.
And not jus gay Christians, but also gay people who feel call to serve in the ordained ministry. One of the best and most personally meaningful sermons I've ever heard was preached by the seminary intern that we have serving in my church; he's gay and partnered.that is great to hear Jeff. certainly Gay people have a ministry not only to other gays, but to the community at large. the community at large can benefit from the perspective of those who are in the tiny minority, we often see things that others don't.
that is great to hear Jeff. certainly Gay people have a ministry not only to other gays, but to the community at large. the community at large can benefit from the perspective of those who are in the tiny minority, we often see things that others don't.
Last week I sat behind 2 ladies in church who were obviously new to Anglican liturgy. My only interaction with them was to exchange the peace.
On monday night I received a phone call from the curate of my church. He is evangelical, unlike my vicar and bishop, and I had an hour long session with him last year in which he told me he is moving towards acceptance of gay marriage.
Anyway his call was because he was worried I my have overheard one of the women. He said they are new Christians and live near me and one made a very homophobic comment to him. He told her she should not say that as there are gay Christians in our congregation. I told him I do get upset about official comments but would not take much notice of a visitor even if I had overheard her. However it was nice of him to phone and show concern.
My vicar and bishop are very supportive of same sex marriage ( a reason for moving to live here) but they are a little cowed (in my opinion) by the nosiy opponents who threaten to leave. I would say 'good riddance' but understand they cannot do that so easily.
A few thoughts...a very interesting post Milo!
- Blanchard's work is fantasy. There's nothing wrong with that, but I think that Cherry's article places a little too much gravity on the work. To say that this fantastical "what if" about Jesus is theologically important is a bit of an overstatement.
- Cherry is right when she points out that "Every group envisions Christ in their own image from their own context." But it is important to understand that those tailored images are not the object of worship. In other words, while we might a see a black Jesus in a few places and churches around the US, very few African-Americans actually think Jesus was black. Images of the standard Plantagenet Jesus are not a barrier to the full exercise of Christian faith to black people, and I don't see how the idea of a gay Jesus opens any doors of faith for sexual minorities.
- I would be interested to read the source material used by those that posit that Jesus had a male lover.
- I don't see the suffering of Christ being in any way analogous to the plight of sexual minorities--or ethnic minorities for that matter. Sexual minorities have been persecuted because of innate behavioral traits. Ethnic minorities have been persecuted because of innate physiological traits. Conversely, Jesus was persecuted because of his ideas and his message.
- I would be interested to read the source material used by those that posit that Jesus had a male lover.
and as a theological point: the belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus implies strongly the Jesus paid the sacrifice for our separation from the Creator, and offered us a gateway back to God. that in itself would imply that Jesus identified (s) with all of us, all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations.
Agreed. So what he looked like, or whom he might have had sex with doesn't matter because he came for the salvation of all of humanity.within the context of "personal salvation" it matters to the individual.
I recall reading--but I don't recall where reading :-\ --that the supposition has been that it was John, because John is referred to as "the disciple Jesus loved." Also, apparently the Last Supper was actually a Greco-Roman--style banquet, with everybody reclining on couches of some sort, and John apparently shared a couch with Jesus. As he was dying Jesus also gave his mother into John's care--or so the Gospel says.
Personally, I think it's wishful thinking.
within the context of "personal salvation" it matters to the individual.
hehehe...I'm sitting here laughing at the idea of Jews lounging around during Seder.
That is kind of funny, isn't it? And perhaps an indication that the Last Supper was NOT a Passover Seder.
I suppose it can be important to an individual. But I have to wonder: does a woman (for example) need to consider Christ in a female form in order to achieve personal salvation?
and I said: "Yes dad.....God is Michael Jackson."
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
... a comedienne perform on TV once.
"My father was a reverand and he told me once: "God is neither black nor white. God is neither male nor female. God is neither gay nor straight. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
and I said: "Yes dad.....God is Michael Jackson."
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
I suppose it can be important to an individual. But I have to wonder: does a woman (for example) need to consider Christ in a female form in order to achieve personal salvation?I don't know. from the standpoint of Christianity, salvation is a "leap of faith" , so if your faith is furthered by visualizing Jesus as a woman, or gay, or black - then the faith is furthered by you doing so.