Can One be [ ] and be a Christian?
“Can one be a soldier and be a Christian?”
This is by no means a perfect analogy, or even a good one, but some thinking on this might help guide some of our thinking about the question “Can one be gay and be a Christian?” For the sake of this post, let’s assume the stance that Scripture teaches homosexuality is contrary to God’s original intent (otherwise, the question of “Can one be gay and be a Christian?” would not be pertinent).
I believe that, according to Scripture, it is morally wrong to take the life of another, even under conditions set in just war theory, both jus ad bellum and jus in bello (I realize that this is a position not undisputed within the Church, but the purpose of this post is not so much to argue this claim). Does it then follow that I think someone who claims to be a Christian yet is a soldier is not really a Christian? By no means. I believe that s/he is in serious error on this issue, both in belief and in practice, but it is not an issue so foundational to the apostolic faith that it places him/her outside the household of God.
Something that is critical, though, is how someone reaches their conclusion: examination of and submission to Scripture is essential. Someone might reach an interpretation of Scripture that I believe to be fatally erroneous, but s/he is at least appealing to Scripture.
Like homosexuality, just war/pacifism is one of the issues that more obviously affects the lives of some people everyday; there are many who profess Christianity currently serving in the United States military, and many of them face the possibility of taking the life of someone made in the image of God (I am not likening self-identifying as gay to taking the life of another; the point is that these are disputed issues that have clear, everyday effects). The appeal to beliefs about homosexuality being ones that potentially affect lives everyday, and consequently an “in or out” issue, therefore, are not so persuasive to me (Besides, shouldn’t most, if not all of our beliefs affect our lives everyday?).
Thoughts?
I think it’s a bit different because pacifism seems to be the minority Christian position. I’m sure Christian soldiers have to struggle a lot with the morality of war, but at least the Christian majority tends to be behind them. It would be very different it the majority of Christians were very passionate about pacifism and certain Christians decided to enlist and “practice” violence anyways.
Daniel
March 16, 2011 at 22:40
Just war is a majority position in the so-called West, but I don’t know about the rest of the world. The history of the Church’s acceptance and embrace of just war is not untainted by ties to the State. Of course there are the Mennonites, the Quakers, and other historically pacifist denominations. John Wesley also condemned all war.
Sorry, this isn’t a particularly cogent reply. I guess what I’m trying to say is the just war position should not be as assumed as it has been among evangelicals, pacifism is by no means a new development in the Church, and just war being a majority position doesn’t necessarily make it right. I think the criteria is good interpretation of Scripture.
bridledzeal
March 18, 2011 at 15:46
I wonder when the dialogue about being gay and being Christian is not somehow analogous to murder, addiction, incest, bestiality, and or polygamy (to name just a few). While you did say that you are not likening this topic with the taking of another’s life, I think that it is a slippery slope, and something to be mindful of as dialogue continues. This topic has used and misused so many analogies, I wonder if it’s better to avoid them now?
As for the meat of your post, I think I agree with you and that this is an inclusive and healthy opinion. It’s important to realize that the Body is so much larger and expansive than what our school tends to believe.
I mean, God has made a lot of room in the Kingdom for his people, right? We’re talking from Adorn to Catholic to Episcopalian to Baptist to Calvary to Charismatic….. I think there may be more room than we think for Jesus loving people.
Thanks for caring, Felix. It means a whole lot to me and a whole lot of other people.
Anonymous
March 16, 2011 at 23:27