It is important to stop and reveal the plan to any reader who happens along to this blog. On February 9, I wrote a post entitled “The Ongoing Battle.” It was commentary on Peter Gomes’ chapter on the role of women in the church. Gomes devotes a chapter on this topic in his book entitled The Good Book. Basically he argues that inclusion of women in the ministry of the church is where we are as a society today. Maybe the Bible was written in a patriarchal society in a patriarchal timeframe, but to continue to exclude women from leadership in churches is a mistake. Culture has changed and along with it, we need to adapt the Bible so it can be more inclusive and less exclusive.

My overall plan in discussing The Good Book is that Gomes would get to his main point [his next chapter entitled “The Bible and Homosexuality”]. I have two other books that do not align exactly with Gomes. Kevin DeYoung argues in his book* that homosexuality is a sin and homosexuals need to repent for their sinful lifestyle. Dr. Preston Sprinkle in his book** argues that there should be a middle ground between advocating for homosexual leadership in the church and homosexual union in marriage and downright condemning the practice of homosexuality all together.

Where are we going now?

From a friendly attitude toward homosexuality, I will comment on DeYoung’s Chapter 5 entitled “A New Word from an Old Place”. DeYoung looks closely at Scripture, especially the Greek words malakoi and arsenokoitai and concludes that a revisionist view of the Bible is wrong.

Why do this? I am grappling with this issue myself. My church has split away from the United Methodist Church over this issue. St. John is now a Global Methodist Church.

How should I feel?

Is it time for the culture to influence the interpretation of the Bible?

Is it time to hold to the Bible as it and push back on cultural influences?

*What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?

**People to be Loved: Why Homosexuality is Not Just an Issue?