BLOGGING TOWARD SUNDAY…

Today’s entry will likely deepen the perception of some that I am a “bleeding heart liberal,” or worse, a heretic, but yesterday’s quote has given me the courage to write what needs to be said. A news article today proclaimed that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has suggested that the American Episcopal Church might have to accept a secondary role in the Anglican communion because of the pro-gay resolutions recently approved at its General Convention.

The Archbishop is concerned because the views of the American church on homosexuality “do not represent the larger Anglican community.” That, for me, raised the following question, “what if the American views are a more faithful representation of the views of the God who is revealed in Jesus Christ?”

The Church simply cannot base matters of theology and right and wrong on the direction the majority seems to be leaning toward at the moment. Had the majority of Christians been polled about their attitudes toward slavery in the early 1800s, slavery might still be an institution with the support of the Church. Had Christians been polled about the ordination of women, or the inclusion of people of color in their worship services, no doubt they would have lagged far behind those in the forefront of the fight for full inclusion.

I firmly believe that one day we will look back on the debate about homosexuality with the same embarrassment we feel over slavery and the subordination of women. Most of the time the majority will rule, but that does not mean they are right.

Filed under: Blogging Toward Sunday