Homosexuality and a Christian ethics response

Understanding Gods Word a developmental perspectiveD. Graham Stacey, PhDLoma Linda University2011a scriptural reflection.Jeremiah 7: 1-8This is the temple of the Lord.trusting in deceptive words that are worthless Simply trusting in ones historical or claimed identity as evidence of Gods special blessing is not sufficientIt is time to reflect more deeply on the relevancy and impact of your relationship with Godquestions for reflectionHow do Gods people maintain a relevant message in an ever changing world? Is there any way to assimilate new information? How does Gods Word retain its authority in a time and context so removed from its origins? How do we apply the eternal principles of Gods Word? It is possible or necessary to change ones understanding on what Gods Word means?not a new challengeGregory J. Riley, The River of God. Harper (2001)- a genealogy of the development of Christian belief- dynamic, evolving, multiple sources of development

Ethics, morality and social justice (slavery, apartheid)

Faith and science [traditional understanding and new information] (age of the earth)

maybe too simplisticHow do we as believers? assimilate new information (consider new ideas)? accommodate changes to established schemas or paradigms (change our minds)? maintain equilibrium during the process (proceed with enough grace as to do no harm to Gods children)?a personal viewAny condemnation, rejection and or mistreatment of peoplebased on individual characteristics (specifically those over which they have no control)..is unjust, immoral and antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ?Respect for and acceptance of all of Gods children, irrespective of any issue of diversity, is the faithful expression of the love and justice of God, and in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ.faith communities, contrary to their central teachings, were active or silent supporters of apartheidin large measure churchesgave support, symbolic and practical, to the violent state machine. Alex Boraine

The Seventh-day Adventist Church was one of those communities.

Despite recognition of the difficulties apartheid caused the Seventh-day Adventist church, condemnation of apartheid itself is entirely absent from the South African Seventh-day Adventist literature of the time. Jeff Crocombe

the Adventist church was always far ahead of the government of the day in applying racial segregation in the church, and far behind when it comes to scrapping racially discriminatory measures. du Preez an du Pre

Jaspers typology of guilt enables us all to discern our common humanity before God, and therefore our shared need for transformation. John de Gruchy

Cited from Jeff Crocombe, The Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Africa race relations and apartheid. 2007The nature of revelation and inspirationa practical reality most Christians agree on what the scriptures say few agree on what the scriptures mean

most Christians share certain cardinal doctrines but teach a wide variety of beliefs on all matters

Religious Tolerance.org

inspirationLiteralemphasis on verbal authority & inerrancyhistory and or context of secondary relevancefocus on applications Contextualemphasis on principleshistory and or context are relevantfocus on meaningSelective literal/contextual considered essential to community preservation literal application required for truth protection of Scriptural authority considered as fundamental to the maintenance of the Christian world-viewways of discerning truth fundamentalist methodology focus on the literal application assimilate the information discount the context reject or fail to accommodate any continuing revelation declare the truth as absolute meaning methodology focus on meaning (principles) allow the context to inform the meaning accept the literal interpretation as the optimal truth the original readers could assimilate accommodate Gods continuing revelation

what happens in real-life methodology assimilate the literal understanding discount the context declare absolute truth gradually modify / abandon positions under influence of Gods continuing revelationsstages in religious accommodationAndrew Dickson White (1898)

a new belief system develops in conflict with established beliefsofficial institutions ignore the developmenta growing number of followers start to disagreestatements are issued to condemn the development citing Biblical passages as justificationsupport continues to growstatements intensify - suggesting the proposal negates the entire Christian message or attacks fundamental Christian principlescontinuedfollowers and public support continues to growinstitutions begin to ignore the development, and sometimes ignore the Biblical passages that once supported the ideayears (decades or centuries) later institutions may incorporate the deviant development into the belief structure

Andrew Dickson White (1898) A history of the warfare of science with theology in Christendom.Cognitive Dissonance must be resolvedCognitive DissonanceMartin Seligman

1) modify the belief to fit the evidence (early Adventists and the second advent)2) maintain the belief despite the evidence (sexual orientation)3) abandon the field of dispute altogether (age of the earth) methods of resolutionThe literal readings of the text supporting the belief are:ignored (geocentric solar system)obscured in translation (slave v/s servant)re-interpreted (marital relationships)selectively contextualized (holiness code)

examples of accommodation racial integration (mixing the seed) role of women in the church Gods punishment on Jews (holocaust) slavery / apartheid generation transferability of sin doctrinal beliefs (Satan / Trinity / exclusive monotheism)

once hotly debated now settled food offered to idols equality in Christ (Jew nor Greek) geocentric solar system earning interest on investments scientific examples (vacuum, lightning rod) medical examples (anesthetics during childbirth, childhood inoculations, birth control)

If you have been to a physician, been diagnosed with a particular disorder, prescribed a medication, and accepted the recommended treatment, you have: assimilated Gods continuing revelation about health and healing accommodated the biological explanation of disease accommodated the scientific method as one means of communicating Gods continuing revelations modified your understanding of scripture re. disease moved beyond the fatalistic explanation that God / Satan control all health and disease disbursementA suggested way forwardOriginalists contend that the constitution has a clear, fixed meaning. But the framers argued vehemently about its meaning. For them, it was a set of principles, not a code of laws. A code of laws says you have to stop at a red light; a constitution has broad principles that are unchanging but that must accommodate each new generation and circumstance.

Richard Stengel, One Document under Siege, Time, July 4, 2011a helpful frame of reference Genetic epistemology (Jean Piaget, 1896-1980)Schemas categories of knowledge that help us interpret and understand the worldAssimilation the process of taking in new information into a previously existing schemaAccommodation changing or altering our existing schemas in light of new informationEquilibration striking a balance between assimilation and accommodationChristian Ethicsan integration of authority and relevance Meta-ethic (we love because God first loved us.. 1 John 4:19)First Principle (love for God & neighbor)Principles (compassion, love, respect, honesty, faithfulness, forgiveness, mercy, humility, service)Rules (ten commandments / inspired instruction)Applications (interpersonal relationships [marriage, family] community relationships [social, professional] personal standards [attitudes, behaviours], community standards [social attitudes, practices], church life [worship style, relationship to community] ) 27Christian Ethicsan integration of authority and relevance Meta-ethic (we love because God first loved us.. 1 John 4:19)First Principle (love for God and neighbor)Principles (compassion, love, respect, honesty, faithfulness, mercy, humility, justice, equality, community, fidelity, service)

Rules (ten commandments / inspired instruction)Applications HOW SHOULD I LIVE?28 summary.assimilate and accommodate Gods continuing revelationsacknowledge and embrace the reality of Gods processdevelop a spirit of community that permits and encourages equilibrium while new revelations are assimilated and accommodatedat times of transition (always?), focus on the higher-order eternal principles in Gods Word cautiously and conscientiously review the temporal applications using the eternal principles to guide the application of the new revelationsLets continue the dialogue