Dion has written a post on discouragement. In it he mentions that one of the things that has discouraged him recently is the response of the conservatives to Desmond Tutu’s statements earlier in the week (See Dion’s mention of those responses here). Now I am a conservative and I did respond to Tutu’s words. I don’t know if Dion had me in mind when he wrote those posts, I don’t even know if he read my post. He definitely didn’t mention me or my blog in either of his posts and so as I write this post I write it not in response to Dion, or even someone like Gus who commented on my post. I write rather as a kind of open question to anyone who is willing to propose an honest answer. Here is my dilemma/question:
I wish to know how I ought to respond to someone like Tutu when he makes the statements that he makes. I, along with many other evangelicals, believe that homosexual practice is sin in the eyes of God. I absolutely detest homophobia and hope that in my life and ministry it will be evident to all that I am as accepting of homosexuals as I am of anyone else on this planet. Yet I still stand with a prolific leader of the church in my country making statements that I am convinced to my core are not in accordance with Scripture. How should I respond? Do I ignore my convictions for the sake of a percieved unity when in my heart of hearts I know that God (if he truly has spoken by his scriptures) laments those statements of Tutu’s?
I desire to be beyond reproach in the way I use this blog as a mouth piece. I desire to be gracious and display humility at all times when interacting with those with whom I disagree. But I cannot ignore my convictions. So how should I respond?
I think you must respond according to your convictions!
I also think that our convictions (mine included) must always be humbly held – we must be aware of why we believe what we believe, aware of who influenced us to think the way we think… aware of our tradition and who formed it. Aware of the role all these play in the formation of our convictions. Ultimately, in all these things, we must be responsive to the Spirit and Lordship of Christ, considering our convictions prayerfully.
Hold on to your convictions, voice them! That’s what Tutu does – why shouldn’t you?
And yes sometimes people will get upset, discouraged, angry
but we’re all grown ups – our convictions must stand a bit of testing.
(I think)
Hi Stephen
I think Gus has said it well.
But the words of your post describe my heart beautifully and I’m sure that of many others.
We are torn between wanting to be progressive, genuine, adventurous, intelligent, compassionate, etc on one hand, and needing to hold on to convictions that others will label narrow-minded on the other. It isn’t either/or. Part of the journey is working out what must be left behind and what we take with us. Your voice is important as holding up one side of a dialogue that is far from finished. Especially as you will honestly look for prejudice in yourself, because you are sincere, and so your opinion carries more weight than someone who doesn’t like homosexuality just because the thought disgusts them.
My stand is that I believe God’s ideal is a family headed by one parent of each sex. I don’t believe he sees homosexuality as an appropriate choice. However, I am still wrestling with the issue and am open to the possibility that I may change my mind. I want to find out what God wants.
Be strong and God bless you.
JH
I’m not sure what has been said in the comments of any past posts, so I apologize if I’m repeating anyone here.
I agree that you should not be afraid to voice your convictions – what you deem to be truly stated in scripture – and that you should do so humbly. I would also add that in the midst of such conversations we should remain balanced. In other words, two lists come to mind where Paul speaks of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. One includes homosexuals (1 Cor 6:9f.) and one does not (Gal 5:19f.). My own conviction is that we often focus on homosexuality to the exclusion of the other unrighteous or works of the flesh. Thus, do we ever make a big deal about those who are greedy, jealous, throw fits of anger, or “things like these” (Gal 5:21)? It seems we don’t, or at least this is my experience in North America. So I don’t think it’s wrong to voice an opinion regarding homosexuality as long as it’s not the only thing you find yourself talking about. It shouldn’t consume us, and if it does, (again) to the exclusion of focus on other areas that require holiness and obedience, then perhaps it does sadden God even if our judgments are “correct”, for we’re called to be more than merely correct.
I have read this post and your earlier one, and I agree with just about everything you have said in them. I don’t regard myself as conservative, but as liberal, so I don’t think it is a conservative/liberal issue at all — or perhaps words like “liberal” and “conservative” have lost all meaning.
I agree with Bishop Desmond Tutu when he says that the Anglican Church has been devoting a disproportionate amount of time to homosexuality and neglecting other and more important things. I’ve tried to avoid joining in discussions about it, partly for that reason, and partly because I am no longer Anglican. What I have noticed, though, is that it has brought out racism and neoimperialism in some proponents of the prohomosexuality side of the debate. And those are things I associate with “conservatives” rather than with “liberals”.
But for what it’s worth, I agree pretty much with what you have said in this post and your earlier one.
I’ve known Desmond Tutu for nearly 50 years, and I think his heart is in the right place, even if I don’t always agree with his theology. Someone once said that it is better to do wrong for the sake of love than to insist on doing right because of my lack of it. And even when I think Desmond Tutu is going off the rails theologically, from what I know of him he is doing it for the sake of love.