Sitting here pondering and reflecting
on some of the discussions that have come out of GLBT posts here on the blog.
The first thing that strikes me is that there are so few persons leaving comments
in relation to the high number of visitors.
I think that fear may be a large
factor, both for those who disagree (who fear being labeled as bigoted
fundamentalists) and those who agree (who are afraid of getting into trouble in
their own congregations).
For a Christian, it
can be difficult enough to "come out" and be GLBT-affirming. I recall
that not so long ago I was with a number of my colleague officers present,
seated there and I with a pounding heart and sweaty palms. Filled with anxiety
I wondered what would happen when I began sharing with them my views on the
GLBT issue. There were several persons present who tried to mediate; "what
Patrik really means is that one must love the sinner and hate the sin ..."
Oh how easy it would be to just remain quiet and slide back down in that abyss,
but no, that's not what I mean.
What also strikes me is that it's so
difficult to have a discussion without getting bogged down in judgmental,
polarized arguments. Even if on the positive affirmative side, how does one
maintain an open-minded, unbiased posture toward people with pronounced biases.
But I realize once again how
important this conversation is and that it is in the public light, "Only
in the open, you have an opportunity. Locks you if you suffocate and wither
you. In the open air, you should walk with the Lord. My power is made perfect
in your weakness then. "
I believe that we must love all people
regardless of their actions (whether we categorize the action as a sin or not)
and that we must be allowed to affirm, and even rejoice that GLBT persons are
in fellowship, and realize that they are God’s gift to us. Some were curious,
others stunned, and a few glared judgmentally and commented harshly. I can and
I do understand fear. It is not easy to "come out."
But I realize once again how
important this discussion is and that it take place in a public forum:
"In the arena of candidness you have opportunity.
Lock yourself away and you will suffocate and wither.
Step out into freedom and walk with the Lord.
(for) My power is made perfect in your weakness."
If we dare not (or aren’t allowed) to
"come out" and discuss these difficult to handle issues in transparency
and honesty, how are we ever going to find, understand, (and) love one another!
So I continue blogging, Continue asking questions and highlight issues from as
many perspectives as possible; maybe it attracts one more out of the closet
where we can have the conversation, in the open.
.
Psalm 90 – Surely in the light
"Surely in the arena of candidness you have
opportunity.
Lock yourself away and you will suffocate and wither.
Step out into freedom and walk with the Lord.
(for) My power is made perfect in your weakness."
Live in a world converted to reality,
Turned toward God's future, urged onward by His faithfulness.
You’ll never face darkness alone.
Only in the light will your possibilities be kindled.
Text: Britt G
Hallqvist 1972 - J Kirkegaard 1971
Music: O Widestrand
1974, 19
Lt. Patrik Olterman
Commanding officer
TSA Malmo, Sweden
TRANSLATION: Dr. Sven Ljungholm
Lt. Patrik Olterman
Commanding officer
TSA Malmo, Sweden
TRANSLATION: Dr. Sven Ljungholm
15 comments:
Patrik - again, let me say, brilliant article. I commend you on your bravery in posting this article and asking these questions - particularly since you are still an active officer. When I stated such views whilst an active officer, it eventually led to my having to resign - 9 years ago. Perhaps now the time is different and ready for such a discussion.
I suspect you are right as to why there are few people leaving comments. As has been said before, much of these views have been previously expressed, and there were a LOT of comments back then - and has in the past become quite ugly. I think the silence may be an indication that people are ready for the discussion without things getting ugly.
Also, take heart. This discussion has I believe led to other discussions in other venues from this blogsite - which will hopefully have a very positive impact.
Again, thankyou for your bravery in posting this. Continue to be brave and ask questions. God Bless you.
Yours in Christ,
Graeme Randall
Former Australian East in London
Patrik, you are brave and one of the few active officers who dare to live in the 21st century.
Former Sweden
Patrik,
Yes, some things should be discussed.But for many some, things will get worse. Others will have a sense of relief.Solid Christians will not treat the sinner in a cruel manner but show love and compassion. There may be an offer of various assistance and even genuine understanding. All of this is beside the point that relationships (of ANY kind- sexual relations outside of marriage)are not acceptable according to Scripture. The bed is not defiled in marriage. Regardless of styles,opinions, varying culture, God does not change nor His expectations or principles.I am offended deeply when I see you share that people that have an attraction for someone of the same sex ( and would express it in consentual sex ) that God has made these individuals the way that they are and that they are a gift (because of what they do).
I do not believe that there ever will be A Salvation Army that will have openly gay officers and that it would be acceptable.
Your article may be well written. You have made some points that most people would agree with. There are a few remarks that make the reader ask,"Did he really mean that"?
I would agree that there are some officers among others that will not respond here because they do not want to be a part of this type of discussion. They may hope that it all goes away. That is far from the truth. I see an agenda and a movement and what you have shared should be discussed. I just wonder where it will all end (a very broad observation).
USA FORMER
"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you will find an excuse! ." -Unknown
Thank you Patrik- many blessings to you, your family and my friends at Malmo Citadell
(THQ refused to allow the corps to rename it to Malmo Citadell when we merged Malmo I and Malmo II - it was too radical a concept!- Probably all gone to Glory by now;
bless 'em)
IHQ looked in on this week's series several times. It's good to share and to be listened to- we'll see what comes of it.
God bless the Salvation Army!
A 4 part series on inclusivity will begin tomorrow- Here's a taste:
The Stranger in Our Midst
"Now Peter may be a slow learner but he is not stupid. He is about to violate traditional ecclesiastical practices, so he takes six witnesses along with him. When he gets to the house of Cornelius, he acts in contradiction to his own religious conditioning, enters the house of a Gentile and begins sharing the gospel of Jesus. He has no more than started when the wind and the flame from his own Pentecostal experience is repeated. God baptizes Cornelius with the Holy Spirit. What can this mean? Only the unthinkable: God shows no partiality between peoples. All are accepted into the church, even those our own religion has taught us to reject. Exclusion has been transformed into inclusion. The question now is clear for Peter: If God has baptized Gentiles with the Holy Spirit, what is there to prohibit us from baptizing them with water and thereby admitting them into the church? Answer: Nothing! Get it? Got it! Good! So Cornelius and his whole household are baptized and the rest, as they say, is history.
Or is it? Is the acceptance of everyone into the full fellowship and service of the church a done deal? Or are there still classes of people our religious training teaches us to exclude, unless they become different from who they are?"
The Rev. Paul W. Egertson
Sven, thank you for your hard-work in translating- it is appreciated.
Patrik- I read your series with anticipation and was not disappointed. Resigning and becoming a "former" officer is not an easy thing. However, the one thing that I found as a blessing was the freedom I had to study, explore and question without fear of censure from official channels. I used to parrot what i had heard others tell me about what the Bible said about homosexuality. I did not study and think for myself. I have friends, acquaintances and family who are gay. And there came a point when i wanted to know for myself what the Bible did and did not say about homosexuality, where i wanted to develop a personal theology that I could live with. The bottom line for me is that I love and serve a God who is not only loving, but is Love itself. For me as a believer, I need to be living that life of Christ's love- caring for others, being an authentic, tranparent person and be willing to love God and others. It is God's job to judge, convict others. My job is to be the woman He wants me to be. I am a sinner, who needs God's grace in every aspect of my life. I don't feel qualified to be looking for specks in other people's lives, while large beams stick out of my own. I am afraid because in some Christian circles there is a strong emphasis on "right" belief and a dismissal of the Biblical imperative to make love our goal. I am all for dialogue, discussion, even debate. In some blogs where this is discussed, the lack of grace and love- the anger and heat have stunned me. Even to say, "I don't have all the answers- but can we explore/discuss this with civility" is met with contempt and accusations about the spiritual health of those who are questionning. I think this would account for low numbers of response. As well, some people will have read the articles and responses and might still be taking time to ruminate and take it all in before responding. I have to admit, in my responses to a public forum, I still have reservations about what will My CO think or fellow Salvationists who read this blog? It is scary. And if it terrifies me (no longer an officer) let me say that I applaud your bravery as an Active in sharing your thoughts and views. Patrik, you have done us a great service- your study and the time you spent thinking through the main issues and the smaller ones is obvious. God Bless
Tina Paddock
Former
Canada and Bermuda Territory.
Lt. Olterman,
Let me add my voice to the chorus of people who have congratulated you on your excellent series--and also to Sven for his well written translation!
We all have our blind spots and tend to relieve our deepest (and often hidden) anxieties through self destructive means. This seems to be particularly true when those hidden anxieties are long held prejudices handed down for many generations, wrapped in a cloak of fear.
It's never easy breaking through those cloaks but Lt. Olterman has at least attempted to do so with his well researched series. No one can fault him for that and I certainly hope that no one in the Army still bounded by fear gives him any trouble over it!
I've recently read Frank(y) Schaeffer's two latest books and would like to share a few lines from his last one "Sex, Mom and God" which I believe are very applicable to this discussion.
For those who don't know or remember who Frank is he was the son of the 1970's American evangelical guru Francis Schaeffer who ran the L'Abri ministry in Switzerland for a number of decades. Frank and his father became evangelical superstars in the 70s and were instrumental in founding what is today America's nutty political and religious right. Frank has since lived to regret his part in what has since transpired and has hinted that his father may have in hindsight before he died regretted it too! Frank is today a Greek Orthodox Xian.
One of the things that Frank mentions is that he himself grew up meeting all sorts of people at L'Abri and was very accepting of gays(as were his parents!)and over the years had many who became his friends. (I need to continue with a second posting.)
Daryl Lach
USA Central
Continuing from my last posting...
Anyway, I ran across some thought provoking (and even funny) gems on homosexuality and the religious right and though there are actually too many good statements to count, here are two or three I found especially poignant....
After discussing a number of high profile cases of evangelical gay bashers and conservative politician gay bashers who turned out to be gay themselves after they were caught in embarrassing sexual situations Frank writes, "Sex scandals seem to be the only actual interdenoninational ecumenism that exists; perversity unites many Xian groups....
I've arrived where I think I may (only half-jokingly)safely say that ALL evangelical anti-gay activists and ALL conservative Roman Catholic bishops are probably closeted gays hiding behind their loud anti-gay public proclamations and/or that all these same "traditional family values" leaders will eventually be shown to have committed adultery and/or enabled child molesters---when not calling press conferences to denounce Godless liberals, gay rights, etc. etc."
"There is an attending level of smarmy hypocrisy expressed as "we hate the sin, but love the sinner" that is as ludicrous as it is two-faced."
Lastly, he then goes on to talk about how a group of American evangelicals have caused so much trouble for gays in the nation of Uganda by holding anti-gay seminars there and pushing for a bill to be passed in the Ugandan Parliament to execute all gays. He then writes something very profound after discussing how a gay friend of his in Uganda is fearing for his life....
"When I got Genie pregnant, I was deemed normal within the evangelical ghetto in which I was raised. I could sleep with my sweetheart fearing no more than a reprimand for doing something "too soon" and "before marriage." I might have been called a sinner, but I never would've been castigated as a deviant and told to change my inner sexual self. My "sins" left me respectably accepted within the camp of the righteous and still categorized as fully human."
Certainly food for thought and something to think about....
Daryl Lach
USA Central
"You Must Go Home By the Way of the Cross, To Stand with Jesus in the Morning!"
David sinned by having sex with Bathsheba.He also did other injustices that affected other people. Sexual sin is always that way.David's offspring caused him grief also because of his sexual sin.
David repented and was grieved by his sin and lost the child that was conceived in sin.
Do not think for a minute that any of us can continue to do what we desire and get away with it. We serve a jealous God.He may forgive us but he will also judge us and the price may be more than we may desire to pay.
USA Former
A palliative nurse has recorded the top five regrets of the dying. And there was no 'bucket list' that included 'more sex, climbing Everest or bungee jumps.'
The most common regret we have at the end of our life?. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
"This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made."
Sven,
True, what you have stated. I have found that what was once important may not mean very much anymore in my older age of 59 years. I think of the few years that I may have left on this earth and I think about the example or mark that I may leave behind.I may not have been the greatest preacher or officer or whatever , but I want those that I had Divine assignments with (including family)to realize that I loved them and thought of their well being in all aspects.I know that I cannot save the world, only Jesus can save. I just hope to make an impact and learn from my mistakes.
Eternity lies ahead. Jesus is waiting.
Blessings,
USA Former
olterman wrote, in response to Sven Ljungholm (unregistered):
From Patrik Olterman-
------------------------
I know Sven posted this comment, and I know Peter's response is to Mackan Andersson, and i know that there is little or no chance that Peter will see this.
Nevertheless I need to state:
A) I do not think the Bible is unambiguous about homosexuality, the texts Peter refer to may address what we know as homosexuality OR may be talking about heterosexual men engaging in homosexual practices.
B) Jesus return is FAR FROM the most common topic of the bible old or new testament. The Kingdom of God may be and that is not the same. However I would say that almost every sermon should be about the kingdom of god as this is number one on Jesus' agenda.
C) There are many lobby organisations that preach greed as virtue, it is of course disguised with the word blessing or prosperity.
D) The last point while fantastic in theory, that our situation and family relations should not interfere with our reading of scripture or our theology, it is simply not true. Our context will always influence our reading and our theology.
Furthermore, I think that god changes how and what he speaks to us according to our situation and relation to him. In that sense theology is and must be relational.
Peter, your theology is for example extremely influenced by your army experience and by your upbringing in a modern society. There are many theological views you hold that would be foreign to the ancient mind (or the post-modern for that matter). We always read from our context because as humans we are not able to transcend our context.
Lt. Patrik Olterman
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