ARE SALVATIONISTS SILENT AND UNINFORMED?
That was the question asked in a letter to the
editor of the Salvationist June 8, 2013.
I don’t believe any culturally in-tune
Salvationist needs me to even hint at the gist of the letter. It references the
most hotly debated and divisive issues in the church today; the LGBT issue.
Theologians, SA officers and cadets, soldiers and adherents read the same texts
but reach different conclusions. Revisionists in every major Protestant
denomination contend that church doctrine must be redressed making certain that
it’s aligned with the prevailing culture; becoming more relevant to a changing
world.
Not so very long ago we were warned; Change is
coming! Well, as we now know, change is no longer just coming, it’s here
bombarding us on both side of the pond! Mainline church leaders and politicians
alike are debating what’s best and deciding for us.
Are we any less concerned about caring for those
GLBT folk in our Army and reaching out to others in this group? But, what about
our little but mighty Army? Shouldn't our voice matter?! Does the Army’s size
make us less relevant? Relevancy isn't necessarily tied to the size of a
church or movement. We have exerted influence beyond our size for almost 150
years! And are we less enlightened - uninformed?
The FSAOF takes to heart the letter writer’s
concern. We will revisit the GLBT and same sex marriage debate, the third time
we’re doing so in our 6 year history. Are we the only SA associated group
daring enough. I hope and pray that we're not the only ones caring enough! We’ll
visit our archives to ascertain if any of our more than three dozen articles
focusing on the issue will convince you that uninformed we are not!
But now, back to the letter – Are we silent?
Well, yes, it’s been thirty years since Shaw Clifton, PhD referenced the then GLBT
controversy in an article in The Officer as one that “generates more heat than light”. And the SA’s positional statement
remains unchanged, and unchallenged (with exception of the FSAOF and a corps
officer in Sweden) from the time it was penned by committee in 1980. So,
our aim beginning in ten days is to reduce the heat and turn on some lights!
The FSAOF is less concerned about what views
you, the Salvationist or blog visitor, hold on the same sex marriage issue than
we are that you’ve explored this church fragmenting issue, that you’ve thought
through the arguments, prayed about them and that you believe strongly enough
in your conclusion that you are willing to discuss and defend them, perhaps through
a blog article penned by you. Are Salvationists silent and uninformed? Here’s
your opportunity to be heard…
We need live, informed, passionate and
emboldened ‘soldiers’, GLBT and straight warriors all, who believe that the
concerns of our 100,000+ estimated GLBT persons, the 7% of our soldiers,
adherents and volunteers representing this large SA constituency deserve
equality; an inclusive or welcoming corps community or other authentic form of
Christian fellowship.
I wonder how many ‘straight’ Salvationists and
others still believe that homosexuality is a sinful, promiscuous lifestyle, one
that people to some degree choose or are led to, and one that guarantees them a
non-stop ticket to hell!
Did
you, as I did, uninformed as we were, used to think the same of 'them'? Or is it
more accurate to say that we never gave a thought to their forced and painful
estrangement we in large part caused? But then came that moment of awakening;
the enlightenment when a friend, a family member, an active and committed
member of the corps or committed Christian ‘came out’. Their honesty and
courage changed everything primarily because their story didn’t fit the
stereotype. Their life story caused you and me to reassess our faulty, hurtful
and destructive assumptions and instead begin taking the simple, awkward, yet
eternally significant steps to understanding and Christ-like acceptance and
inclusivity.
Everything
changes when confronted with the story of someone you love and admire. And
taking the logic just one step further, I’ve learned that the persons most
passionate about waging a culture war against homosexuality are most often
those who’ve led a sheltered life among strict fundamentalists.
I
read, as I’m certain you have, about all the depression, all the suicides, all
the painful secrets and I can no longer support a SA culture that through its
bedrock fundamentalist position on the GLBT issue, perhaps inadvertently,
fosters that.
Have
we challenged the idea sufficiently to know if it’s possible for someone to
identify as both Christian and gay? Shouldn’t our first step be to in good
conscience in seeking to continue our search for God’s direction on this
confusing and divisive issue invite a gay or lesbian Salvationist/Christian to
join with us and to be heard? We’ve
heard from some in past articles but need to hear from more. And what about
you, the active officer? Submit your article anonymously if you wish…
“Stories
challenge stereotypes and shatter myths, they build bridges and tear down
walls, and stories forge unexpected paths to places of common ground. Stories
free both the teller and the listener from the life-draining power of secrets.
Stories help us identify one another as fellow human beings with whom we can
laugh and weep and pray, rather than issues over which we must fight”.
The retired General’s article in The Officer was, as we’ve come to expect, written perfectly for the SA leaders of that late 20th century era. He includes these statements; “we should seek, in the spirit of Jesus Christ, to understand and help the -gay/lesbian person- (homosexual)”. And then this from Henry Drummond’s The Ideal Life; “Christianity professes to cure anything. The process may be slow, the discipline may be severe, but it can be done.”
In the spirit of
Jesus Christ, we have sought to understand and help the -gay/lesbian persons,
and in so doing been cured of our earlier blatant ignorance found in so many of
us. Can Christ-likeness now 'cure' a fragmented Army by directing us all,
straight, gay or lesbian to ‘where healing waters flow’?
Articles
needed by Jun19 please!
Sven Ljungholm PhD
Former Officer
Birkenhead Central Corps, UKTI
Former Officer
Birkenhead Central Corps, UKTI
20 comments:
My thinking changed when a label 'Gay' became a name of a person I loved and respected. Maybe our song should be for those of us who aren't GLBT 'Dear Lord and Father of mankind forgive our foolish ways. Reclothe us in our rightful minds, in purer lives Thy service find, in deeper reverence praise.'
Excellent article once again dealing sensitively with such hot potatoes. Thank you for encouraging us active officers in our thinking.
Active UKT
I am not homophobic as i have family and friends who are gay but i find it difficult that the army can go against scripture. I was told i could not be made a soldier again as i had a partner that i didnt live with but stayed over on a weekend. How can gay relationships be accepted but heterosexual relationships not? It also seems the army is condoaning by ignoring gay relationships when officers have same sex partners living in quarters. This is just one reason i no longer attend. The army needs to find its voice again in our troubled world, take a stance and stand up and be counted!
Genisis 19 Should be proof enough Of how God feels homosexuality. God said it I believe it And that settles it for me. I say hate the sin but love the sinner But that dosnt mean we should condone their actions. This is priciously the reason I dont go to the Army anymore they have become so earthly minded that they are no heavenly good Just remember its never right to do wrong.......
To Anonymous 1 - I agree that there would seem to be a disparity between not allowing heterosexual unmarried partners cohabiting, but now some of us fighting to allow same sex partners - who effectively cohabit. I say effectively because they are not allowed to marry in most countries. Part of the fight regarding same sex marriage is to get rid of this disparity. The argument being, if same sex marriage were allowed, then yes, we would in the church be able to have the same stance for both homosexuals and heterosexuals - whilst making sure that stance is grounded in love above all.
To Anonymous 2 - A very big part of the discussion of the LGBT issue is whether it is wrong or not. As we discuss the issue (and as has been discussed in previous articles on this forum), the answer is not as black and white as many think it is. All we ask is that we each read the articles with an open mind, and have an honest and open discussion.
Yours in Christ,
Graeme Randall
Former Australian East in London
The Army (and any church) should be a lot harder on those practicing promiscuity whatever their inclination. Lets throw out all our young soldiers/attenders who are involved in sexual relationships. They certainly shouldn't be made soldiers and even when they get married their earlier sinfulness should be taken into account before they are considered for any local officer or section commision. Let's make our stand clear, stop perfuming dedications of unmarried couples children and definately stop publishing their details in "Salvationist". But why stop there anyone who has ever committed any sin, admitted, caught out or suspected should be treated in the same way! In all this we should go by what statistics say is happening (even if it is difficult to get actual proof), i.e. all young people are engaging in sexual activity just like ALL homosexuals are - can it really be possible to be a chaste "homosexual" virgin, surely by definition the terms are mutually exclusive, so forget about even considering fidelity, it just doesn't exist.
fed up of the pc brigade. william booth wasnt politically correct. its about time the church in general decided whether to stand up and speak out about gods teachings in the bible about everything from promiscuity to marriage. the ten commandments say it all. the church used to guide people not follow ...... we need leaders not puppets. sorry if this offends but crime, homelessness and families in poverty should offend more
IHQ
In 2012, the Salvation Army placed its Positional Statement on Homosexuality "Under review" after receiving adverse publicity about the statement.
Prior to 2012, its position was as below.
Practising homosexuals are "ineligible for full membership" in The Salvation Army. The organization will not appoint 'practising' homosexuals to posts as ministers, preferring heterosexuals "whose values are consistent with the church's philosophy." The following is from the Salvation Army’s position statement on homosexuality: Sexual attraction to the same sex is a matter of profound complexity. Whatever the causes may be, attempts to deny its reality or to marginalize those of a same-sex orientation have not been helpful. The Salvation Army does not consider same-sex orientation blameworthy in itself. Homosexual conduct, like heterosexual conduct, requires individual responsibility and must be guided by the light of scriptural teaching.
Scripture forbids sexual intimacy between members of the same sex. The Salvation Army believes, therefore, that Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life. There is no scriptural support for same-sex unions as equal to, or as an alternative to, heterosexual marriage.
Likewise, there is no scriptural support for demeaning or mistreating anyone for reason of his or her sexual orientation. The Salvation Army opposes any such abuse.
In keeping with these convictions, the services of The Salvation Army are available to all who qualify, without regard to sexual orientation.
The fellowship of Salvation Army worship is open to all sincere seekers of faith in Christ, and membership in The Salvation Army church body is open to all who confess Christ as Savior and who accept and abide by The Salvation Army's doctrine and discipline.
As I read the comments my heart realizes my sin is ever before me.
Because I am a sinner seeking to recover, I find it difficult to judge others.
If we are active Officers/Clergy given the responsibility to lead and care for others, that is one thing. If we are "PEOPLE" seeking to live a "Christian" life not given responsibility for others, that is another thing.
I believe I am to contend for the heart of each person...meaning to reach out in love regardless their situation and allow the love of Christ to draw them to Himself.
I once heard a young Captain (on his apparent rise to future leadership position) make derogatory comments about a GBLT partnership not directly associated with the Army. As I heard the remark.... I thought..."Except I am moved with compassion, How dwelleth thy Spirit in me ? In word and in deed burning love is my need; I know I can find this in Thee”.
Welcome LaMont to this blog site. And thank you for sharing your thoughts with us...
Wow Sven! If this article shows anything it's that you've clearly been on an inner journey yourself regarding this issue and that someone (or several of someones) somewhere along the way have entered your life to smash to smithereens your own personal stereotypes of gay people--the same that has happened to most of us who have either given up (or as in my case!)have tried desperately to give up our fundamentalist thinking on all things. (It can be a very, very hard struggle, especially when such thought patterns were ingrained in us from Directory Class onward!)
I bet people would sure like to know what your story is, though I have a hunch that it probably began for you in the 1980s when you were the C.O. at the Manhattan Citadel?
I would also like to add one more quote though to your string of quotes. In the 1950s C.S. Lewis who was as enlightened on the subject as anyone in the 50s could've been, (and certainly more enlightened on the subject than I would've been if I were a grown man at the time---though he still fell short of what is known today)once remarked that in his view homosexuality was too complicated a subject to make one size fits all, negative stereotypical comments over. He also concluded that yes, it may very well be a sin, but as far as sin goes it's only one of many and that there's a lot worse sins in this world than it, such as CRUELTY, which very few people ever bother to fret over!
I also want to agree with Graeme (no surprise there!) as I can't understand why people can't seem to get it through their heads that if you have marriage equality throughout a society that that would pretty much eliminate any worries for the Army's leadership about some officer having a secret lover living in his/her quarters under the disguise of being the officer's civilian assistant, the marriage rule would apply to all, and there would then be no disparity or blurred lines between acceptable sexuality within the bounds of marriage and unacceptable promiscuity (whether straight or gay) or the standard of purity before marriage and fidelity after!
One would think that die-hard fundamentalists would like this and be all for marriage equality, if only for the reason that it would make everything so much simpler in our complicated world, as far as knowing who to condemn and who not condemn! Also with the creativity of human nature being what it is, and some 31,000 Bible verses to chose from, those who are actually proud to be fundamentalists among us, can always find and re-direct their scapegoating venom toward some other group of people they don't fully understand with their tendencies toward bibliolatry. They need never worry about becoming obsolete as an entity because the possibilities for outcasting other groups of people ARE and have ALWAYS been endless!
God Bless TSA and whomever it was in the ranks in the past 50 to 60 years who finally figured out that dancing is just another art form and probably not a sin.
Daryl Lach
USA Cenral
"You Must Go Home By the Way of the Cross, To Stand with Jesus In the Morning!"
I feel that homosexuality is no different than any other sexual sin.
Having that said, why should we ever approve of a sinful act or lifestyle? If a soldier, officer, or local officer were caught in a sexual relationship outside of the bonds of holy matrimony of one man and one woman, they would be removed from their leadership until repentance and change has taken place. How is it any different for this most hotly debated topic? We all know of the argument of being born that way and the rebuttal of it being a choice. I stand in the middle of that, for we are all born into sin. With a sinful nature with certain buttons the tempter likes to push.
The enemy knows our weaknesses, whether it is same sex attraction, porn, greed, gossip, etc. What needs to be addressed within the Army is not inclusion of a sinful lifestyle of homosexuality (we all know of all the scripture references against it) but the ever transforming power that Christ can have in all of our lives.
In Christ, we are new creations, the old has gone. So I take on faith believing that God has changed my heart from a lustful, self-centered young adult 15 years ago to a Christ centered man who loves his wife and children.
We need to take a stand for what is right, not what is wrong and of the world. We are not of this world however we are in it and have to be salt and light.
Fuller response on its way when I get nearer a pc. But lets get one thing absolutely clear - it is a lie to say that all young people and all homosexuals are engaging in sexual activity. There are many young people and homosexuals who are 'chaste'.
The comments of anonymous 4 initially left me upset and angry but then I began to wonder what it is that has made them so angry? Why so much hatred towards both homosexuals and young people? I hope they find healing for their hurts.
I also hope that as this discussion continues there will be a lot more evidence of Grace. None is us is sinless and we all need to approach both God and one another with a greater sense of humility.
Forgot to say, UK territory, former Officer/Salvationist
As a mother of a gay daughter and a salvation army officer I would like to say that I Ihave struggled with a lot of bigoted and superior comments. I love my daughter unconditionally and believe that God created her as he did you and me. When your child has struggled with this all her life and yes feels excluded from the church because of her sexuality I hurt. So when you are discussing this subject could you at least consider that like me there are many parents who have gay children. Ask yourselves how you would feel if your child came to tell you they feel different. Would you reject them? I pray that you would not. Nor would you like it when others reject them, it is always different when a name
becomes a person especially one that you know and love.I believe God's love and grace is for everyone. Yes we can all quote bible verses but if that is the case does the bible not say things about divorce or women in church? I am not ashamed of my daughter but feel constantly got at. Would Jesus have loved her? I BELIEVE he would and does. So before you get on your soapbox and start quoting scripture please think about some of the things you are writing and remember that these are God's children who you are judging by you bigoted comments.From a loving mum
Anonymous mother of a gay daughter- pls contact me at selmoscow@aol.com
Your email identity will not be recorded or shared, or will any part of any eventual communication. Blessings, Sven
Former officer and Exec Director of the FSAOF
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Great to read this. How truly blessed your daughter is to have such a loving, caring & supportive Mum. God bless you !
In the past the behaviour of "the church" and society in general towards anyone who is different has been vile, no question. Everyone needs to be treated with love and respect as per the instruction of Jesus, again, no question. I too have been on a journey as far as the acceptance of homosexuals, trying to understand what my response, as a follower of Jesus should be. Under the definition of a follower of Jesus I have no issue accepting anyone as an individual regardless of what they do or how they behave. I think that's what Jesus would expect of me. But, there are many complicating factors, didn't someone say earlier, it's not a black and white issue? It's when we start to introduce these complex factors that grey areas emerge. Thus far, my "church organisational" understanding overlaid with my Biblical understanding on these matters is that if anyone exhibits certain behaviours they are precluded from aspects of involvement. Perhaps this might very be hard to accept but if you smoke tobacco or drink alcohol you can't be a soldier either. These preclusions are not of the same level and currently they are publicly acceptable but they are still preclusions for full membership none the less. For me, there are other issues (and sins?) that are commonly accepted, for example gossip, that go almost unchallenged in the modern church environment, why don't these issues get the same attention? However we respond to this it must be with the love of Christ and the those standards He requires us to live by. Let us not forget all too remember that we are saved by Grace and God's Grace must flow from all believers, no matter what gender or even sexual orientation.
As to the issue of being relevent? Please demonstrate Biblically why this is so? My understanding is that we should be salt and light in the world, those elements are different to the surrounds they find themselves in. I think the thirst for cultural relevence is what is killing the church. We should be standing against the tide of culture, loving the unlovable, going for the lest, the lost and the last, those worst souls? Somehow those two are connected but I am still making that connection. Please be patient, God isn't finished with me yet. Great discussion, Blessings all.
We have covered the matter - similarly same date and basic topic. Whilst we reflect the scriptural stance, but emphasize a hate for sin and love for the sinner. No sin is greater than the other, (all have fallen short of the glory of God), but being inclusive and showing the Lords love for all, is so important. There is a link to the blog here.
http://www.traditionalsalvationists.org/traditional-salvationist-blog-page.php
The discussion has always thus far continued to be informative and constructive.
Phill
Traditional Salvationists Lobby
Traditional Salvationists Lobby? That's a new one on me...
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