tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954032186621541669.post9176926408596207826..comments2023-12-23T07:04:04.016-08:00Comments on Thinking Faith: Holy Conferencing, Batman!Bill Trenchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17055902411464959661noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1954032186621541669.post-1716384043498732272012-05-01T07:40:02.686-07:002012-05-01T07:40:02.686-07:00My compliments, Bill. Knowing how close this issue...My compliments, Bill. Knowing how close this issue is to your "heart" that it must be a disappointment to witness, time and time again the failure of the institution to which you have dedicated and delivered SO much of your self and your life's energies to, continually "fumble" (stumble, bumble?...) with the issue of inclusion which was so much a part of Christ's ministry (as it has been yours as well).<br /> It is precisely this perspective which is baffling for me; If Jesus was, as most of believe, continually acting in a spirit of "radical-inclusiveness"-setting the example, if you will, why is is so darned difficult for today's 'churchmen' to to follow that example? <br /> For myself, this has been a struggle as well but perhaps because of the 'social climate' during my college years and young-adulthood has made an impression on me; I have and continue to enjoy personal relationships with persons of alternative sexual identities and cannot find it in myself to reject these friends out-of-hand<br />due to their choice (the "genetic" nature is, I believe , certainly, a possi/proba-bility with the "jury" still being "out" at present-time to my knowledge, anyway)of orientation/life-style.<br /> It may seem trite but lacking a readier conciliation between the realities of human behavior and the condemnation of scripture and the 'disconnect' with both these and the Gospel message; I find comfort (???) in rejecting the "sin" whilst embracing the "sinner". I'll close by admitting that the "sinful" shadow cast upon alternative lifestyle is uncomfortable and equally so in-regard to the physical expression(s) of love between consenting and committed adults for me. Who am I to dictate or prevent this?<br /><br />I (WE) need to pray that as with so many ills of our world, that in time, God will heal these wounds and His righteousness, whatever course it may take, will prevail, at the last.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com