It is better to marry than to be aflame with passion, wrote the Apostle Paul to the church community in Corinth, regarding his opinion that Christians should remain unmarried and celibate. In that day, Paul as well as other early Christians were expected that the end of the world would come soon with the Second Coming. It didn’t, of course.
The Roman Church did not require celibacy in its priesthood until the late 11th century, and, in fact, there were married popes. Sexuality and how to talk about it has always been difficult, so when Pope Francis used a derogatory for gay men, the Vatican was caught in all kinds of uproar. The Pope apologized, but what of attitudes, not just in the Roman Catholic Church but among many Evangelicals as well?
On the cusp of Gay Pride month, as Christians we need to examine our views not just on sexuality but on the acceptance of people all across the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Those either fearful or hateful use Scripture to buttress their prejudices. It needs to be directly tackled not just so we “tolerate” differences but fully accept them as part of God’s creation in all its infinite forms.
Prayer for the Day
Infinite is your creation, as are you, O God, beyond our comprehension,
But we humans create boundaries around what we deem acceptable;
Unable to move beyond our fears and prejudices,
We create walls to exclude what we do not understand.
Broaden our vision, O Lord, so we embrace all your children,
And move beyond our limited views of humanity.
In the name of the One who embraces all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Married is a magic word. And it is magic throughout the world. It has to do with our dignity as human beings, to be who we are openly.
Edith Windsor, lead plaintiff in US v. Windsor (1929-2017)
Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?
American author (1933-2019)
I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no others, nor my praise to idols.
See the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;
Before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
Isaiah 42:9
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