In the recent article, “Methodist Splintering Has Many Causes,” Lloyd Lunceford stated that those favoring inclusion of homosexuals want “the church to take its cues from contemporary societal values and mores” rather than the Bible.
Actually the Bible teaches, “There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28).
For 1,800 years Christians ignored the equality of “slave and free.” Only in the 1960s did “Christian American” finally prohibit racial discrimination. How many of those who claim to “believe the Bible” fail to live up to the words of Jesus: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19) or give to those who ask and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you (Matt. 6: 42)?
Do they live by Paul’s prohibition on women wearing “elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes” (1 Timothy 2:9)? Too many Christians ignore Jesus’ command: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Do you want any church telling you who you can’t marry?
If you treat the Bible as a rule book, then you have to choose which rules to accept and which to ignore. Instead, I read it asking myself, “How does each scripture help me to love God and love my neighbor?”
WAYNE EVANS
Carencro
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