With all the pictures from Europe, it feels like I lead quite the boring life here. But hey, even grad students travel...short distances...by car...
Last weekend Dan and I went to Boston for my cousin Jud's wedding. It was a nice wedding--much different from ours, seeing as the main attraction at the reception was dancing. It was amusing imagining the time we would have had trying to get all the people at our wedding to dance (including ourselves). I guess the best part for me was seeing the Murchie side of our family, and seeing that yet another cousin had married a good, strong devout Christian. That sounds so exclusive to many non-Christians, I know, but I don't care.
Speaking of sounding exclusive to non-Christians, on the way home from Boston, Dan and I chatted about the latest in the gay/lesbian debate and what the government and the church should be doing. And to be perfectly honest, we haven't the slightest idea. On the one hand, one could argue that not everything written in the Bible is applicable to our day and age, and vice versa. For example, polygamy was preferred or tolerated I should say, in order that there wouldn't be a bunch of widows or unmarried women who were not being taken care of. It would not be applicable in this day and age because obviously women are able to take care of themselves (in most cases), and society is a lot more female-friendly than it was back then.
Regarding the gay/lesbian debate, though, how do we know if 1) being gay or lesbian is sinful, 2) practicing homosexuality is sinful, and 3) if God 'calls' us to be one way or the other? Could the Bible's teaching on this be obsolete? In the same way that I am attracted to males (and have made the commitment to be with a particular one the rest of my life), some argue that gays or lesbians should be able to love the gender they choose to, and even commit themselves to a faithful, monogamous relationship. If they are practicing this kind of love, is it still a sin?
Although I believe that the majority of homosexual people 'choose' this lifestyle (I may be wrong--I don't know too many of them), it has been shown biologically that some people are genetically inclined to be more homosexual than others. I think the environment can also play a role in determining one's sexuality (anyone see "Monster?"). I can see how a girl would have an inherent fear of men if she had abusive boyfriends or a father or something--maybe she would find a more steadfast love in another female. Is this wrong?
Another debate is about whether or not homosexual people should be able to be ordained. I guess that depends on whether or not 1) practicing homosexuality is a sin, and 2) if that person being ordained is practicing homosexuality. If a pastor was having an affair with someone he would probably be fired in most cases (although we are more lenient on the other nonos such as having a bad temper, gluttony, etc.).
I just wish I knew how to think about this--I don't want to be a Pharisee and exclude people because of something that may have been given to them by God, and I would have no idea what to say if a good friend of mine came to me and said that she wanted to get married to her girlfriend.
Any thoughts? Comments? I hope I didn't offend anyone here with this column--if I did, I'm sorry.