The following is excerpted from the Archbishop Desmond Tutu's new book, 'God Is Not A Christian: And Other Provocations'.
Archbishop Tutu dissents from the official policies of most of the world's Anglican churches, which hold that gays and lesbians should be celibate; and in the years since his retirement as archbishop of Cape Town he has become one of the world's most prominent figures pleading for a change in the attitudes of religious institutions toward human sexuality.
Tutu's position is reflected in excerpts from a newspaper article and a sermon preached in Southwark Cathedral, London, in 2004.
A student once asked me, If I could have one wish granted to reverse an injustice, what would it be? I had to ask for two. One is for world leaders to forgive the debts of developing nations which hold them in such thrall. The other is for the world to end the persecution of people because of their sexual orientation, which is every bit as unjust as that crime against humanity, apartheid.
This is a matter of ordinary justice. We struggled against apartheid in South Africa, supported by people the world over, because black people were being blamed and made to suffer for something we could do nothing about -- our very skin. It is the same with sexual orientation. It is a given. I could not have fought against the discrimination of apartheid and not also fight against the discrimination that homosexuals endure, even in our churches and faith groups.
I am proud that in South Africa, when we won the chance to build our own new constitution, the human rights of all have been explicitly enshrined in our laws. My hope is that one day this will be the case all over the world, and that all will have equal rights. For me this struggle is a seamless robe. Opposing apartheid was a matter of justice. Opposing discrimination against women is a matter of justice. Opposing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a matter of justice.
It is also a matter of love. Every human being is precious. We are all -- all of us -- part of God's family. We all must be allowed to love each other with honor. Yet all over the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are persecuted. We treat them as pariahs and push them outside our communities. We make them doubt that they too are children of God. This must be nearly the ultimate blasphemy. We blame them for what they are.
Churches say that the expression of love in a heterosexual monogamous relationship includes the physical -- the touching, embracing, kissing, the genital act; the totality of our love makes each of us grow to become increasingly godlike and compassionate. If this is so for the heterosexual, what earthly reasons have we to say that it is not the case with the homosexual?
The Jesus I worship is not likely to collaborate with those who vilify and persecute an already oppressed minority. I myself could not have opposed the injustice of penalizing people for something about which they could do nothing -- their race -- and then have kept quiet as women were being penalized for something they could do nothing about -- their gender; hence my support for the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate.
Equally, I cannot keep quiet while people are being penalized for something about which they can do nothing -- their sexuality. To discriminate against our sisters and brothers who are lesbian or gay on grounds of their sexual orientation for me is as totally unacceptable and unjust as apartheid ever was.
Desmond Tutu: Our Glorious Diversity: Why We Should Celebrate Difference
Religion and homosexuality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Homosexuality and Religion - ReligionFacts
Desmond Tutu - In Africa, a step backward on human rights ...
Archbishop Desmond Tutu's Five Best Quotes for Full LGBT Equality ...
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Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
This goes for me too, I have much to learn of Gods infinate wisdom. I am less than an ant in my understanding. God I pray please continue to reveal to me your truth, for from your knowledge comes obedience.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Just sayin`
No one can make anyone believe something they don't. I don't think christians are biggoted, I am a christian and know many people who are also and who fully embrace loving everyone, but the loudest christians seem to be biggoted, which hurts christianity as whole. If you don't approve of the gay lifestyle, fine- then don't have that life style, but don't try and force others to live the way you would prefer them to.
Marriage is not a chruch institution. Two athiests can go to a court house and enjoy marriage in the legal sense today. I would hope anyone would welcome me into thier church to get married, but if your church doesn't want to bless gay unions, that can be the choice of your church, there will be plenty others lining up to bless commited and loving unions.
Live and let others love and express who they are, lest our grandchildren look at us with shame. (Remember, there were once many voices who said inter-racial marriage would take down our country.)
We can, however, become 'children of God': Romans 10:9-10 . . . because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." Through salvation were are welcomed into the family of God: "Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Sounds like a perfect verse which condemns homophobic bigotry. It is this homophobic bigotry which is the "lusts of our flesh." And what is the result of this "lust"? It makes one a "children of wrath," which has a double meaning. A child of wrath is both one who is always condemning the good in others, as well as being one who is condemned by God. On the other hand, same sex relationships are not "lusts of the flesh," no more than heterosexual relationships.
Most of the mainstream Churches today fully recognize that monogamous same sex relationships are not sinful. Indeed, many of these people are led by the Spirit and are pastors, teachers, and parishioners within our congregations. Through salvation we are welcomed into the family of God: "Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons and daughters, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Unfortunately, those who are homophobic live in fear.
Steve God loves Homosexuals as He does Straights, not one more than the other, Both are sinners! None good because we all sin. God hates sin. Sin is the issue for me. and it's a issue for me because I think it would be awesome for everyone to spend eternity in Heaven.And God laid out some rules how to get there. Repentence of our sins is one of them. Be a berrean. From where would it come if we start picking what is sin and what is not? Sorry, I wont play God.To me it comes from the one that said the same thing to Eve thousands of years ago. Thats my opinion. I work with two homosexuals, I consider my friends, I have other friends that are, I love them as coworkers brothers and sister as I do anyone, I dont preach or condemn them at all, But they know I believe in God. I would be the first one to vote for this not being a sin.... but the truth is man dosnt get to vote on the matter.
drdorreelynn.com
Interesting how many Christians claim the Bible to be the irrefutable word of God. What say these folks to the following:
Some excerpts from a 2000 open letter to radio talk show hostess Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
(You can reference the Bible for the authenticity of this. It's all there!)
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned by Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price?
I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states that he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or should I ask the police to do it?
Leviticus 25:44 states that I may indeed own slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from a neighboring nation. A friend of mine claims this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify this? Why can't I own Canadians?.
Seems far too many Christians pick and choose what in the Bible they chose to honor at the same time insisting that the Bible is the irrefutable word of God. How's that?
one of the things with people is the ability to realize that there is "change" over time, did anyone go to work in their horse and buggy or wash their clothes in the river, and the concept of Governments without a King/Queen was a radical approach for America, which had slavery and prohibited liquor
we live in the 21st century now, and trying to take our way of life and compare it to 2 or 5 thousand years ago is not appropriate (apples and oranges) we can now drink a beer but not have a slave get it for us
Noah was not Abraham, Moses was not Elijah, David was not Jesus, and we are not Noah because a Lot has changed in 5,000 years
f/f
God is good, I was searching for something for the kids to do! thank you thank thank you LMK
Some Christians like using the whole Bible as a guide for life, even though some of the passages in the Old Testament are obviously outdated.
Other Christians claim that the Old Testament is outdated and no longer use it, claiming that only the New Testament should be used as a guild for life. Unfortunately, there are passage in the New Testament which are just as outdated.
Mainstream Christians recognize this problem, and most mainstream churches today ordain people in same sex relationships. According to these churches, homosexuality is no more a real sin than eating non-Kosher.
The Bible was put together by mortal men at the Council of Nicene. What intelligent person doesn't think a lot of "editing" didn't take place at that council? The Bible didn't drop out of the sky accompanied by a loud booming voice in the clouds saying: "I am God and this book will tell you how to live your life if you want a heavenly hereafter."
To quote Thomas Payne, one of our Founding Fathers:
"Any religion that frightens the mind of a child, cannot be true."
I have my own values, treat others they way I would like to be treated, it is as simple as that .
You know why ? I have high standards , raised as such, I do not need to know if I have one life or many more. No one knows that, only they only claim they know.
That is all. Each of our moments are written in the fabric of life for eternity. Breathe.
Those that obsess over eternal life miss their own. Breathe.
"You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." - Anne Lamott
However, while Ms. Lamott was writing as a Christian, I've got no problem sharing her wisdom with anyone.
But isnt it true that some people cannot control lying, stealing, adultry, rape or even killing? Are these no more real sin than eating a pork chop or a BLT club sandwich because these people cannot control themselves or choose not to like doing these things?