In 1987, Jim Bakker's sex scandal shocked the evangelical world. The husband of mascara-laden Tammy Faye was a super-televangelist with an average viewership numbering over 12 million and ministry contributions estimated at $1 million per week. Then came a litany of accusations, including the rape of 26-year-old Jessica Hahn and financial fraud. Twenty-three years later, his son, Jay Bakker, is causing another uproar among the faithful. This time, it's over homosexuality.
In his new book, Fall to Grace: A Revolution of God, Self, and SocietyFall to Grace: A Revolution of God, Self, and Society, the younger Bakker makes the case that Christians should reconsider their position on homosexuality. Such views may find a hearing among young evangelicals who are shifting on gay and lesbian rights. If the Christian establishment fails to recognize this shift and adjust its rhetoric, leaders may find their young congregants departing, not defending, their churches.
Mr. Bakker, who is straight and divorced, says that religious people for far too long have used selective "clobber scriptures" to condemn gays and lesbians. A closer look at the teachings of the full biblical narrative, he says, leads us away from this position. "The simple fact is that Old Testament references in Leviticus do treat homosexuality as a sin ... a capital offense even," Bakker writes. "But before you say, 'I told you so,' consider this: Eating shellfish, cutting your sideburns and getting tattoos were equally prohibited by ancient religious law."
Reflecting on his call for Christians to drop the sin language on sexuality, religion writer Cathleen Falsani indicated on The Huffington Post that the evangelical church may "be on the verge of a Gay Awakening." She expects that Bakker is a harbinger of things to come, and that Christians are changing their thinking about the morality of homosexuality. In one sense, Ms. Falsani's right: Evangelicals are changing their thinking. But a closer look at the data shows they aren't changing as quickly as she expects or Bakker hopes.
The truth is that the vast majority of evangelicals -- approximately 7 in 10 -- still say they believe homosexual behavior is "morally wrong." Such numbers lend credence to Albert Mohler, president of the conservative Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, who says those reconsidering the historic Christian position on homosexuality are coming exclusively from the "far left fringe" of what might be generously described as evangelicalism. He still holds to what he terms "the very clear Biblical teaching" that homosexual behavior is not in God's design for sexuality and is sinful.
After Bakker made his views public, every church where he had speaking engagements scheduled for the coming year canceled. The withdrawal of his church's biggest donors forced him to lay off his entire church staff.
Nevertheless, the younger Bakker may be something of a bellwether. For one thing, he's not the only prominent evangelical to have argued for a big-tent approach to sexuality. Brian McLaren, bestselling author and founder of the emerging church movement, moved toward affirmation of gays and lesbians in his 2010 book A New Kind of Christianity: Ten Questions That Are Transforming the Faith. He condemns Christians' obsession with sexuality and urges them to construct "a more honest and robust Christian anthropology." Christian music icons Jennifer Knapp and Ray Boltz came out of the closet this past year and asked their fans to reconsider their views.
Such calls for reforming the community's engagement of homosexuality are, I think, having an effect. In my observation, evangelicals increasingly are fed up with the way the Christian church has often spoken to and about gays and lesbians in the recent past. They agree with most Americans that angry rhetoric is unloving, unkind, unproductive, and diametrically opposed to the teachings of one particularly prominent religious leader from the past -- Jesus.
Even Mr. Mohler admits that the church has often done a poor job of engaging with the issue. "We've lied about the nature of homosexuality and have practiced what can only be described as a form of homophobia," Mohler says. "We've used the 'choice' language when it is clear that sexual orientation is a deep inner struggle and not merely a matter of choice."
It seems many evangelicals still believe like Mohler but increasingly advocate like Bakker. That is to say, they aren't yet budging on morality, but they have shifted in their tone and approach. They believe homosexual behavior is sinful, but many are now quick to add that it is no more or less sinful than their own pride or greed or lust. They agree with Bakker that when it comes to sexuality, "love ... should be our guiding light."
Love for their gay and lesbian neighbors is showing up in unlikely places. New books by evangelical publishers, such as "Love is an Orientation" and "Loving Homosexuals like Jesus Would," embody the new approach. They're not exactly the vitriolic polemics one might have expected from the evangelicals of yesteryear. And there is also movement on public policy. Nineteen percent of young evangelicals and ten percent of older evangelicals say they've become more supportive of gay rights in the past five years.
A young generation's shifting support
Robert Jones, president of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), says the data he's collected bears this shift out. For example, PRRI's research found that a majority of young evangelicals (ages 18 to 34) now support recognition for some sort of same-sex union. While PRRI's president Robert Jones is hesitant to predict the future, he notes that the trends among evangelicals on same-sex issues all point in one direction and the group can expect "sea change within a generation."
Such a swing among the most vocal opponents of same sex-rights would be historic, and as one of the most powerful constituencies in the GOP, it could induce change on the national level. Young evangelicals, who are more politically diverse than their parent's generation, already pose a problem for the party. If rising Christian leaders continue to embrace pro-gay policies, the Republican party may have to reconsider its own stance (as some within its ranks have now done) -- at least if it wants to retain religious voters.
The group that should be paying the most attention to this ideological change right now is evangelical churches themselves. Retaining young people is crucial, and a more accepting generation will not tolerate business as usual when it comes to the debate over homosexuality. Pastors need not compromise their convictions, but they can expect congregants to call for a more accepting, forgiving message -- a more Christian message. If Christian leaders can't make that transition -- and quickly -- instead of an awakening, evangelicals may be facing an exodus.
Note: This piece was originally published by The Christian Science-Monitor.
Jonathan Merritt is a faith and culture writer who has published over 250 articles in outlets such as USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Christianity Today and CNN.com. He is author of the critically-acclaimed Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet and the forthcoming Beyond Politics: Following Jesus Without Fighting the Culture Wars.
Follow Jonathan Merritt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jonathanmerritt
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These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
anyway evangelicals know what scripture says on what happens as time goes on--so then its already seen as a part of what happens before Jesus comes back for his church.
Too little, too late to claim some absolute, complete, and exclusive spiritual credibility, yes. Not just about LGBT people, but all those they've oppressed before and still do.
*Not* too little, too late for them to do *better.*
They won't find me in any Christian church any too soon, not in this lifetime, anyway, and I'm not really in a hurry about any others.
But that doesn't mean they have to remain 'the bad guys' about everything, (Or, in fact, look for other or new 'enemies to 'Love,'' as they've insisted they were doing to all the other peoples and minorities and different people and indigenous traditions and other beliefs and even each other all this time,) ....
I don't and won't believe they're right about *everything,* and, honestly, neither should *they.*
But one thing that's different about LGBT people compared to many others, is that we're *everyone* in a way. We exist in all races and nationalities and creeds and religions, .....we are... *your kids, your sisters, brothers, cousins, neighbors, and so for everyone.* Whoever you are.
Just maybe.
Too late to undo what they have been doing to each of us with every moment of delay and every election campaign where they try to take money and power by hurting us....
Possibly not too late to stop hating.
And stopping hating usually seems to start with something little.
Last I checked, it wasn't illegal to work on Sundays...but it's against the 10 commandments. If you shop or frequent any stores that are open on the Sabbath, wouldn't you be promoting their sinful lifestyle?
Unfortunately Mr bakker is likely to be about as reverential (in heavens view) as was his parents. And fortunately (God) does not see things (his) way.
2Tit 3:16 tells us: "All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight."
As a man of (faith) he should be quick to allow Gods word to teach him, reprove him, and to set the matter straight in his mind as to what God thinks on the subject of homosexuality. As the shepherd he professes, he needs to be spousing and inculcating these same values into congregants.
The bible makes clear reference towards homosexuality in all its relative forms, citing men who sleep with men for unnatural purposes, male prostitutes, the price of a dog, sodomy, etc. All of these acts (among many others) are something "detestable" and are an "abomination" in Gods eyes.
God knows the relative nature of man (mankind) and leaves no room for us to skirt the issue (no pun intended) and He goes even further by declaring at De 22:5 "“No garb of an able-bodied man should be put upon a woman, neither should an able-bodied man wear the mantle of a woman; for anybody doing these things is something detestable to your God.
Like it or not, Bakker is shallow and transparent.
The bible is far more than a book of laws,
The bible, as the spoken word of God, neither trivializes the act of homosexuality nor avoids the subject.
Same old thing, trying to act like, 'We're the oppressed ones if you won't let us oppress you.'
He did not care about His Public relations.
Is that too hard to understand?
And why can't fundamentalist Christians understand that they cannot and must not impose their views on everybody else or try to influence the legal system since laws are fr everybody regardless one's religious persuasion ?
Being married in a church is strictly a church matter, and the only detraction might be going to a Justice of The Peace.
Having ones marriage made acceptable in Gods eyes is between God and them.
For all you try to flip the narrative, gays don't run around actually beating Christians in the streets or doing what was done to Brandon Teena and Matthew Shepard and all. Christians aren't having their marriages banned or being deprived of equal civil rights in America, you just claim to be 'oppressed' if it's not mandatory to mention your Jesus in Congress or a gift-wrapping counter.
You claim it's about some 'sexual sin' you're obsessed with, but I assure you the persecution of people like me starts long before we've even 'done' any of these things you think are such 'horrible crimes.' You hurt people... Children, even, and call it 'love,' and that's what people call *abuse.*
THIS APPLIES TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. THOSE THAT LEFT BEHIND WILL BE FALSE CHRISTIANS WHO BELIEVE THE LIE.
In fairness, however, historically evangelical Christians live in a faith that arises out of 18th and 19th century pietism with a dash of Reformed and Confessional theology thrown in. This means that they are generally not living in accord with the OT anyway, but in light of Acts 21 and similar passages which specifically exempt Gentiles from these codes.
However, many are not educated enough to appreciate that if Levitical purity codes are not addressed to them, they can't be used to condemn others (e.g. gays). Most of the more thoughtful ev's I have seen tend to not use the OT in discussions homosexuality for these reasons and stick to Romans 1 or passages in Corinthians or Jude or the Gospels.
Yea. So why are you basing your life on any religious law? Seriously. You clearly are already picking and choosing, so why not ditch the book and use your own good sense to judge morality and social rules?
You don't abandon beliefs because they are inconvenient or because you like to pick and choose. You abandon beliefs because they are actually wrong.