Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the ChurchWestminster John Knox Press, 2006 M01 1 - 169 pages In this sure-to-be controversial book, former seminary professor and church official Jack Rogers argues unequivocally for the ordination of homosexuals and for the extension of full and equal rights in society to all people who are homosexual. Christianity, he observes, has moved through history in the direction of ever-greater openness and inclusiveness. Today's church is led by many of those who were once cast out: people of color, women, and divorced and remarried people. It is inevitable, he believes, that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people will one day walk in the same steps as other Christian leaders. Rogers, an evangelical, begins by discussing his own personal change of heart and mind on the issue, a change that has moved him into the middle of this controversy in his own church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He examines how the church misused the Bible to justify slavery and the denial of rights to women, and links these efforts to efforts today to use biblical texts to deny equal rights to gays and lesbians. He shows how neither the Bible nor the Confessions are opposed to homosexuality and debunks frequently used fundamentalist stereotypes and myths about gays and lesbians. Rogers concludes with his thoughts on how the church can heal itself and move forward. |
Contents
Studying Homosexuality for the First Time | 1 |
A Pattern of Misusing the Bible to Justify Oppression | 17 |
A Breakthrough in Understanding the Word of God | 35 |
Interpreting the Bible in Times of Controversy | 53 |
What the Bible Says and Doesnt Say about Homosexuality | 69 |
Common terms and phrases
African amendment American Arsenokoites Assembly Authority and Interpretation Barth Bible and Homosexuality Biblical Authority biblical interpretation biblical text Book of Confessions Book of Order chapter Charles Hodge Christian cited in Lutes committee Common Sense philosophy condemn Confession of 1967 Confession of Faith confessional congregation context couples cultural Dabney debate Declaration denominations divorce Dobson doctrine evangelical False Focus fundamentalists Gagnon gay and lesbian gender Gentiles God's guidelines Heidelberg Catechism heterosexual historical Holy Spirit Homoeroticism human Ibid issue Jack Rogers James Dobson Jesus Christ John Knox lesbian Louisville male married method of biblical ministry natural law neo-orthodoxy Nissinen Old Testament ordination pastors Paul PCUS Presbyterian Church U.S.A. principles Reformed remarriage Romans same-sex scholars Scottish Common Sense sexual orientation sinful slavery task force theologians Thornwell tion translation understanding United Presbyterian Church UPCUSA Westminster Confession Westminster John Knox Westminster Larger Catechism woman women