AEON
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
I want to apologize to all of you for many of my posts over the years, especially regarding homosexuality. I want to especially say I'm sorry to any homosexuals that have read the things I've written. While I often shouted moral imperatives and fought with conviction on this issue, the truth is, I really don't what is right and wrong outside of love. So much is circumstantial. Love is the one law, and it trumps every circumstance. That's all I know, and in the end, I think that's all I'm supposed to know. Sure, I claimed to love the sinner and hate the sin, but that isn't true. I essentially dehumanized a whole community of God's children in order to have an enemy. How can I claim to love someone and condemn so much of who they are at the same time? I can't. I was the sinner. I was the one missing the mark.
Is homosexuality wrong? I don't know. I simply don't understand it. Does the Bible say it's wrong? I don't know. As Melon and many scholars have pointed out - the arguments against homosexuality in the Bible where focused on rape and temple worship (circumstantial). And as we all know, so much of the finer points of the Bible are wide open to interpretation .Greek and Hebrew are beautifully complex languages. There will never be full consensus on the meaning of any particular word or passage. There is no consensus of what is right or wrong even within the Bible. Thankfully, Jesus and other rabbis gave us parables so we can stop debating whether or not it will make us ritually unclean to help out a brother dying in the street, just help. Love comes first. The one universal truth that breaks through the pages is love. And that's what U2 is about. That's why I am drawn to them. I'm guessing that's why you, the person reading this on interference.com, is drawn to them as well. And that's how I want to live. I'm deserting the culture war and will focus my life to being the hands and feet of the church. Not to evangelize, simply to help make this world a little sweeter, a little kinder, and a little more gentle for everyone. As St. Francis of Assisi said, "preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words." Amen to that.
Again, I am so terribly sorry for the pain, anguish, and division I've caused. I pray that all of you live beautiful, loving lives filled with charity, compassion - and above all else, love.
Live Well,
Stephen
Is homosexuality wrong? I don't know. I simply don't understand it. Does the Bible say it's wrong? I don't know. As Melon and many scholars have pointed out - the arguments against homosexuality in the Bible where focused on rape and temple worship (circumstantial). And as we all know, so much of the finer points of the Bible are wide open to interpretation .Greek and Hebrew are beautifully complex languages. There will never be full consensus on the meaning of any particular word or passage. There is no consensus of what is right or wrong even within the Bible. Thankfully, Jesus and other rabbis gave us parables so we can stop debating whether or not it will make us ritually unclean to help out a brother dying in the street, just help. Love comes first. The one universal truth that breaks through the pages is love. And that's what U2 is about. That's why I am drawn to them. I'm guessing that's why you, the person reading this on interference.com, is drawn to them as well. And that's how I want to live. I'm deserting the culture war and will focus my life to being the hands and feet of the church. Not to evangelize, simply to help make this world a little sweeter, a little kinder, and a little more gentle for everyone. As St. Francis of Assisi said, "preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words." Amen to that.
Again, I am so terribly sorry for the pain, anguish, and division I've caused. I pray that all of you live beautiful, loving lives filled with charity, compassion - and above all else, love.
Live Well,
Stephen