How can a gay man be a priest?

Recently I received a question from a friend.  The question was essentially "How can a gay man be a priest?". 

This person asked a very valid question which required me to carefully think through  answering the question with dignity and respect.  I share this person's question with you here along with my response. It is a question that often comes up whenever the topic of "gay" and "christian" meet.  I do not intend to know all the ways to answer this question. I can only say that my response came from years of myself wrestling with Theology.   The opinion here is my own and reflects no opinion for anyone or organization.  It is strictly my opinion.

Question:

Jeff,

I ask this w/ utmost respect for you and without malice.........I consider us friends.....But doesn't it say in the Bible that homosexuality is an Abomination and detestable sin?

In First Corinthians 6:9 it states it is "unrighteous and will not inherit God's Kingdom.

Now I am not a real religious person, grew up Southern Baptist....and don't pretend to know the Bible from cover to cover and would not know enough about it to argue w/ anyone... I just don't understand how an openly gay person can become a priest in the church. Can you please explain that to me.

As I said I do not mean any harm in this email...I just have a heavy burden on my heart about this and just want some clarification.

[Anonymous to protect privacy]

Response:

That is a great question. For centuries individuals have wrestled with this question. If you look at the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, what was the sin? Today's preacher's would have you believe it is homosexuality. However, if you read the text carefully, one discovers that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not homosexuality, but in-hospitality. The Angels that knocked on the door had the door literally slammed in their faces.

Much can also be said if you look at the Bible from a Sociological point of view (purely academic), much of the old world in Christ's time and even up through the middle ages was primarily a patriarchal society. Man was dominate and women submissive. However, I doubt today that many of you would agree today that women are subservient to men. As a society we have grown up so to speak.

Christ himself never spoke about homosexuality directly. In fact, there are two simple rules I try to follow every day. The first is the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". The second is the Great Commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself".

If God does not make mistakes, and everything that God creates is sacred, then I am not a mistake and I am sacred. It has once been said "God don't make no junk". As a follower of Christ it is not for me to judge whose lifestyle is more holy - Straight or Gay. My responsibility as a follower of Christ is to follow the Golden Rule and the Great Commandment.

Judgment is reserved for God - my responsibility is to treat all with dignity and respect.

I know this may not provide an appropriate response to the question for some, but if we truly are followers of Christ, it makes no difference whether a person is gay or straight. It only matters if they love God with all their heart, soul, mind and body.

Often Christ uses the lowly and seemingly unjust to be a beacon and light to the world. Christ teaches that those who are rejected by society often become the great defenders of the faith.

Mary Magdalene has often been described as a prostitute and whore. Yet, it was not Peter or Paul, nor James nor John who announced to the other disciples that Christ has Risen. It was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph and a third Mary. When the Pharisees first brought Mary Magdalene to Christ, they asked Christ what should be done with her because according to the Jewish Law, since she slept with a man who was not her husband, she should be stoned to death. They asked Christ what he says about this situation. Christ paused, and then wisely said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7). 

You see, just because a person is straight, it does not mean they are more holy or without sin. In fact, let me ask with whom would God be more pleased? A straight man who sleeps with many women who are not his wife, but goes to confession every Sunday? Or a gay man who is celibate or in a monogamous relationship and dedicates his life to serving others as Christ served others? Who does God see as more Christ like? You see, it is easy to create "second class" citizens, because it makes those of us who are not in the "second class" by society's standards "better". But you and I both know the dangers of creating a class of people that are considered lower or beneath others. Hitler did that and look at the holocaust that followed.

I applaud my friend for asking the question. It is not an easy question ask nor is it an easy question to answer. In fact, I today, still wrestle with the same question - but I have faith that there are no coincidences in life and that I'm here to serve a purpose.

If you haven't read my blog on my calling (http://followingmycalling.blogspot.com/), take a moment and read it in total (starting from the earliest entry which is at the bottom). Then you will maybe see how God can call a gay man to be a priest.

Keep wrestling with these questions. Usually I find that in the quiet of the night, God will speak to me and give me peace about these questions.  "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (see Matt 7:3). 

Sometimes all we can do is pray. Keep wrestling with God and these questions. Don't just accept what a church or preacher teaches. Dig into Scripture and learn for yourself.

May God bring you Peace in your search...

Peace,
jeff 

I applaud my friend for having the courage to ask this question.  Sometimes we want simple answers to simple questions.  However, my experience has been, and my faith has taught me, and my journey has led me to believe, that there are no simple answers and there are certainly no simple questions.  I find that if I start worrying about others and the validity of their faith, I usually am not spending enough time exploring my own faith.  

Keep asking questions and keep looking for answers. I leave you all with verse from the Bible (Matt 7:7) and some comparative readings from different versions of the Bible, but verse itself is my prayer for each us...

New International Version (©1984) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. New Living Translation (©2007) "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. English Standard Version (©2001) “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. New American Standard Bible (©1995) "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. The above parallel translations come from the following: http://bible.cc/matthew/7-7.htm

Peace until next time...

jeff