April 22, 2005

The fundamental disagreement among us is over what the Bible is and is not as the inspired Word of God and as the book of the Church. What continues to amaze me, as one who spoke and voted in favor of the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson, is how I am considered to have forsaken the Bible and, for many in the American Anglican Council, no longer Christian.

I still believe Jesus is God's Son Incarnate and my faith remains Trinitarian.

I still preach and teach against promiscuity. The only difference between Rick Matters’ position before and after General Convention, 2003, is that I understood those few scriptural passages that speak directly about homosexuality do not apply to the circumstances of Gene Robinson for the following reasons:

• The cultural overlay to the Gospel contained in those passages;
• The attack against promiscuity represented in those passages.

Other passages of scripture are interpreted through these two hermeneutical or interpretive principles by most Christians; and we can, I trust, all think of examples (women remaining silent in Church, not cutting hair, slaves obeying masters).

Someone can faithfully conclude that passages such as those found in Romans 1 that speak against homosexuality reflect Paul’s cultural context as (a) relating to cultic prostitution and/or (b) blatant promiscuity à la the Roman baths, rather than as a requirement of the Gospel. As with other scriptural passages or biblical teachings (such as remarriage after divorce), I then apply the positive criteria of the Gospel. Is the life-long, faithful, monogamous relationship of Bishop Robinson and his partner consistent with the Gospel message of the sacrificial and life-giving love of God? Can it not be as positive, intimate and nurturing as my own marriage relationship? The answer I arrive at a resounding yes.

This answer could be incorrect. It would not be the first time I or the Church used bad judgment, but how can that faithfully arrived at position be called unbiblical or unchristian? Why do those who use such labels not apply the same condemnation to themselves for not baptizing on behalf of the dead, as Paul so unquestioningly assumes the Church should do (1 Corinthians 15:29), for instance? Since Romans 1 is cited so emphatically by those condemning self-professed Bible-believing Christians, I cannot help but point to Romans 2:1 and ask them if they are not worried about condemning themselves. In that verse Paul asserts, “Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourselves, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.”

Such a faithful and prayerful manner of reading and interpreting the Bible as I have described above does not shake the foundation of our faith. Quite the contrary: approaching the Bible with such fear and trembling, as well as through the lens of reason, increases our faith by demanding a high level of trust in Christ. If I am wrong, I trust that Christ’s mercy will compensate and overstretch the pit of my sin and bring salvation. This is the faith I stand on, even though many in my diocese have condemned our Episcopal Church leaders and me to the eternal fires.

Exactly what kind of God is revealed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Is this loving redeemer really going to damn two humans who commit themselves to Christ and to a life of faithful self-giving? Is our loving God going to reject and condemn those who consecrated or voted for Bishop Robinson? For God to do so seems quite contrary to the Gospel upon which the Church is founded and which the Bible reveals.

Can we not agree that we all are striving to be faithful Christians and are all relying on the grace and mercy of Christ? Can we not consider one another to be people of the Bible? Can we not respect one another's position?

Refusing to share in the fellowship and communion of Christ with one another is a great sin, as this communion is Christ’s gift to us, and we are stewards of Christ’s oneness. I firmly believe that rejecting one another or turning our backs on one another, especially at the altar, is a sin which breaks the heart of Christ. After all, we are all God’s children and we all love the Bible.

The Rev. Rick Matters
St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church
1055 South Lower Sacramento Road
Lodi, CA 95242
209-369-3381—Parish
rmatters@sbcglobal.net
 
Editorial Note: The Rev. Rick Matters was affiliated with Remain Episcopal (in the Diocese of San Joaquin) when he wrote the above essay. The above contact information is no longer correct.