I now pronounce you man and car.

1 Corinthians 5:1-8

         I would greet anyone, including the holiest of people ( for they are after all, human ) who holds themselves up as a moral compass as somewhat suspect. What is their purpose? What is their intent? Their background? The basis of their judgements?

         Whenever sexual morality (or lack thereof) is mentioned in scripture, the intent is highly suspect. It should not be dismissed. It should however be looked at with a critical eye. There were specific reasons such things were written. There are enough reasons'  translational and uniquely societal questions that this could be the topic of a course all to itself. This is not my charge. It is enough for me to note that such statements in scripture should not be taken too broadly or assumed to mean a certain thing based on the translated words  or a readers personal bias.

           I know that many acclamations against immorality written in scripture are used as clubs to beat the gay community. Each 'preacher' or 'expert' puts their own unique spin and personal preference of what the evil is and what it will lead to. I recently read an article where a (so called) minister in Colorado blamed  the recent floods there on the fact that the local paper had placed a picture of two men kissing on the front page. Heavens, how patently absurd and stupid. It's so sad.

          One of my favorites is when scripture is used against marriage equality. They invariably note that it will lead to men marrying their dogs or their cars. I cannot help but wounder what paradigm of marriage they have? I wonder what kind of marriage they have? Doesn't marriage of any sort require mutual consent? Isn't marriage an institution and Sacrament in which each party gives 100% ? Isn't it based on mutual love and respect? How can anyone even suggest then marriage with a car? How does that work? ( I don't want to know ) And what of marriage with one's dog? (again I don't want to know) Suffice to say it makes me think their paradigm of marriage is one of a dominating partner who is satisfied at the expense of the other in every way without discussion, thought, input or love. That is, their is no mutuality' one half of the marriage would be a 'slave'' totally objectified.  The fears of marriage equality leading to such bizarre relationships only serves to highlight the immorality and evil in the mind of the accuser and the 'prophet' of doom and inequality.

            It is critical that when we read scripture passages involving immorality, we delve deeply into the meaning before we come away with a personal judgement or start waving it in someone's face. Simply googling the passage is not enough either. 

            In the end, the final question of anything that you question as moral or immoral, the ultimate arbiter if you will, is whether something is life giving and based in mutual love and respect? Is it life giving to those involved?

       
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?

For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgement in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.