Class Thoughts on these Issues...

This is a follow up post, after talking about these things in Sunday School. Here are things that we are all recognizing even this early:

1. We are going to walk out of some weeks of this class thinking different things than one another, and not necessarily in agreement with one another, and that's to be expected.

2. In most things there are positives and negatives, and different perspectives.

Following SS on Sep 27, this is what we came up with concerning specifically talking about the means that Derek uses to address big issues, the churches stance on these issues, and the message that was intended by him in the first place.

Positives:

- At least it gets folks talking about these issues. Perhaps a dialogue that would not have taken place in the same form without this song.

- To some, he seemed to be encouraging love without hatred filled condemnation.

- To some, he seemed to be offering something for people in alternate lifestyles other than their perception of how evangelicals feel about them.

- He tries to emphasize the issue of missions and social justice needed by the church in and to the world.

- He spoke out against legalism.

- He reminds believers that all sin is equal in God's sight, and that all are stained with it.

- He reminds believers that there are no sins that are past God's grace, or that are condemning in the eyes of God once and for all, as if there are those who have committed sins that are past forgiveness.

Negatives

- To some, it seemed that an imitation of Christ was Derek's prerogative in the way the message was conveyed (profanity, etc.).

- To some, Derek seemed arrogant and/or self righteous with the way that his song came across.

- To some it was unclear whether Derek's message was "stop mistreating homosexual people" or "stop believing that homosexuality is wrong."

- To at least me, it still seems that Derek is implying that any discussion on this issue is detracting away from the mission of the church, and so we should not worry about it if we care about the thousands who are dying because we are discussing this.

- To some, it seemed that this was not the way to start dialogue among believers. Derek could have taken different steps.

We all agreed that:

- We are called to all people, the gospel is for all people, and that God is available to all people.

- The clear teaching of Scripture is that homosexual acts are against the will of God and are sin (Romans 1, etc).

- We need a mixer like Derek had in the video to make those cool sounds on our own at home.

I would invite you guys to read this lady's story, I think it is a beautiful picture of grace, and she has an amazing testimony. We will be discussing these issues more and more in the coming months, especially many of the questions that swirl around the issue of homosexuality/same sex attraction.

Darcy's Story