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Published by the
Orthodox Christian Network,
June 9, 2005
REAL
LIVES, REAL PAIN, REAL REMEDY |
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Recently, members of a fundamentalist church in
Topeka, Kansas traveled to a high school in
suburban Boston to protest what they saw as the
school’s attempt to promote the homosexual
lifestyle to children. These protesters have
become famous of late because they carried signs
that read, “God hates fags.”
Our society is confronting issues that touch the
very center of our identity, especially the
volatile issue of human sexuality. The reason this
touches us so deeply and arouses so much energy on
both sides of the issue is that we are talking
about some very basic and central issues of what
it means to be a human person.
Some view the current argument over the acceptance
of homosexuality and “same-sex marriage” as just a
continuation of the unraveling of the social order
and morality begun in the sixties with the “equal
rights” feminist movement. Others hope society is
finally accepting of everyone regardless of their
chosen lifestyle. Still others say, “It’s all
biological. We can’t help what we were born to
be.”
Regardless of our position on this or that social
issue, we must never forget that the Church is
meant to be the place of sanctuary and healing for
those who are hurting and seeking salvation. There
are people, probably in every parish, that
struggle with their sexuality. As a Church, how do
we minister both Truth and Healing in a way that
allows those who are hurting to find help in our
midst?
First, Truth is a Person. We must never
forget that God did not just give us a Book, He
came to us Himself in the Person of His Son, Jesus
Christ. It is simply too easy to fall back on cold
rhetoric and impersonal rules when we are
discussing issues, but we cannot lose sight of the
truth that God lives as Persons in communion.
That means that dehumanizing or demonizing those
with whom we disagree is sinful. As St. Paul told
the Ephesians: “For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.” (Ephesians 6:12 ). In other words, we
have no human enemies! To those who struggle, to
those who suffer, to those who seek healing, we in
the Orthodox Church bring them hope found in only
One, Our Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is their hope
and salvation.
Second, Truth is Liberating. You can always
tell whether someone is really interested in truth
– he or she will do anything to apprehend it.
People really interested in truth want to be free
from the lie which enslaves them. The measure of a
man’s honest desire for truth is his desire for
authentic freedom. Here the Church lovingly
declares the wisdom of the ages when She directs
those gripped by a self-destructive pattern of
behavior , to allow Christ to set them free from
the lifestyle that is killing them. As Jesus said:
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples
indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free." (John 8:31b-32) It is
no sin to warn those who are destroying themselves
by selfish rebellion, but we Christians do this
with love and mercy, not with hatred and malice.
Finally, Truth is Eternal. Our theology and
our morality are not dependent on the times we
live in (see Psalms 119:89). We do not “adjust”
our faith to be popular or to “fit in” with the
modern age. Some may see this as being hopelessly
enslaved to the past. But we do no favors to our
society by reformulating our beliefs every time
our faith falls into disfavor of the spirit of the
age. We aren’t called to be popular. We are called
to be faithful. And this faithfulness to the
Orthodox Christian faith is the most loving gift
we can give our children, our community, our
nation, and our world. By doing this, we run the
risk of being rejected and even hated, but our
Lord Himself said to His disciples, “If the world
hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
(John 15:18)
A wise man once said, “be gentle with everyone
you meet, because everyone you meet is fighting a
hard battle.” Today, you and I will meet face
to face with others who are hurting, who are
confused, and who don’t know which way to go. We
will be given the opportunity to show Christ in
our own lives to those hurting people. By God’s
grace, let us commit ourselves to sharing the
Truth of Jesus with everyone we meet. Some will
reject this truth, but others will find the path
to freedom because of our loving witness to the
timeless faith in Christ.
This week, we will hear Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean
Emeritus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, as he shares
with us an Orthodox perspective on same sex
attraction and on how we can both hold to the
timeless faith and reach out to real people who
struggle with real issues. This is an important
program. Please share it with your priest, parish
council president, and your family and friends.
Until next week,
Fr. Christopher Metropulos
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