Hermeneutics...

It is necessary for words. Words are solitary articulations of the intangible. It helps to describe. I just finished Jack Rogers’s book on Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality. Not because of my need to articulate my beliefs on the issue- he articulated many things that have formerly come to rest in my ideology concerning this issue.
Hermeneutics: this is interesting. The very basis of the word allows each of us to articulate our ideology- thus enabling us to solidify with confidence our particular understanding of any issue; whether it be marriage, murder, idolatry, or prejudice.
Rogers uses Christ as the hermeneutic for affirming homosexuality. Go figure- Jesus would be the lens in which we are to see humanity in all realms: Asian, Women, Mexican, Divorced, Irish, Raped, etc. I find it interesting that our progressive selves just now want to see our dilemmas through the lens of Jesus. Of course I am being facetious; but honest, nonetheless. Reading this book has forced me to consider why we are living in the 21st century and Christ is just now being ushered in as the ultimate lens of interpretation in Scripture?
First: For most Reformed persons, Christ is believed to be the incarnate Word. God in flesh- for the purpose of redeeming humanity from every last thing that causes us to hate, despise, loathe, harm, and kill one another. Reconciliation, my friends, makes the incompatible compatible. It seems that if God could reconcile with creation in such a way that nothing separates us- how much more are we obligated to do the same with one another? Enter: Christ.
Second: If Christ is the ultimate reconciliation between God and humanity- then what are we doing trying to qualify who is the recipient regarding any type of grace? Because it offends us to consider that EVERYONE is concerned? I sat next to a friend the other day who wept, openly- and she does NOT do this- because she was so deeply moved by the human web of “ins and outs.” She could not reconcile that her service was merited- yet a homosexual woman’s service is considered inadequate. She, as well as I, are ashamed of this prejudice and feel guilty in our participation (by association) of it. Quite clearly, I am sure you see the question at stake: WHO IS ABLE? None? All? If we have been reconciled, and we confess that we have, then by what means do we continue to qualify service to God? Enter: control.
Third: It is no secret that male dominance is still the standard in many realms of reality: church, work, race, and politics- basically any realm existing in this New World. For arguments sake I will accede that it was inherited from the cultures we formally inhabited. This “culture” of reconciled people who never considered to read Scripture through the lens of Christ- the one who alone can forgive and redeem- has lead, dominated, and perpetuated the control factor of our inherited cultures. Does it make sense to subjugate another person that has received the same reconciliation as yourself? Who cares what arena we are to consider subjugation- does it seem right? Enter: justification.
Fourth: The weak are not made strong in the world of humanity. The weak get eaten for snacks between meals. If you are not considered “strong”- then most likely you will become the prey of the surrounding dominant structure. It seems that if weak and strong alike have been reconciled to God through Christ, then how do we justify our indifference as we watch it happen in the realms noted above? I call it justification. It just makes sense. That’s the way it’s always been. In the words of a friend quoting a beloved family member- “I know what Jesus would have done; and he would have been wrong!” When I use the word weak, I use it in the place of all persons that live within an arena of subjugation; most notably- women, GLBT persons, differently-abled persons, immigrants, even effeminate straight men. I feel sure that I am leaving someone out. Justification of not living out reconciliation among one another seems to enter from those who sense that the “weak” live well from the progress of the “strong.” Screw Jesus- “I say who Jesus is and he is not THAT!” The digression could go on and on. Enter: Authority
Fifth: Claimed authority- when Christ is used as the lens of authority ON authority, things start looking incredibly backwards. Look around- does it look like itinerant, selfless, loving, healing, forgiving persons are in authority? Enter: Broken Heart.
Sixth: It’s not about going back for me- it’s about being serious with one another regarding our true understanding of humanity in and through Christ. NO ONE deserves this reconciliation more than the next…in fact, our most sincere piety does not earn this reconciliation. It was GIVEN- to ALL. We don’t own it- it owns us! We are mere receivers. The call to serve- we don’t own it- it owns us!