Be assured, I believe the Bible to be the Word of
God - but not the "words" of God.
That is, I do not believe that the Bible was
dictated by God
and written down by scribes of one sort or another,
unmediated by the scribes' own life experiences,
culture, religious belief and context.
Bishop Gene
Robinson, Episcopal bishop of the
diocese of New
Hampshire (and seminary classmate of mine);
he was elected by the
people of New Hampshire on this date, 2003
+Gene is a lovely, kind,
articulate, brave, bright, humble, loving man. I was at seminary with Gene. He
was “sexually confused” then … by which I mean, he had been repressed by his
upbringing. He married a woman, had children … and then he and his wife amically
separated when it was clear to them that he was Gay. He was the Canon to the
Ordinary in the diocese of NH for many years… and the people loved him … enough
to elect him their bishop … knowing full well the controversy that would ensue.
Despicably, right-wing opponents opposed him, lying bald-faced about him. But
he was confirmed … and he and his husband Mark have been fine examples of
Christian life and leadership since this date. He will retire in 2013 … and I
hope that +Gene and Mark have many opportunities to enjoy the company of the
many Christians who live in freedom from either the tyranny of literalist
Biblicists or those trapped by a vision of the love of God that does not live
up to the radical Divine Love that is represented in the Cross.
The Bible, like all
Scriptures, is a product of human minds, in which the subtle working of the
Mystery of Love – which is the foundational principle of Life’s meaning – can
be discerned. In essence, the Message of the Bible is: God is Love, You are a creature of Love, Live in Love … on this Path will
you find your Bliss (as Joseph Campbell might have said).
Go for it. And: Thank You Gene
for your loving witness to the true meaning of Jesus of Nazareth.
Brian+
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