Churches Only for Those Without Sin?

The NC Baptist State Convention to consider banning gays from membership

Reading my hometown paper, the Raleigh News & Observer, I found some refreshing responses from readers regarding an article about a recommendation to be considered by the State Baptist Convention to exclude homosexuals from its churches. (By the way the State Convention grows smaller with the banishment of churches who disagree with its draconian measures on a number of issues--three of which, I'm proud to say, are right in my backyard.)

One supporter of the measure quotes Leviticus and Paul as evidence that "God's word is . . . clear about homosexuality." However, another letter to the editor points out that not one of the gospels quotes Jesus himself as denouncing homosexuality, but do indeed quote him as denouncing adultry, and defining it as remarrying without proof that the first spouse had committed adultry. The writer continues:

"The Convention's anti-gay position is pure bigotry unless it kicks out all its fornicators and adulterers. Obviously, by performing marriage ceremonies for these people [divorcees], churches 'knowingly act to affirm, approve, endorse, promote, support or bless' [quoting from the Convention's wording regarding homosexuality] fornication and adultry."

A third letter writer notes, "In my experience, churches are made up of sinners, not perfect souls. If we exclude one group of sinners, why not all sinners? If the state Convention and other fundamentalist Baptists have their way, church buildings around North Carolina could soon find themselves empty, because, in their eyes, who is worthy?"

Personally, I think such actions as anti-gay bans simply reflect the irrationality of bigotry. It is impossible to make sense out of the selection of scapegoats. In my reading of the Gospels, Jesus is harshest with hoarders of wealth and hypocrites who judge other people so they don't have to examine their own sins. So why focus so much attention on the "sins" of gays? Could it be so that the Christian Right does not have think about Jesus declaring that ignoring the poor, sick, and hungry to be the equivalent of denying God himself food, shelter, medicine, etc.?