Why is the Bible often misunderstood?
Shane Willard, a Christian teacher and speaker, offers insights into why the Bible is frequently misunderstood, attributing it to three main factors: Static appropriation, Genre confusion, and the Lack of Understanding of History
Looking at Scripture
Understand what the Bible says on the subject of Homosexuality
Is your church LGBT affirming?
In progressive evangelicalism, being “welcoming” to LGBT people most frequently means that hospitality is extended to gay and transgender people. But beyond that, there are usually conditions and restrictions placed on how they live their lives and where they may serve.
At what level are LGBT people able to participate and serve in your church?
What ministries are they included, and just as importantly, from what ministries are they excluded?
Can they be worship leaders, work in the children’s ministries, or lead Bible or home study groups?
Do gay, lesbian, and bisexual Christians who want to become part of the church family need to “repent” for their sexual orientation?
Do you expect them to change at some unspecified future time?
Is there an assumption or hopeful attitude that they will come to no longer identify as gay?
Will you direct them to a reparative therapy program?
Is the goal to “fix them”?
Will you encourage life-long celibacy and discourage any same-sex relationships?
Some versions use poor and inaccurate translations of key verses. If your sanctioned translation includes the word “homosexual”, you will offend gay congregants. There are more accurate translations that do not use the word “homosexual”.
If your church is a membership based church, will you admit LGBT people into membership?
If LGBT people are in a committed relationship, will they be welcomed as a couple?
Will they be permitted to interact with the same level of affection commonly acceptable for heterosexual couples in your congregation?
Can they touch arms, hold hands, or sit closely in times of worship or prayer?
How will you treat same-sex couples that are legally married?
Will you perform a marriage ceremony between two same-sex couples?
How do you treat transgender people?
Will you use their preferred pronouns?
Watch this video: “Through My Eyes”