Thomas Hare and Julia Smith, based on their experiences, are in good positions to help the church better comprehend the nature of the matter in front of us. They have dealt first-hand with this issue in ways that many of us can only claim ignorance. It is important that we hear them out. Nicholas Hopkins also brings to the fore the kind of statement that has no place in the body of Christ.
In many ways the Human Sexuality Report is very sympathetic to and supportive of their concerns as the Report calls the church to considerate, Christ-like responses.
Does the Report use the Bible to oppress? This question cannot be avoided as it is a claim that one frequently hears when same-sex relationships are discussed. Is the Report guilty on that account?
To oppress is to burden someone spiritually or mentally or to crush or burden by the abuse of power. To deny a person of their freedom is to oppress through slavery. Does the Report crush or burden people through abuse of some kind of power, or does it offer freedom by directing us to God’s revealed will? In order to determine if the Report oppresses people we need to discern whether or not it is true to God’s Word. This brings us back to the earlier section of the All One Body videos which deals with the biblical-theological concerns. We need to listen to our brothers and sisters concerning the struggles they experience as described in these videos. Yet, in order to determine what is best for them, what is liberating versus what is oppressing, we need to know for sure which course of action brings life.
These videos are presented in a section entitled “Responding to the Human Sexuality Report.” All One Body opposes the Human Sexuality Report. It would seem fair to assume these videos, then, object to the Report. Do these videos present valid objections to the Report? They raise concerns that the church needs to be prepared to address such as how do we respond to people who wrestle with their sexuality? As far as valid objections are concerned, we do not find in them the identification of shortcomings in the Report. There is at least the implication that the Report uses the Bible to oppress. If the Report asserts what the Bible teaches, can it be using the Bible to oppress?
Does the section covering biblical-theological concerns successfully show that same-sex relationships have God’s approval and are healthy for people to engage in?