A Third Way or A Better Way???
The group Better Together: A Third Way has recently formed in the CRC. Its purpose is to provide a third option to the group All One Body and the Abide group. A Third Way seeks to not be all affirming and not all opposed to same-sex marriage. Their emphasis is on unity. Is it possible, as A Third Way claims, for members of a denomination to agree to disagree on the topic of same-sex marriage?
What kind of unity is there between two people, one of whom believes same-sex marriage is sin and the other who believes it has God’s approval? Is it possible for there to be unity when the first person believes the other is doing what causes people to stumble in sin, alienating them from God, and the second person believes the first is not loving people? Aren’t these two positions diametrically opposed? We all want peace in our churches, in our families. Can there really be peace when two such opposing views are in the same room? In Matthew 12:25 Christ said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” (See also Mark 3:25.)
In Philippians 2:2 Paul says, “. . . complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (See also Philippians 1:27.) Can two people holding such opposing positions look beyond this difference, or, for the sake of true unity do they need to work at this topic and resolve it between the two of them? Many who desire a same-sex relationship want it to be accepted in the church. They do not want to be told that something they desire so very much is something they need to deny themselves. Those who understand God’s Word to teach that same-sex relationships are a horrible sin in God’s eyes do not want to be condoning it. Therefore, isn’t it in the best interest of both sides to examine Scripture carefully and thoroughly in order to determine what is in fact biblical?
In an article by Pastor Andy Sytsma he takes a good look at the following aspects of this matter:
Is this Third Way viable? Are those who uphold the Biblical and orthodox teaching of marriage giving in to the polarizing trends of culture? Are SSM and women in office similar issues, and should the CRC accept both sides of the SSM discussion as good, holding them in loving tension? Won’t this allow the CRC to stay on mission with Jesus? Does a Third Way honor the Great Commandment, Great Commission, and Jesus’ Prayer for Unity?
You will find his full article here: A Third Way or A Better Way — The Abide Project.
Are there reasons to think people holding these opposing views could effectively be members of the same church? What would that “unity” be like? You are invited to discuss these thoughts by commenting below.
6 replies on “Concerning Better Together: A Third Way”
Some of us don’t fit in either of these strongly “opposing” groups. We are equally committed to the Christian morality the Lord requires of us, but we wonder if we rightly understand what that is in the case of same sex attraction. Same sex attraction is not explicitly addressed in Scripture. Those passages that condemn same sex immoral behaviour seem to imply an engaging in a deliberate, perverted choice. Does that really describe our same-sex attracted brothers and sisters? How does the Lord ask them to live out their sexuality? I have my reservations when that question gets a black/white answer from those of us who are heterosexual. I give more weight to the different answers I hear from those who are personally working through that issue with their Lord, and I want to hear much more from them.
Thank you very much for your response here. This is a topic that me need to be diligent with to be sure we fully understand Scripture. Many doctrines in the church at least appear to be more academic in nature, this one strikes very close to home in the personal lives of many.
Some of the answers that have been given are things like Lev. 18:22 is an all-encompassing statement. It doesn’t provide any qualifiers, it simply says that males are not to lie with males. In I Cor. 6:9-10 two Greek words are used, arsenokoitai and malakoi. Scholars understand them to refer to the active person in the act and the passive person. Some read this to indicate that it is not prohibiting only violent acts, but is another all-encompassing reference to all homosexual acts. The Human Sexuality Report contains a number of statements of exegesis which indicate the Bible prohibits all such acts.
We need to examine these relevant Bible passages so that we know what God’s Word teaches, we need to search as we would for silver (Prob. 2:1-5). All comments on these things are welcome here.
I suspect that unity won’t be possible unless those who disagree follow the scriptural teaching in places like Romans 14 where they are talking about groups who are diametrically opposed on first order moral issues (both issues cited are 10 Commandment issues). After clarifying the issues, recognizing the differences between these groups in the church (and that they are opposed), Paul teaches on how to treat the other group (with love and respect). Then Paul sums it all up with: “Accept one another as Christ accepted you.” (Rom 15:7). So unless the church follows scripture, there’s really no way to be united. Otherwise we’ll continue to separate, each claiming our own ‘truth’ is superior to the other’s ‘truth’ and we’ll miss out on being the body of Christ.
It is good to hear from you again, Bill. Hopefully all the rain and snow California is getting is not posing a problem for you in LA.
In Rom. 14 the matter of feast days and the Sabbath is brought up in verses 5-9. The Sabbath is taught in the 10 commandments. The feast days are not covered there. Dr. David Holwerda wrote a book about the Sabbath. He concluded that it is actually a ceremonial law. So, there are 9 commandments that are relevant in the New Testament in the same way that they were in the Old. Another check of this is whether the Sabbath requirement is taught in the New Testament. If something like not eating shrimp is not taught in the NT, then it is not a universal command of God, and has rather ended after the OT. Keeping the Sabbath is not taught anywhere in the NT.
The second issue in Rom. 14 is whether or not to eat meat. It is brought up in verses 1-4. Eating meat is not covered in the 10 commandments.
These two matters in Rom. 14 are both of lesser significance. In the OT if someone worked on the Sabbath they were to be killed. That is no longer true today.
A Third Way claims that homosexuality is not a salvific matter. However, in I Cor. 6:9-10 we read that homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Doesn’t that make it a matter of salvation? Those who live that lifestyle and never repent will not inherit the Kingdom of God. How can it be said that homosexuality is not a matter of salvation when one’s salvation is precluded by it? Thanks.
Herb – Hope you and your family are well, too. It’s STILL raining in California!
The verse that comes to mind for me after reading your response is this one:
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. – Matthew 23
You work so hard on your bible technicalities but miss out on the big picture.
Grace and peace to you,
bill
Good morning, Bill. I think (I hope) that Michigan is finally seeing spring at this point. Last Saturday brought nasty snow.
If I am missing out on the more important matters, please point that out. From what I’ve seen and read of those who are same-sex attracted, they really want this matter resolved. Likely to the same extent, those who adhere to marriage being between one man and one woman, also want the Bible to be understood correctly. To resolve the matter, to understand the Bible correctly, it needs to be interpreted correctly. That takes effort. I once heard Luther’s Reformation ultimately came down to the correct translation of one word in the Bible. The Reformation was and is powerful in its effects on the church. Sure, correctly understanding the Bible involves getting into detail. That may appear like tithing mint, dill and cumin. Note, that in Matthew 23 Christ says we are to practice the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness) without neglecting the former (tithing of spices).