“Personally, I will rejoice when I see the first sign on a bus, ‘Hire the homosexual; it’s good business!’”
Now where do you suppose that came from? “Playboy,” you say, “or from some smut peddler’s collection found on the magazine rack or at one of those adult bookstores that pander to human Just for the sake of another dirty dollar.”
But you’re wrong if you think so.
It comes from an article in the May, 1972 issue of Stromata.
And what is Stromata? Before answering let me give also the following excerpts from the Stromata article, in which the writer begins by saying: “I am a Christian homosexual.” He continues:
“I simply refuse to be told by a group of Christian women with braided and ‘plaited’ hair, adorned with gold and precious stones, who paint their faces and wear pants, who go unhatted to church and presume to open their mouths there, that St. Paul is ‘all agin’ me.’ What excuse do they give for themselves? I give the same! Evidently the strict letter of Pauline injunctions regarding what is natural is not immutable but may be edited periodically to accommodate the age—without compromising the spirit of Christian truth. I agree entirely!
“And what of Christian men involved in the diversion of river beds, the transplanting of human hearts, and the seeding of the clouds? They are all violating Nature in the grossest manner possible—but all in the name of progress and the improvement of the human lot; and I applaud their efforts. All they have done is to accept the hard fact of an unsatisfactory situation and handled it in the best way open to them. And that is exactly the position of the Christian who happens to be an irreversible homosexual who is resolved to accept the facts about himself and go from. there to live in the way most pleasing to God of which lie is capable” (Italics added).
Stromata – Now, what is Stromata from which I have been quoting? Following is the answer found in the masthead of this publication: Stromata is an anthology of literary and artistic efforts by the students of Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Published sporadically by the Seminary Student Body, Stromata mayor may not represent the opinion or lack of opinion of the Student Body.
So, this article on “The Conscience of a Christian Queer” is found in a journal published by the Calvin Seminary Student Body, the future ministers of the Christian Reformed Church. These are the men who are to occupy our pulpits and give pastoral guidance to our youth. I find it impossible to believe that they in general would really want to endorse or assume responsibility for this defense of the practicing homosexual. But there it is, and so, it would do much to restore confidence if those seminary students who dissent would disavow any responsibility for this highly reprehensible piece of writing and let their denunciation of it be made known in no uncertain terms.
Who wrote this article, “The Conscience of a Christian Queer”? Stromata says: “For reasons which should he obvious, the author wishes to remain anonymous.” So, this may very well be one of our future ministers whose identity we arc not allowed to know. Led by his misguided conscience, this writer strikes a blow at Christian morality but like a hit-and-run driver he keeps himself concealed. ls it any wonder if churches and consistories arc becoming increasingly concerned about the soundness of candidates for the ministry that they readily took for granted in years gone by?
It has not escaped my attention that the masthead of Stromata states that it has been copyrighted by the Calvin Theological Seminary Student Senate. Am I running the risk of being spanked for taking the liberty of quoting freely from this copyrighted material? Well, if Calvin Seminary is still “onze school” I don’t think my calculated risk is serious enough to prevent us from giving readers of THE OUTLOOK the opportunity to take a careful look at what our Calvin Seminary Students are putting into print.
A misguided conscience – The writer of the Stromata article tries to make a case for the following: First, he advocates that we must recognize and accept the homosexual as hc is. Next, we must also he permissive as to his homosexual practice. Promiscuity is wrong, but homosexual relations with a single mate should be condoned. That the homosexual’s practice as well as his homosexual make-up are to he accepted is evident from what the writer states in his article. He says:
“I think I may safely conclude that homosexual love, when practiced according to the more central Christian principles, is a valid form of eroticism” (Italics added).
“I think, further, that the Christian community ought to recognize homosexuality, if not as an equal alternative to heterosexuality, at least as the only form of erotic expression open to a large number of devout Christians (of whom continence must not be required . . .) . . .”
“But I shall always believe that when the world becomes a place in which the homosexual can be himself without fear of rejection, reprisal, or ridicule, or even an unresponsive toleration, the world will find that the homosexual is also a human being with faults no greater and no greater than any other of God’s creatures, and as fully entitled to sue for mercy at the Day of Judgment . . .
“The only tenable approach consists of a revised attitude and policy which will encourage homosexuals to live out their homosexuality in the same divinely-ordained manner expected of heterosexuals.”
The title of the writer of the Stromata article (“The Conscience of a Christian Queer”—suggests what is wrong with all this. This “Christian Queer” is following his misguided conscience in coming to his conclusions and he cannot cite a shred of evidence from Scripture for what he believes his conscience dictates.
“Let your conscience he your guide” is not always good advi<.’C. It is that only when we make doubly sure that Ollr conscience is strictly monitored by the Word of Cod. When Saul of Tarsus was “breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” there is good reason to helieve that he was following the dictates of his badly misgui ded conscience. Stromata’s “Christian Qneer” falls into the same trap when he seeks to justify the immorality that is boldly demanding the right to wear the garb of Christian respectability in om day and age of “the ncw morality” when anything and everything seems to be up for grabs.
“Let your conscience he your guide” is not always good advice. It is that only when we make doubly sure that our conscience is strictly monitored by the Word of God. When Saul of Tarsus was “breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” there is good reason to believe that he was following the dictates of his badly misguided conscience. Stromata‘s “Christian Queer” falls into the same trap when he seeks to justify the immorality that is boldly demanding the right to wear the garb of Christian respectability in our day and age of “the new morality” when anything and everything seems to be up for grabs.
The conscience of an alcoholic is not a safe guide to consult to learn the right or wrong of the drinking habits of himself or others. Neither is the conscience of a drug addict a reliable source of information to he guided in the use of heroin or pot. And neither is the confirmed kleptomaniac is one whose conscience ought to he consulted about the practice of shoplifting. Even so, the conscience of the homosexual ought to he recognized for its inability to be objective in one’s self-evaluation. The guidance of such a conscience may be expected to be another case of the blind leading the blind.
What does the Bible say? Of course, it is not strange that Stromata‘s “Christian Queer” makes no appeal to Scripture in trying to make a case for the homosexual. The plain fact is that everything in the Bible points in the opposite direction. The evidence for this is so well known and has been so long accepted by the Christian community that it seems almost superfluous to adduce this. But now that “the new morality” is upon us it seems necessary to reiterate and underscore the ABC’s of Christian morality over and over again.
In Leviticus 18:22,24 the Lord spells it out clearly enough: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination . . . Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you.”
Genesis 19 tells of the shameful and repulsive sin of the men of Sodom (sodomy) and of the fearful judgment of brimstone and fire that God rained down upon them.
Judges 19 relates the gruesome account of “certain base fellows” who ganged up on the home of an old man demanding that an overnight guest be turned over to them for their homosexual atrocities. Once and again we are told: “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). History has a tragic way of repeating itself also in this regard.
Now it may be objected by Stromata‘s “Christian homosexual” that the above passages do not speak to the matter in hand. Why? Because the references there are to sodomy, orgies, and promiscuity whereas he appears to want to defend only the practice of homosexual relations with a single mate.
Over against this it should be noted that Leviticus 18: 22 is a blanket rule condemning the one as well as the other. Moreover the familiar Romans 1:26,27 passage leaves no doubt that the homosexual practice is sin per se and not only under certain circumstances. It reads:
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions; for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature; and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.”
Commenting on this passage, John Murray writes that “the stress falls upon the unnatural character of the vice and in that . . . consists the peculiar gravity of the abomination. The implication is that however grievous is fornication or adultery the desecration involved in homosexuality is on a lower plane of degeneracy; it is unnatural and therefore evinces a perversion more basic . . . The offence of homosexuality is the abandonment of the divinely constituted order in reference to sex” (The Epistle to the Romans, pp. 47, 48).
Christian concern, yes; whitewash, No – Now I know very well the risk I am taking in writing as I do. Chances are that I will be called judgmental, legalistic, heartless, Pharisaic, and not understanding. But what the Bible called sin and an abomination centuries ago when it was written is still that today. The Book does not change, and woe to anyone who dares to add to it or take away from it to make it fit “the new-morality” times in which we live!
Of course, the homosexual is in need of our Christian concern, guidance, understanding, help, and prayer. The alcoholic and the drug addict need this as well. But it is no Christian kindness but actually cruelty to whitewash the homosexual’s conduct and to be permissive about it.
In Christian love, let it be known to the homosexual that the vice to which he resorts is not unpardonable. There is good news for the penitent homosexual in I were “abusers of themselves with men” as follows: Corinthians 6:11 where Paul writes also to those who . . .
“And such were some of you; but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”
Let’s not be quite so ready to concede that homosexuality is a maldevelopment, something constitutional, or inherent in one’s makeup. The Bible gives so warrant for that conclusion. Neither is it true that nil psychiatrists are agreed that the homosexual is born that way and is therefore to be excused. Writing in His (Feb., 1966) Dr. Charles Young, a psychiatrist with the University of Illinois health service in Urbana, Illinois, states:
“I am persuaded that homosexuality is mainly a learned condition, and that anything learned may be altered by further learning. I do not believe that anyone is damned from the time of his conception to become homosexual. I agree with Freud . . . that every person has the potential to become homosexual. If a person encourages and cultures the deviant urges, which can be aroused in all of us, he is on the way to a life of sexual perversion.”
The pastor owes his homosexual parishioner Christian counsel and concern, but to coddle him will do more harm than good. Someone’s overstatement has a lot of truth in it: “Formerly all insanity was thought to be sin; today all sin is thought to be insanity.”
A time to speak up – There is something urgent about this matter of homosexuality which makes this a time to speak up in no uncertain terms. This should be obvious when the Stromata article states: “Suffice is to say that of an estimated 34,000,000 homosexuals in the United States, the majority are not reversible . . .” Although we would challenge the second part of this statement, we are in no position to deny the first.
But there is something else. Two years ago, the 1970 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church appointed a committee “to study the problem of homosexuality and to delineate the church’s position on this matter . . . . Grounds for this decision: “1. Homosexuality is a growing problem in today’s society. 2. The best qualified people in the denomination should be utilized in such a study.”
That was two years ago. But the committee informed the 1972 Synod that it was not yet able to report. Mind you, after two years the committee is not yet ready to delineate the church’s position on the problem of homosexuality. The committee states: “An important reason for our delay is the fact that the report of the study committee of the Gereformeerde Kerken regarding homosexuality was released in December, 1971, and came into our hands in February. This extensive report before the General Synod of the Gereformeerde Kerken merits our careful study. Obviously we were not able to do justice to it in the limited time available.”
Well, I find it difficult to believe that we can’t make up our minds about homosexuality without first waiting to learn what the Netherlands has to say about it. There are some strange winds blowing this way from the Netherlands today. And what aggravates the situation is that meanwhile, adding to the “Gay Liberation Movement,” is this deplorable Stromata article published by the Calvin Seminary Student Body. That comes too close to home to keep silent any longer. Isn’t it past time that the church must speak lip on this matter, and also do so on the basis of what the Bible says with a voice that is loud and clear! The misguided conscience of every “Christian Queer” should not have to wait any, longer for the Scriptural direction that is obviously so sorely needed.
https://outlook.reformedfellowship.net/wp-admin/media-upload.php?post_id=57332&type=image&TB_iframe=1
TIV SEMINARY LIBRARY FUND
Please believe me, it’s no fun to belong to the opposition as often as this is necessary in the church today. Of course, we would far rather be in a position to freely accentuate the positive; that is, to be for something rather than against. And please believe this also: in as far as conviction and conscience allow, we welcome every good opportunity to do precisely that.
It is for this reason that we are now eager and enthusiastic in recommending support for the Tiv Seminary Library Fund pica made by Iyortyom Achineku, principal of the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria, to he found elsewhere in this issue. The wholehearted commitment to the Reformed faith on the part of this new training school for ministers in Africa makes this plea an avenue for generous giving by Reformed contributors who wish to be discerning and conscientious in their Christian stewardship.
The new Tiv Seminary in Nigeria needs its new building, now in the process of erection, made possible by the contributions of Christian friends. So far God has been gracious to bless this school with students, teachers, a building in the making, it supporting church, and donors who love the cause for which the school has come into being.
But, obviously, a seminary library well-stacked with books by Reformed writers is desperately needed if this seminary is to flourish and answer to the high calling that brought it into being. Without books, anyone preparing for the ministry is as handicapped as a carpenter without tools or a soldier without a weapon.
What Mr. Achineku writes about time running out for the missionaries in Africa makes it more urgent than ever that champions of the Reformed faith shall be able to remain there by means of the printed page after the teachers from abroad may have been forced to depart for home.
It is heartwarming and nothing less than thrilling to follow the case Mr. Achineku makes for a consistently Reformed seminary in Nigeria. The seed of the Reformed faith was planted there, first hy missionaries from South Africa, and later by Christian Reformed missionaries when the CRC took over the work among the Tiv people. Now the Tiv Church is in dead earnest about wanting 10 hold fast to that which they have been taught. They are pleading for help so that they may have Calvin, Kuyper, Bavinck, Hodge, Berkhof, and others on the shelves of their school library so that they may have ready access to the teachings of these giants of the Reformed faith from whom they are so eager to learn.
New and also used theological books are eagerly requested for the Tiv Seminary. To make a wise selection of new hooks and to avoid duplication, the Reformed Fellowship is willing to handle contributions for this Library Fund and to arrange for shipping. Books from the libraries of retired or deceased ministers will also be very welcome. Such used hooks may have only a small cash value if sold, but they can serve a great need if made available for the Tiv Seminary students at their library.
All donors are kindly requested to send their contributions of books or checks to the Reformed Fellowship, P. O. Box 7383, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49510. The Reformed Fellowship telephone is (616) 949-5421. Checks are to be made out to Reformed Fellowship, Tiv Seminary Library Fund. Handling the funds in this way will avoid the complications of international exchange and will also expedite the purchase and sending of the books. It is indeed a pleasure to recommend this cause wholeheartedly to all who love the Reformed faith and who are willing to give for the propagation of it among those in Nigeria who are now asking for our help.
RES MEETS AUGUST 14–25
Readers of THE OUTLOOK will be interested to take note of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod in Sydney, Australia this month, August 14–25. It is safe to assume that most, if not nil, readers of our publication are members of churches affiliated with the RES. Genuinely Scriptural ecumenism, as this organization seeks to promote it, should lie close to our hearts and thus also occupy a place in our private as well as our public prayers.
According to the Foreword in the RES Agenda for this month’s meeting: “Membership in the Synod is open to all churches which confess and maintain the Reformed faith and subscribe to the Basis as expressed in Article n of the Rules and Standing Orders. The Synod numbers thirty-six member churches on all six continents and some five million people.”
Attention is called especially to the following three items of special interest on the RES agenda:
1. First, on the Sabbath issue the RES will consider two reports. One report holds that the Sabbath is a creation-ordinance, and the other holds that it is not. Dr. David E. Holwerda, Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven, and Professor John H. Stek of the Christian Reformed Church are of the latter commitment. This is a matter that invites our further study and discussion.
2. Next, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is overturing the RES “to declare that its Rules and Standing Orders, especially its articles on Basis, Purpose, and Membership, make membership in the ·World Council of Churches and other religious organizations which allow unbelief to be uncensured, incompatible with membership in the RES, and to provide two years from the 1972 meeting of the Synod for RES member church which are in such fellowship (1) to decide in which they wish their membership to remain, and (2) to notify the RES secretariat of their decision.” Of course, the Gereformeerde Kerken of the Netherlands are involved here, and it w:ill be most interesting to know what position the RES will take.
3. Finally, both the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Churches of New Zealand arc asking the RES to determine, in view of what is being taught in the Netherlands, whether the Dutch churches can still be allowed to be RES members. To me it is not at all reassuring to learn from The Banner (July 7, ‘72) that the 1972 CRC Synod “counsels our delegates to the RES to oppose any definitive action by that Synod re termination of the membership of the Gereformeerde Kerken at the 1972 meetings in Australia.”
May the Lord be gracious to guide the RES in all its deliberations and decisions. Copies of the HES Agenda and of the proposed RES Constitution may be ordered from Reformed Ecumenical Synod, 1677 Gentian Drive, S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508. Cost is three dollars.
Now where do you suppose that came from? “Playboy,” you say, “or from some smut peddler’s collection found on the magazine rack or at one of those adult bookstores that pander to human Just for the sake of another dirty dollar.”
But you’re wrong if you think so.
It comes from an article in the May, 1972 issue of Stromata.
And what is Stromata? Before answering let me give also the following excerpts from the Stromata article, in which the writer begins by saying: “I am a Christian homosexual.” He continues:
“I simply refuse to be told by a group of Christian women with braided and ‘plaited’ hair, adorned with gold and precious stones, who paint their faces and wear pants, who go unhatted to church and presume to open their mouths there, that St. Paul is ‘all agin’ me.’ What excuse do they give for themselves? I give the same! Evidently the strict letter of Pauline injunctions regarding what is natural is not immutable but may be edited periodically to accommodate the age—without compromising the spirit of Christian truth. I agree entirely!
“And what of Christian men involved in the diversion of river beds, the transplanting of human hearts, and the seeding of the clouds? They are all violating Nature in the grossest manner possible—but all in the name of progress and the improvement of the human lot; and I applaud their efforts. All they have done is to accept the hard fact of an unsatisfactory situation and handled it in the best way open to them. And that is exactly the position of the Christian who happens to be an irreversible homosexual who is resolved to accept the facts about himself and go from. there to live in the way most pleasing to God of which lie is capable” (Italics added).
Stromata – Now, what is Stromata from which I have been quoting? Following is the answer found in the masthead of this publication: Stromata is an anthology of literary and artistic efforts by the students of Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Published sporadically by the Seminary Student Body, Stromata mayor may not represent the opinion or lack of opinion of the Student Body.
So, this article on “The Conscience of a Christian Queer” is found in a journal published by the Calvin Seminary Student Body, the future ministers of the Christian Reformed Church. These are the men who are to occupy our pulpits and give pastoral guidance to our youth. I find it impossible to believe that they in general would really want to endorse or assume responsibility for this defense of the practicing homosexual. But there it is, and so, it would do much to restore confidence if those seminary students who dissent would disavow any responsibility for this highly reprehensible piece of writing and let their denunciation of it be made known in no uncertain terms.
Who wrote this article, “The Conscience of a Christian Queer”? Stromata says: “For reasons which should he obvious, the author wishes to remain anonymous.” So, this may very well be one of our future ministers whose identity we arc not allowed to know. Led by his misguided conscience, this writer strikes a blow at Christian morality but like a hit-and-run driver he keeps himself concealed. ls it any wonder if churches and consistories arc becoming increasingly concerned about the soundness of candidates for the ministry that they readily took for granted in years gone by?
It has not escaped my attention that the masthead of Stromata states that it has been copyrighted by the Calvin Theological Seminary Student Senate. Am I running the risk of being spanked for taking the liberty of quoting freely from this copyrighted material? Well, if Calvin Seminary is still “onze school” I don’t think my calculated risk is serious enough to prevent us from giving readers of THE OUTLOOK the opportunity to take a careful look at what our Calvin Seminary Students are putting into print.
A misguided conscience – The writer of the Stromata article tries to make a case for the following: First, he advocates that we must recognize and accept the homosexual as hc is. Next, we must also he permissive as to his homosexual practice. Promiscuity is wrong, but homosexual relations with a single mate should be condoned. That the homosexual’s practice as well as his homosexual make-up are to he accepted is evident from what the writer states in his article. He says:
“I think I may safely conclude that homosexual love, when practiced according to the more central Christian principles, is a valid form of eroticism” (Italics added).
“I think, further, that the Christian community ought to recognize homosexuality, if not as an equal alternative to heterosexuality, at least as the only form of erotic expression open to a large number of devout Christians (of whom continence must not be required . . .) . . .”
“But I shall always believe that when the world becomes a place in which the homosexual can be himself without fear of rejection, reprisal, or ridicule, or even an unresponsive toleration, the world will find that the homosexual is also a human being with faults no greater and no greater than any other of God’s creatures, and as fully entitled to sue for mercy at the Day of Judgment . . .
“The only tenable approach consists of a revised attitude and policy which will encourage homosexuals to live out their homosexuality in the same divinely-ordained manner expected of heterosexuals.”
The title of the writer of the Stromata article (“The Conscience of a Christian Queer”—suggests what is wrong with all this. This “Christian Queer” is following his misguided conscience in coming to his conclusions and he cannot cite a shred of evidence from Scripture for what he believes his conscience dictates.
“Let your conscience he your guide” is not always good advi<.’C. It is that only when we make doubly sure that Ollr conscience is strictly monitored by the Word of Cod. When Saul of Tarsus was “breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” there is good reason to helieve that he was following the dictates of his badly misgui ded conscience. Stromata’s “Christian Qneer” falls into the same trap when he seeks to justify the immorality that is boldly demanding the right to wear the garb of Christian respectability in om day and age of “the ncw morality” when anything and everything seems to be up for grabs.
“Let your conscience he your guide” is not always good advice. It is that only when we make doubly sure that our conscience is strictly monitored by the Word of God. When Saul of Tarsus was “breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” there is good reason to believe that he was following the dictates of his badly misguided conscience. Stromata‘s “Christian Queer” falls into the same trap when he seeks to justify the immorality that is boldly demanding the right to wear the garb of Christian respectability in our day and age of “the new morality” when anything and everything seems to be up for grabs.
The conscience of an alcoholic is not a safe guide to consult to learn the right or wrong of the drinking habits of himself or others. Neither is the conscience of a drug addict a reliable source of information to he guided in the use of heroin or pot. And neither is the confirmed kleptomaniac is one whose conscience ought to he consulted about the practice of shoplifting. Even so, the conscience of the homosexual ought to he recognized for its inability to be objective in one’s self-evaluation. The guidance of such a conscience may be expected to be another case of the blind leading the blind.
What does the Bible say? Of course, it is not strange that Stromata‘s “Christian Queer” makes no appeal to Scripture in trying to make a case for the homosexual. The plain fact is that everything in the Bible points in the opposite direction. The evidence for this is so well known and has been so long accepted by the Christian community that it seems almost superfluous to adduce this. But now that “the new morality” is upon us it seems necessary to reiterate and underscore the ABC’s of Christian morality over and over again.
In Leviticus 18:22,24 the Lord spells it out clearly enough: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination . . . Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you.”
Genesis 19 tells of the shameful and repulsive sin of the men of Sodom (sodomy) and of the fearful judgment of brimstone and fire that God rained down upon them.
Judges 19 relates the gruesome account of “certain base fellows” who ganged up on the home of an old man demanding that an overnight guest be turned over to them for their homosexual atrocities. Once and again we are told: “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). History has a tragic way of repeating itself also in this regard.
Now it may be objected by Stromata‘s “Christian homosexual” that the above passages do not speak to the matter in hand. Why? Because the references there are to sodomy, orgies, and promiscuity whereas he appears to want to defend only the practice of homosexual relations with a single mate.
Over against this it should be noted that Leviticus 18: 22 is a blanket rule condemning the one as well as the other. Moreover the familiar Romans 1:26,27 passage leaves no doubt that the homosexual practice is sin per se and not only under certain circumstances. It reads:
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions; for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature; and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.”
Commenting on this passage, John Murray writes that “the stress falls upon the unnatural character of the vice and in that . . . consists the peculiar gravity of the abomination. The implication is that however grievous is fornication or adultery the desecration involved in homosexuality is on a lower plane of degeneracy; it is unnatural and therefore evinces a perversion more basic . . . The offence of homosexuality is the abandonment of the divinely constituted order in reference to sex” (The Epistle to the Romans, pp. 47, 48).
Christian concern, yes; whitewash, No – Now I know very well the risk I am taking in writing as I do. Chances are that I will be called judgmental, legalistic, heartless, Pharisaic, and not understanding. But what the Bible called sin and an abomination centuries ago when it was written is still that today. The Book does not change, and woe to anyone who dares to add to it or take away from it to make it fit “the new-morality” times in which we live!
Of course, the homosexual is in need of our Christian concern, guidance, understanding, help, and prayer. The alcoholic and the drug addict need this as well. But it is no Christian kindness but actually cruelty to whitewash the homosexual’s conduct and to be permissive about it.
In Christian love, let it be known to the homosexual that the vice to which he resorts is not unpardonable. There is good news for the penitent homosexual in I were “abusers of themselves with men” as follows: Corinthians 6:11 where Paul writes also to those who . . .
“And such were some of you; but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”
Let’s not be quite so ready to concede that homosexuality is a maldevelopment, something constitutional, or inherent in one’s makeup. The Bible gives so warrant for that conclusion. Neither is it true that nil psychiatrists are agreed that the homosexual is born that way and is therefore to be excused. Writing in His (Feb., 1966) Dr. Charles Young, a psychiatrist with the University of Illinois health service in Urbana, Illinois, states:
“I am persuaded that homosexuality is mainly a learned condition, and that anything learned may be altered by further learning. I do not believe that anyone is damned from the time of his conception to become homosexual. I agree with Freud . . . that every person has the potential to become homosexual. If a person encourages and cultures the deviant urges, which can be aroused in all of us, he is on the way to a life of sexual perversion.”
The pastor owes his homosexual parishioner Christian counsel and concern, but to coddle him will do more harm than good. Someone’s overstatement has a lot of truth in it: “Formerly all insanity was thought to be sin; today all sin is thought to be insanity.”
A time to speak up – There is something urgent about this matter of homosexuality which makes this a time to speak up in no uncertain terms. This should be obvious when the Stromata article states: “Suffice is to say that of an estimated 34,000,000 homosexuals in the United States, the majority are not reversible . . .” Although we would challenge the second part of this statement, we are in no position to deny the first.
But there is something else. Two years ago, the 1970 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church appointed a committee “to study the problem of homosexuality and to delineate the church’s position on this matter . . . . Grounds for this decision: “1. Homosexuality is a growing problem in today’s society. 2. The best qualified people in the denomination should be utilized in such a study.”
That was two years ago. But the committee informed the 1972 Synod that it was not yet able to report. Mind you, after two years the committee is not yet ready to delineate the church’s position on the problem of homosexuality. The committee states: “An important reason for our delay is the fact that the report of the study committee of the Gereformeerde Kerken regarding homosexuality was released in December, 1971, and came into our hands in February. This extensive report before the General Synod of the Gereformeerde Kerken merits our careful study. Obviously we were not able to do justice to it in the limited time available.”
Well, I find it difficult to believe that we can’t make up our minds about homosexuality without first waiting to learn what the Netherlands has to say about it. There are some strange winds blowing this way from the Netherlands today. And what aggravates the situation is that meanwhile, adding to the “Gay Liberation Movement,” is this deplorable Stromata article published by the Calvin Seminary Student Body. That comes too close to home to keep silent any longer. Isn’t it past time that the church must speak lip on this matter, and also do so on the basis of what the Bible says with a voice that is loud and clear! The misguided conscience of every “Christian Queer” should not have to wait any, longer for the Scriptural direction that is obviously so sorely needed.
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TIV SEMINARY LIBRARY FUND
Please believe me, it’s no fun to belong to the opposition as often as this is necessary in the church today. Of course, we would far rather be in a position to freely accentuate the positive; that is, to be for something rather than against. And please believe this also: in as far as conviction and conscience allow, we welcome every good opportunity to do precisely that.
It is for this reason that we are now eager and enthusiastic in recommending support for the Tiv Seminary Library Fund pica made by Iyortyom Achineku, principal of the Reformed Theological College of Nigeria, to he found elsewhere in this issue. The wholehearted commitment to the Reformed faith on the part of this new training school for ministers in Africa makes this plea an avenue for generous giving by Reformed contributors who wish to be discerning and conscientious in their Christian stewardship.
The new Tiv Seminary in Nigeria needs its new building, now in the process of erection, made possible by the contributions of Christian friends. So far God has been gracious to bless this school with students, teachers, a building in the making, it supporting church, and donors who love the cause for which the school has come into being.
But, obviously, a seminary library well-stacked with books by Reformed writers is desperately needed if this seminary is to flourish and answer to the high calling that brought it into being. Without books, anyone preparing for the ministry is as handicapped as a carpenter without tools or a soldier without a weapon.
What Mr. Achineku writes about time running out for the missionaries in Africa makes it more urgent than ever that champions of the Reformed faith shall be able to remain there by means of the printed page after the teachers from abroad may have been forced to depart for home.
It is heartwarming and nothing less than thrilling to follow the case Mr. Achineku makes for a consistently Reformed seminary in Nigeria. The seed of the Reformed faith was planted there, first hy missionaries from South Africa, and later by Christian Reformed missionaries when the CRC took over the work among the Tiv people. Now the Tiv Church is in dead earnest about wanting 10 hold fast to that which they have been taught. They are pleading for help so that they may have Calvin, Kuyper, Bavinck, Hodge, Berkhof, and others on the shelves of their school library so that they may have ready access to the teachings of these giants of the Reformed faith from whom they are so eager to learn.
New and also used theological books are eagerly requested for the Tiv Seminary. To make a wise selection of new hooks and to avoid duplication, the Reformed Fellowship is willing to handle contributions for this Library Fund and to arrange for shipping. Books from the libraries of retired or deceased ministers will also be very welcome. Such used hooks may have only a small cash value if sold, but they can serve a great need if made available for the Tiv Seminary students at their library.
All donors are kindly requested to send their contributions of books or checks to the Reformed Fellowship, P. O. Box 7383, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49510. The Reformed Fellowship telephone is (616) 949-5421. Checks are to be made out to Reformed Fellowship, Tiv Seminary Library Fund. Handling the funds in this way will avoid the complications of international exchange and will also expedite the purchase and sending of the books. It is indeed a pleasure to recommend this cause wholeheartedly to all who love the Reformed faith and who are willing to give for the propagation of it among those in Nigeria who are now asking for our help.
RES MEETS AUGUST 14–25
Readers of THE OUTLOOK will be interested to take note of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod in Sydney, Australia this month, August 14–25. It is safe to assume that most, if not nil, readers of our publication are members of churches affiliated with the RES. Genuinely Scriptural ecumenism, as this organization seeks to promote it, should lie close to our hearts and thus also occupy a place in our private as well as our public prayers.
According to the Foreword in the RES Agenda for this month’s meeting: “Membership in the Synod is open to all churches which confess and maintain the Reformed faith and subscribe to the Basis as expressed in Article n of the Rules and Standing Orders. The Synod numbers thirty-six member churches on all six continents and some five million people.”
Attention is called especially to the following three items of special interest on the RES agenda:
1. First, on the Sabbath issue the RES will consider two reports. One report holds that the Sabbath is a creation-ordinance, and the other holds that it is not. Dr. David E. Holwerda, Rev. Andrew Kuyvenhoven, and Professor John H. Stek of the Christian Reformed Church are of the latter commitment. This is a matter that invites our further study and discussion.
2. Next, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is overturing the RES “to declare that its Rules and Standing Orders, especially its articles on Basis, Purpose, and Membership, make membership in the ·World Council of Churches and other religious organizations which allow unbelief to be uncensured, incompatible with membership in the RES, and to provide two years from the 1972 meeting of the Synod for RES member church which are in such fellowship (1) to decide in which they wish their membership to remain, and (2) to notify the RES secretariat of their decision.” Of course, the Gereformeerde Kerken of the Netherlands are involved here, and it w:ill be most interesting to know what position the RES will take.
3. Finally, both the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Churches of New Zealand arc asking the RES to determine, in view of what is being taught in the Netherlands, whether the Dutch churches can still be allowed to be RES members. To me it is not at all reassuring to learn from The Banner (July 7, ‘72) that the 1972 CRC Synod “counsels our delegates to the RES to oppose any definitive action by that Synod re termination of the membership of the Gereformeerde Kerken at the 1972 meetings in Australia.”
May the Lord be gracious to guide the RES in all its deliberations and decisions. Copies of the HES Agenda and of the proposed RES Constitution may be ordered from Reformed Ecumenical Synod, 1677 Gentian Drive, S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508. Cost is three dollars.