Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." And he laid his hands on them and went on his way. Then someone came to him and said, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
If ever I can find a text to pick at Biblical literalism, this is one of them. For all of the claims that "this is the word of God and therefore I follow it" "go, sell your possessions and give the money to the poor" is one of those that literalists can hardly say they follow. This is among the reasons why Biblical literalism is a false understanding of Scripture. The Scriptures were not given to us to become a stagnant explanation of laws, rules or even doctrine. As the web site for the Daily Office says: "The Bible is not a science text, but a profound guide to faith. It doesn't contain all the answers; but oh, the answers it contains!"
Children in the time of the Scriptures represents those who have no legal claims or rights, and "receive everything as a gift. The kingdom is for those without pretensions to status and superiority, for those who recognize that it is a gift." (Collegeville Bible Commentary, New Testament volume, Page 890). The children come to Jesus recognizing that in him is the gift of God who is able to give everything, even to those who recognize that they have nothing.
If all of us were to take a good look at ourselves here, we would understand that no one really owns anything. All that we are and have is a gift from God to be used for God's purpose. How might an understanding like this be applied to the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in the Church and society?
First, our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is in and of itself a gift of God. It is not "intrinsically disordered." Our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is not an illness or "sexual addiction." Our being LGBT is God's gift to us and to others that we might love God and others out of the wonderful holy gift of our ability to love. Whether we love our significant others or partners through romantic and physical love, or in platonic ways, within our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is our ability to love. In that gift is the ability and power to discern how God wants us to use the marvelous gift of love. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity in and of itself is not a disorder, evil or destructive when exercised within the context of loving, committed relationships. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression when used to seek the common good of others, to serve for the benefit of the other person (or people) is the gift of being LGBT or straight in holy and life-giving ways. When our sexual orientation and/or gender identity is used for destructive means, yes they can destroy. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is in and of itself morally neutral. What we do or how we do it can have a good or bad moral outcome. Discerning what is good or bad cannot be done by one rule for every person, because every person is different and must discern such for oneself. Using the Scriptures and teachings of Christianity to help guide that process is a wise and constructive thing to do. Using he Scriptures and Christianity to ultimately destroy or suppress who a person is, is destructive. Telling all LGBT people that our sexual orientation is "disordered" and therefore should be changed through reparative or "change" therapy is not a good moral thing to do. Encouraging LGBT people to exercise our sexual and gender gifts in loving, committed relationships is an excellent moral thing to do.
When Jesus calls the children unto himself and calls upon the wealthy to give what they have to the poor and follow him, Jesus is calling all of us to recognize that all that we have been given, is for the purpose of serving God and others around us. God also knows that all of us being limited, we cannot totally give of ourselves if we do not seek to receive from God and others that which we need to live wholesome lives. For some of us our difficulty may be not serving others enough. For others, the problem is that we serve others too much. In either case, God calls us to a balance of service of God and others through the gifts we have been given, as well as taking care of our own lives as God's people. In the life of marital partnership, whether the marriage is gay or straight the "other" that we are called to take care of is our partner, husband, wife, or significant other. However as Christians if our care and concern stops there, we still have not fulfilled what Jesus is calling us to here. We must also be concerned about others who do not have their basic human rights. As Christians we are to care about and for the poor, neglected, jobless, sick and those in the Gulf of Mexico who are suffering due to the oil spill.
When we recognize that we are to share what we have been given out of the abundance of God's grace with others for the good of the kingdom of God, we are fulfilling what Jesus told this wealthy person to do. And like all children, we know that what we truly need comes from God. It is God to whom we are to give thanks for what we have, and it is God, our neighbors and ourselves that we are to serve with what God has given us.
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 7, Book of Common Prayer, Page 230).
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, Page 826).
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unemployed, Book of Common Prayer, Page 824).
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