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"Traditional Family Values" has become a powerful political slogan and
an anti gay weapon that cannot be ignored. Did Jesus talk about family
values? How can Jesus lead us into a Christian gay and lesbian
understanding of family values? Jesus expressed great respect for
family values. Luke 2:39-52 tells how Jesus as a child respected his
parents and remained subject to them. Even then, however, Jesus
recognized that God was a higher authority in his life.
Jesus revealed to his parents that he was different and that he had a
special mission in life that they did not understand. When his parents
found Jesus in the Temple, they were surprised and said exactly what a
lot of parents say to gay children when they come out to them: "How
could you do this to us! We have been looking for you sorrowing (lit.
"in great pain")." Jesus did not apologize to his parents for "coming
out" and acting on who he really was. He simply said that he had to be
his true self and left it at that. His mother was loving and accepting
even when she did not understand. We need more mothers like Mary!
Jesus rebuked his mother for telling him what to do and then did it
anyway in John 2:3-11. Later, Jesus provided for his mother by telling
his beloved disciple to take care of her. Yet Jesus also taught that
following him was more important than usual family obligations in
Matthew 8:21-22: "Another of the disciples said to Jesus, Sovereign, let
me first go and bury my father. But Jesus said to him, Follow me; and
let the dead bury the dead."
JESUS CHALLENGED ALL TRADITIONS.
Parents selected children's mates.
Women were property and had no freedom in choosing their partners.
Jesus elevated women from property to persons to partners in ministry
and respected and honored little children, all of which was new. Jesus
set into motion many freedoms we assume today.
YOUR UNION WITH CHRIST
The word "forsake" used by Jesus to tell his followers that they should
forsake everything else in order to be his disciples is the same word
used for forsaking father and mother in order for the human partners to
"become one" in marriage. In Matthew 19:29, Jesus set loyalty to him in
contrast to traditional family values:
Same sex committed couples who are bound to each other by their love can
joyfully look to Jesus for guidance and strength for living. Their love
for each other, their service to Christ in their personal lives and
their ministry of acceptance and encouragement to others can help
everyone redefine family values more in keeping with the example and
teachings of Jesus. Gay couples can challenge the rest of the world to
put Jesus at the center of marriage instead of focusing on law, custom,
procreation and social pressure.
GOING BEYOND TRADITION
Everything that Jesus did was new. His new understanding of family was
revolutionary. The traditional family ties of the time of Jesus were
challenged and replaced by ties to Jesus and to doing the will of God.
When the mother and brothers of Jesus came to get Jesus, the crowd told
Jesus that his mother and brothers were looking for him. Jesus answered
by asking, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about on
those who were sitting around him Jesus said, "Look! Here are my mother
and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and
sister and mother." (Mark 3:31-35)
You do not choose your biological family. Jesus sets you free to chose
who will be closest to you and who will most influence your life. What
kind of choices have you made in selecting people to be in your life?
Your freedom in Christ includes your freedom to decide who your circle
of closest friends will be. Freedom to chose your "family" implies your
obligation to chose wisely. You can destroy a lot of your freedom by
making bad choices. Have you ever done that?
Jesus carefully selected his closest friends. God will help you do the
same.
JESUS MAKES ALL THINGS NEW
Jesus gave a "new" commandment that his followers should love one
another just as Jesus loved them. The only way that you can follow that
commandment is to have Jesus in your heart and mind. Whenever the
Spirit of Jesus comes into your life, the first evidence is your love
for people. "The fruit of the Spirit is love." (Gal. 5:22).
Loving one another includes loving your biological family also. Jesus
did not reject traditional family values of his time. He went beyond
them to define all values in relation to himself. Jesus calls you to a
radical letting go of everything in order to follow only Jesus. The
bottom line in everything for Jesus was, "FOLLOW ME."
Have you experienced Jesus in your life?
Showing how ignorant and prejudiced the radical homophobic
fundamentalists are about family values is not enough. We agree that
"hate is not a family value!" We are called by Jesus, however, to go
on to define everything in the light of God's inclusive and accepting
love demonstrated for all people in the life and work of Jesus. The
first step in your successful challenge to the Traditional Family Values
Coalition is to connect with Jesus in whatever way best fits you and
follow him!
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Honesty/Texas
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