Wheres the Grace?

Chris Hoskins — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:42:19 +0000

I’ve been wrestling with blogging about this for a while, I want to avoid bringing any more negative attention to this issue, but its been in the papers, radio and bbc website now, so most folks will probrably have heard something about it.
I’m talking about Queens Cross Parish Church and theirMinister Elect: Scott Rennie.
Scott is openly Gay and living with his partner, and was honest enough to be upfront with Queens Cross before starting his post. This led to a group of Ministers dissenting and challeging the call.
But I don’t want to go into the issue of sexuality, I want to talk about peoples attitudes when they address the issue of sexuality.
Whenever the issue of sexuality is discussed, Grace and Love always seem to be the first things to be forgotten. It is so easy to judge people for their stance on it(and I’m aware thats also what I’m doing here!).
I have to admit, I struggle with the issue. Not because I am Gay, but because of the people I know (on both sides of the issue), my belief in what the Bible is and how that informs my life and beliefs. Yes, the Bible has passages that call homosexuality a Sin, I can’t ignore those. But what I also cannot ignore what the Bible teaches about treating people with Love, with Grace, with Dignity. I cannot inore the example Jesus set in accepting people and loving them no matter what (and I take this into account in all situations, not just when encountering someones sexuality!). I try to live my life accepting people for who they are and trying to love them like Jesus would. I know I don’t always(if ever) attain this, but I have to try.
I genuinely face this issue with confusion, or is it fear? I find it hard to make a decision to condone or condemn practicing homosexuals in ministry. I don’t know if this is because I am confused about what I believe that God teaches us through the Bible about it, or if it is fear of potentially losing friends over the issue. I hope it is confusion, I hate the idea of fear controlling any part of my life, and theres still that part of me who doesn’t want to hurt people through my beliefs.

So thats me, where i come from, don’t judge me too harshly on what I’ve just said!

What about some of the stuff going on in Scotland just now? This is where I will probrably come across as extremely judgemental!
I don’t see a lot of love and Grace in the more publicised comments about this issue. I find it ironic that the media seems to be criticising the Church for how judgemental it is. Whenever this issue, or any other negative publicity for the Church pops up in the media, so many people (often with no Church connection!) jump on the bandwagon and use it as an excuse to dump on the Church. I hate that. Where are these people(media and naysayers) when the Church is doing incredible work? And then theres the people in the Church. The people who feed the negativaty by being horrible about and to each other. Something I’ve noticed coming from both sides of this argument. People woh support Scotts call spreading rumors about the ministers opposing it and people unconnected with the opposing ministers starting a petition ‘in their name’. I am so glad that not everyone is like this, there are people, from either ‘camp’, that are calling for this to be dealt with graciously and lovingly. These are the people I agree with and have respect for.

I still don’t know what to think, I expect this is something I’ll struggle with for my whole life. So for me, I guess the only way forward is to keep struggling onwards and just trying to love everyone as i think Jesus would.

In the meantime, here are some other blogs where you might get some good insight on the issue:
Bridging the Gap
Measured Words
A blogging backlash
Not in my name

Peace Out (I hope)

Gaza…….

Chris Hoskins — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:02:38 +0000

So, unless you’ve been living in the wilderness or under a rock you’ll have heard what’s going on in Gaza.For that reason, I feel no need to go into details of what’s happened, except to register my outrage and shock!
How can you justify in any way the killing of so many civilians? “We want to stop rocket attacks into Israel” they claim, I may be a non military type, but it strikes me that any country serious about that claim, and not just using it as an excuse, would do so in a way not as likely to draw more anger from their ‘target’ country (I hate that phrase). The one thing I’m not surprised by, is that the US alone abstained from a UN resolution calling for ‘ “immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire” leading to the “full withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza. ‘
I’m so saddened and angered by this attack on Gaza, as if they didn’t suffer enough there! I had an unexpected argument with one of my friends yesterday, they wholeheartedly support this attack and the ’security wall’ being built aound the West Bank…..
We all know that theres not much we can actually do to change whats happening out there, what we can do is raise awareness and let our governments know our displeasure…so do it!
So anyway, I’ve signed this and I know many of you already have, but if you haven’t, please sign this petition calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, please!

Endure Fort» Petition

Wheres the Grace?

Gaza…….