Cothesline #2

Greetings to all on 8 FEB 2007

Word for the Day
Extant - in existence, opposite of extinct. Our Bible is based on the extant manuscripts.

Quote for the Day
It is not enough to claim our sorrow and joy in silence. We must also claim them in a trusted circle of friends. To do so we need to speak about what is in our cup. As long as we live our deepest truth in secret, isolated from a community of love, its burden is too heavy to carry. The fear of being known can make us split off our true inner selves and make us despise ourselves even when we are acclaimed and praised by many. [1]

Website for the Day
www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/001/1.49.html
This is a MUST read article for all COC people!

Thought for the Day
Have you been following the story of Ted Haggard? Haggard was the founder and pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, a church that began in his home and had grown to 14,000 members. He was also the president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and an outspoken critic of legalizing homosexual marriages. But, in late October his world caved in around him when a homosexual escort accused Pastor Ted of paying for his services and using drugs. At first the accusations were denied, but over the next few days Haggard admitted that “enough of them are true” that he was removed from his pastorate and his presidency. [2] Ted and Gayle have five children.

Let’s take a step back in history for some background information. Remember when Abraham and Lot made the decision that it would be best to separate? Abraham allowed Lot first choice of the land. As Lot cast his gaze toward the east, he spied the fertility of the land. Perhaps Lot coined the realtor’s mantra, “location, location, location” as he was drawn to Sodom and Gomorrah. I will make the assumption that they were attractive, thriving cities. Did Lot know their dark secret? Or was it no secret, not even uncommon? At the beginning of this story, the writer says, “Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.” [GEN 13.13 See also Judges 19 for an even more disturbing story of degradation]

The sexual mores of Sodom and Gomorrah were not unheard of, though maybe not prevalent. The men of the town would have had wives and children at home; they just liked to come out and play at night. They were not homosexuals as we use the term today; a true homosexual community would not be growing because there would be no children. The Judges’ story confirms that these men would have sex with women also. These men were bisexuals.

The homosexual community of today is a relatively modern phenomenon. However, bisexual behavior has a long history; ancient Greece and Rome had patterns of bisexual practice. Perhaps the most famous example is Alexander the Great who had many wives and children but also sexual relations with his close friend Hephaestion. [3] Despite prohibitions in the Quran, bisexuality is tolerated in Arab countries, “so long as they marry and raise families and fulfill other societal duties.” [4]

Did you know there was a town near Galilee that made Sodom look tame? Well, maybe not every day, but during the religious festivals, Ceasarea Phillippi was filled with all varieties of sexual intercourse, including bestiality. Jesus walks his telmidim to that city according to Matthew 16.13-20. My opinion is that he chose to let them witness the depravity on the festival day. Ceasarea was a center for the worship of Pan, the Greek god of fertility. In the spring of each year they held a fertility festival to ensure abundant fields and flocks. It was true pandemonium! [5]

Return to the story of Lot and consider the reaction of his two future sons-in-law. They did not leave the city because they thought Lot was “jesting.” [GEN 19.14] These would have been young men, almost certainly from Sodom, who knew the culture of their city. Therefore, I suggest that if they had not been with Lot they would have been outside with the rabble. [v.4 “all the people to the last man”] God could not even find ten righteous people in the city. [GEN 18.32] Married, children, occasional tryst with another man - no problem! I have read that our time and culture is probably more like the first century than any time in between. Solomon said that there is “nothing new under the sun,” so we can at least take some comfort in knowing that total depravity is nothing new. [ECC 1.9]

Now, back to Ted, reading about his personal struggle got me to thinking about our tendency to harshly judge those whose sins go before them and labeling them as worse than those whose sins remain hidden. It is so sad that leaders like Ted Haggard have to fall before the critical eye of the nation. [6] Christians walk away confused and discouraged. Antagonists walk away with their cynicism cemented even more concretely.

Unfortunately, we too are often guilty of shooting our wounded. As Leroy Garrett said, “And if one is troubled about his or her sexuality - whether he or she is gay or lesbian - it is just as well to deal with the problem alone. Like many other churches, we shoot our rejects. We have had a bad habit of neglecting the heart.” [7] Let us remember that “The sins of some men are conspicuous, pointing to judgment, but the sins of others appear later.” [1TIM 5.24] May we not be so hasty in passing judgment on others but recall the old adage of, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”

May God Bless
Mike Toole
Lori Moores, ed.

1. Henri Nouwen, Can You Drink the Cup?, ave maria press, 1996, p.106

2. Ted Haggard’s Letter of Apology read to the New Life Church, 5 NOV 2006

3. found on www.alanfildes.com/intimatecompanions.php

4. found on www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/521802

5. Ray Vander Laan, www.followtherabbi.com

6. Do you remember? Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Joe Beam (COC), Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton, M. Norvel Young (COC)

7. Leroy Garrett, A Lover’s Quarrel, ACU Press, 2003, p.276