Gift and Trust

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will consider a social statement this summer, Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust. As this social statement does not take a hard line against homosexuality, there is every expectation of controversy, and the expectation that we will be anathematized by some of our more conservative brethren. Again. While at the same time being accused of being milquetoast knuckle-draggers by our more liberal brethren.

So it goes. Christianity suffers from many divisions, with each side of every issue fully convinced in heart and mind that it is right. One of the great challenges that the ELCA faces is that so many of these fracture lines run through our synod, and issues of sexuality, especially the stance the church should take towards committed homosexual couples, are such issues. The draft social statement does not attempt to resolve these questions, but instead it tries to establish a clear scriptural and confessional framework for discussion going forward, and setting a tone of respect and consideration for all points of view.

The social statement is 35 pages long, but it deserves a slow and careful read. Mining quotes is a bit too easy—almost any sentence is quotable in some context. I'll include a few here that struck me. The first few deal with sexuality in the context of the individual relationships.

Page 10, lines 351-2. Sexuality finds expression at the extreme ends of human experience: in love, care, and security; or lust, cold indifference, and exploitation.

Page 11, lines 366-8. Sexual love—the complex interplay of longing, erotic attraction, self-giving and receiving defined by trust—is a wondrous gift. The longing for connection, however, also can render human beings susceptible to pain, isolation, and harm.

Page 11, line 378. Though sexual love remains God’s good gift, sin permeates human sexuality as it does all of life.

Page 13, lines 440-1. Sexual relationships may be among our most profoundly intimate, crucial, and self-giving expressions of trust.

The next few deal with “social structures that enhance social trust.” Here, the idea is that marriages are both social contracts, protected by civil law, and blessed by God. Thus, both society generally and the church specifically are bound into the relationship, and obligated to protect it.

Page 14, lines 501-2. Marriage is a covenant of mutual promises, commitment, and hope authorized legally by the state and blessed by God.

Page 14, lines 521-3. Because of promises of fidelity and public accountability, marriage provides a context of love, trust, honesty, and commitment within which a couple can express the profound joy of relationship as well as address the troubles they encounter throughout life.

People who want to excoriate the ELCA for its stance on divorce will find things to offend them on Page 15ff, beginning at line 537. People who find anything other than outright condemnation of homosexuality to be unscriptural can skip to Page 16, line 596, and begin their seething without delay. And our more liberal brethren can jump straight to Page 18, and stand appalled at our lack of decisiveness.

But for us, the Lutheran expression of the way of Jesus Christ, this is an important step forward as we continue to lead the march to modernity from the rear, with prayer, caution, and deliberate theological reflection.

Peace