Sexual immorality, linguistics, and hope

So the theme of significant Bible passages continues this week. Last night I was asked to read at mass and lo and behold! I got to read this passage…

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:9-11, New American Version).

This is one of those verses that I would have taken umbrage to just a few years ago. It seems, at first, to be a rather harsh criticism from St. Paul towards persons with SSA. Of course, it must be noted that the word “homosexual” wasn’t coined until the 19th century (OED) and there is still some debate about what exactly St. Paul was referring to, i.e. pederasty, or prostitution, but it seems to me that in light of Jesus’ teachings on the subject, any sex outside the sacrament of marriage would have been sinful, so I don’t know why homosexual activity needed to be singled out. But that is not really my point.

So you have a list of sinful behaviors that St. Paul decries, and it just so happens that homosexual activity is one of them. So? It’s not as if St. Paul has declared homosexual activity “unforgivable” or especially vile. It is simply another behavior that separates people from God, and as such it must be abandoned. Just like being a drunk. Or a swindler. Or a gossip. Or a thief. We’re all just sinners, trying to get along with God. So wherefore all the fire and brimstone in regards to homosexual activity in the evangelical media? It’s just another in a long list of sins, no more or less harmful to a person’s relationship to God than gossiping. Than gossiping!

I bring this up because so many of us are just racked with guilt about our sexuality and we punish ourselves endlessly because we think that somehow that suffering will redeem us, cleanse us. But it’s so unnecessary and really it is quite dramatic. Here are the facts that most scholars can agree upon:

1. Homosexual activity has been occurring throughout history 2. St. Paul addresses (among others) persons who sin by engaging in homosexual activity 3. Homosexual activity is no more or less sinful than any other sexual activity that occurs outside of the sacrament of marriage 4. Celibacy was valued by both Jesus and St. Paul.

So it’s no big deal. Homosexual acticity (not an orientation!) is sinful and must be avoided. Just like all the other sins. And the Churches at Rome and Corinth both had members who at some time had engaged in homosexual activity. So let’s look at that verse one more time, this time with the verse that immediately follows…

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And that last verse means everything: Washed. Sanctified. Justified.

The Church is open to all, even those of us who are homosexual, even those of us who are prostitutes. And no amount of self-inflicted suffering, narcissism, or guilt can cleanse us. Only the love and mercy of Christ Jesus can do that–indeed it has been done. We must find the courage to embrace that sanctification.

the body as living sacrifice

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. ROMANS 12: 1-3 New American Standard Bible

This passage was one of the readings last week and it jumped out at me immediately, and it has continued to resonate with me around every corner. Twice I have heard priests mention the need for “redemptive suffering” this week and twice I have heard discussions about our society’s use of sex as currency. It’s difficult to disagree–I see clothing lines marketing provocative clothing to children, and movies glorifying underage sex as cool. Take the recent film Superbad. Look at the Limited Too. It disturbs me to think how much pornography children have access to these days. But I’m not going to help change the world unless I first change myself. So how do I go about that?

Making my body a living sacrifice… there is some quality in me that yearns for this, that has always yearned for this, although I do not know fully how to express it. I’ve no intention of being dramatic or harmful to myself like those who whip, cut, or mutilate themselves–that seems to me to be a gross misreading of the text, though I wager there are plenty who adopt practices such as those.

Celibacy, I think, is a starting point, and it helps to make the body clean and (in my experience) decreases obsessions with sex. Jesus taught the virtue of celibacy (Matthew 19:12) as did St. Paul (1 Corinthians 7:1-9) and we are so fortunate to have a long history of priests and religious who serve as shining examples of what it can mean to offer one’s chastity to God. It isn’t easy, hence the element of sacrifice. Other deprivations seem fitting as well: vows of silence, fasts from internet, tv, or music, rigid diets and exercise. All of these things perfect not only our bodies but our minds as well, and they seem to me to be very pleasing to God.

Then there is work. I will be looking for a new job next year and I cannot escape the notion that my first priority must be to secure work that allows me to continue developing myself spiritually and leaves me free to serve the Church. Never mind retirement or benefits or fat paychecks…Am I brave enough to take that road?