First, let me thank you for reading my article and for taking the time to share your thoughts and beliefs about this issue. As I wrote in my article, this issue requires humility and a great capacity to love in all of us. And it’s with this in mind that I’d like to respond to your comments.

I believe there are millions of people who might feel the same way you do if they were not gay.

Question is, what exactly is a “gay” lifestyle? What exactly is “straight” lifestyle? I agree with your notion that it would be nice if Christians would just be “Christians.” But there are at least two problems with this notion: First, it denigrates the genuine reality of concrete human existence. We are more than just amorphous persons—we are white, black, gay, straight, Greek, Roman, male, female, American, Russian, smart, stupid—and these roles can be rightly used with the word “Christian.” Second, the reason Gay Christian is being used as a term in the first place is because of discrimination and exclusion by most Christians. The label is necessary as long as Christians continue to express hostility towards the gay community. Gay people are not narcissists, and they are not looking for attention—they are seeking social justice, equality under the law, social rights and benefits. The recent “explosion” of gay “activities” is due to greater social acceptance—not a sign of a problem. Homosexuality is not a fad, a disease, or a trend—it's a deep-seated aspect of millions of human beings with dignity who are seeking to be given the same rights and social benefits as others. Over 78 large, blind, reputable studies conducted by unbiased psychological and social science experts have shown that there are no inherent psychological problems or deficiencies with gay people as gay per se. You can easily Google "gay mental health" and see for your self.  Additionally, many of the problems some gay people encounter can be traced to social discrimination. Homosexuality is a naturally occurring variation, not an illness or misadaptation.

Finally, I would ask, what interpretive principles do you use for your understanding of Scripture? Since the word “homosexuality” was not invented until at least 100 years ago, and it was not printed in the Bible until the 1946 RSV, and there is no Greek or Hebrew equivalent for this word, it’s reasonable to understand that Paul was probably not referring specifically to homosexuality as we culturally understand the word today. The theologian Cornelius Plantinga defines sin as the “culpable disruption of shalom.” This fits hermeneutically more precisely with Paul’s meaning (in the phrase you used) than incorrectly using it to elevate homosexuality as a “sin” above other sins. The Bible really does not fully address the topic of homosexuality. Jesus never talked about it. The prophets never talked about it. In Sodom homosexual activity is mentioned within the context of rape (raping angels nonetheless), and in Romans 1:24-27 we find it mentioned within the context of idolatry (Baal worship) involving lust and dishonorable passions. 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 talk about homosexual activity in the context of prostitution and possibly pederasty. Nowhere does the Bible talk about a loving and committed homosexual relationship. The only thing the authors of the Bible knew about homosexuality was that which they saw expressed in the pagan worship of Baal, the temple prostitution, et cetera. If we follow the flawed logic and eisegesis of the literalist’s interpretation of these passages, we could also conclude that David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba is an indictment of heterosexual sex and marriage.

As to my liberal hypocrisy, I just sound like a liberal Christian because I believe hurricanes are caused by high barometric pressure and not gay marriage.  True hypocrisy, however, lies with those who after encountering Jesus, still feel He is not Christian enough for them.

Thanks again for reading my article and I hope you check in often. You can also follow me on my blog, "the art of pew sitting" (timmccollum.com).  Grace and Peace be with you.