Created Male and Female

Reading: Matthew 19.1-15

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We meet in worship today to worship our Lord, to hear his Word, to be open to his Spirit, to be ready to respond to him in faith and love and obedience. We also meet in worship today with a measure of concern for the life of the Uniting Church – concerned lest as a Church we fail to hear his Word and to declare his grace in our fallen world.

Ten years ago as a Church, we thoroughly discussed the issue of Homosexuality and the Church. As a result of that discussion it was clear that 92.5% of those who responded clearly affirmed the traditional view of that condition. There may have been some for whom that affirmation involved a measure of ignorance and/or prejudice – but very few, for the issues were thoroughly discussed. For the majority, I believe there was a strong conviction that homosexuality is not a condition fixed by creation or genetics, that homosexual acts are to be acknowledged (along with many other of our human attitudes and activities) as sin, that Jesus died for homosexual (as well as other) sinners, that God’s grace in forgiveness, restoration and healing is possible and available for all sinners…

The necessity and possibility of this forgiveness and change is specifically affirmed by Paul in 1 Cor.6.9-11 – “Surely you know that the wicked will not possess God’s Kingdom. Do not fool yourselves; people who are immoral or who worship idols or are adulterers or homosexual perverts or who steal or are greedy or are drunkards or who slander others or are thieves – none of these will possess God’s Kingdom. Some of you were like that. But you have been purified from sin; you have been dedicated to God; you have been put right with God by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

There have been those in the Church concerned that we not make a statement on sexuality which might be regarded as judgmental in a society with changing sexual values. And there has been a small vocal lobby group pressing for the ordination of homosexuals. So a six-year study on the broad issue of human sexuality was set up and is due to report to Assembly next year. In spite of the clear views of Scripture, of two thousand years of Church history, as well as of a clear majority of Uniting Church people, there were only two on the twelve-person task group with a clear understanding of and commitment to the Biblical and traditional view of human sexuality. This is an advance on the previous task group which only had one!

What has been released this week – with copies of a summary available to you today – is simply an interim report of this task group. It does not represent the views of the Uniting Church, though it does represent what some would like the Church to affirm. The media wants to make as much news out of the interim report as possible. But for us within the Uniting Church there is the important task of reflecting and commenting on this interim report in strong and clear terms within the next six months.

Within this parish we are making an immediate response through the petition that is available to you. This immediate response has been deemed necessary in the light of media publicity. We will be involved in the longer-term detailed study of the complete document, but the mission of the Church cannot wait until then. We have a responsibility to one another and to the community in which we live.

There are in the report a number of statements with which we would want to agree. Sexuality is an important part of who we are as human beings. It is part of the good creation of God. The summary notes, “The Church has a role in promoting sexuality as a normal healthy aspect of being human. This requires an openness that assists young people to develop a sense of self-esteem, safety and knowledge about their sexual identity in the context of the gospel.”

God has created us as sexual beings – all of us are either male or female – but he has set boundaries to how sexuality is to be expressed.

The interim report places strong emphasis on living in right relationships. This in itself is important. But there is a hesitation to affirm that specific sexual behaviour is to be reserved for the commitment of a man and a woman within marriage. And there are affirming statements, “From the perspective of right relationships there is no legitimate reason for rejecting homosexuality or homosexual relationships per se. The same ethical standards for right relationships should apply both to heterosexual and homosexual relationships.”

We are committed to minister to people who have come through sexual abuse or have lived in a variety of situations. It does not help our ministry if we fail to see clearly that God has set boundaries, that to transgress those boundaries is sin and that forgiveness and grace are available for sinners… The unease that people feel in their conscience is not to be assuaged by “affirming” words. Within themselves there is an awareness of a wrong that needs to be addressed, a wound that needs to be healed.

We are called to compassionate, caring ministry. For some, especially those who have been involved in homosexual or lesbian activity, it will mean a long-term commitment to walk with them the difficult and painful road to normality. There are many from Paul’s time to this who have walked that road and rejoice in the grace and deliverance that God has brought to them.

All of us share in the brokenness of human sin within our personalities and actions – including in the area of our sexuality. All of us need the grace of God in forgiveness and transformation in our lives. All of us face the necessity of change in one way or another. For the homosexual, this is more difficult because it involves their perception of their own identity.

The summary of the interim report says, “The Task Group acknowledges that there is considerable difference of opinion over whether same sex relationships should be blessed and celebrated. The Task Group believes such relationships should be recognised and affirmed and work begun on appropriate liturgical resources.”

Please note that this proposal does not represent the view of the Uniting Church. If we are to continue to be a Church which listens to and lives under the Word of God, it must never become the view of the Church. We cannot bless or celebrate what God so clearly does not bless – that would be blasphemy! A Church that began to do that would cease to be a Christian Church. It grieves us that it should even be suggested.

Our Bible reading today tells the response of Jesus to a trick question the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does our Law allow a man to divorce his wife for whatever reason he wishes?” It was one of the issues the Rabbis of that time debated. One major school of Rabbis interpreted the Law in a very strict way, the other is a liberal way – in our terms, a man could divorce his wife for burning the toast!

In reply Jesus goes back to God’s purpose in creation. We are made male and female. God’s purpose is that a man leave his parents’ home and unite with his wife. In a very special way they become one and “man must not separate what God has joined together.” That is God’s purpose in creation. Because of human sinfulness, there has to be (in the Law of Moses and in modern law) provision for marriage breakdown, but that was not the original purpose of God. Only in the case of unfaithfulness is there an actual break in the union that God has created between them.

We are created either male or female – thank God for that! We need to celebrate his love and all the potential for human love which he has designed in us. We need to celebrate the sexual potential which he has designed to be fulfilled only in the life-long commitment of marriage. But there has been a Fall, and it has affected us all in a variety of ways. In his great love our heavenly Father sent Jesus, the Son of God, to live our life without sin and to give his life for our salvation. Forgiveness and a whole new lifestyle are possible for any and all of us as we come acknowledging our sinfulness and put our trust in him.

You are here in Church, but have you come to him? He calls you, “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest…”

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