[Oe List ...] FW: Salmon: Bishop Robinson's statement on the Bible

[Harry Wainwright]

From: Bill Salmon [mailto:wsalmon at cox.net] 
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 1:06 AM
To: Barry at triumc.org
Subject: Salmon: Bishop Robinson's statment on the Bible

 

Saturday evening, December 8, 2007

C-Span, Channel 21

A presentation by Episcopal Bishop Eugene Robinson, New Hampshire

Delivered at Southeastern University?

Topic: The use and misuse of the Bible

 

Addressed to Jews, Christians and Muslims

            I missed the opening of this program and didn’t decide to take
notes until it was clear that he was talking about how the Bible has been
used and misused regarding homosexuality, so the following notes are my
recollections. His remarks were directed to Jews, Christians and Muslims who
each have misused their Holy Scriptures to hurt others. 

 

A theological observation

            The salvation event is in Jesus Christ’s life, ministry, death
and resurrection.

            The Bible does not save us, but rather the Bible is our best
witness to the saving ministry of Jesus Christ. 

            The Bible has been used to support slavery, racism and sexism by
“good people.”

            This misuse of the Bible is still evident in blatant and
residual forms

 

An ethical observation

            I’m a racist even though I am a liberal who believes in
accepting all other races. Because I’m a white person society has organized
itself to benefit my kind. I don’t have to hate anyone. I don’t have to use
the “N” word, or to make other people feel bad because I’m at the top of the
heap and I can afford to be generous. But this still makes me a racist! We
continue to be racist until we deliberately work to dismantle racism!

            I’m sexist even though I’m a liberal who wishes to accept women
as equals. We’ll be racist until we actively work to dismantle sexism! Here
he gave examples of women in the church and their progress in the Episcopal
Church. He pointedly noted that the Roman Catholic Church has yet to make
the same kind of progress. 

            Also he gave examples of men living in hellish situations for 20
years because one is gay and the other is straight, so they divorce. Society
supports such marriages and applauds such divorces. While some gay couples
live in harmonious relationship for 20 years but society frowns on them
getting married. Why this discrepancy?

 

Why are heterosexuals so fearful of homosexuals?

            Robinson made the statement that the ROOT ISSUE is
heterosex-ism. One expression of this is misogyny, the hatred of women. His
point is the hatred of women is the failure of patriarchialism. The early
Jewish society made it possible for men to protect men – women were created
out of men, and they were treated as chattel. What happens is that when men
have a relationship to other men, one is treated as the woman! Because it is
below the nature of men to think of themselves as women these men are cast
out of society because our society can not afford to allow some men to be
accepted that way.

            One of his poignant examples is that in every sports movie, when
the team is down in the dumps, the coach gives a stirring speech and
declares them a “bunch of women,” as if that is the worst they could be.
Another example is that in ancient days when the winning side won a war the
soldiers raped the losing men as a sign of their superiority and the other’s
weakness.

            This same understanding prevailed throughout the Early Church as
well and continues to present time.

 

At the end of his talk he made the following challenges.

            Actually read the Bible for yourself--   

            First, Jews and Christians need to actually read the scriptures
rather than just believe what someone tells them it says. Ouch! Further, we
should not be ashamed of our Christian faith and use it as a way for God to
liberate all of God’s children. 

 

 

            Separation of private and public belief-- 

            Second, he called for the clear separation of private and public
belief. It is RIGHT for me to have my own personal beliefs. It is NOT RIGHT
for me to force my beliefs on you. This is the difference between democracy
and theocracy. Christians are called upon to do what is decent, what is
compassionate and what is constitutional. His example is that on January 1st
the State of New Hampshire will accept CIVIL unions. The Bishop explained at
length how that the use of Clergy to solemnize Civic law has led to the
misconception that religion and civil law are the same thing. He points out
that this is not the case. His partner and he lived together for the last 20
years. On June 1st, they are going to stand on the steps of the Courthouse
and the mayor will join them in a civil union. Then, they are going to walk
across the street to the Episcopal Church where they will ask God’s blessing
on their union. In a moment of levity, the Bishop observed, “I’ve always
wanted to be a June bride!” 

            The point here is that general society needs to be clear on what
are CIVIL RIGHTS and what are RELIGIOUS RITES. 

 

Question and Answer time

            After the program, addressed before a very small crowd of
(maybe) 50 people, two “Christian” men addressed very pointed questions as a
way to attack the Bishop. Perhaps, the most pointed attack was by man who
observed that his Bible was the Word of God. He believed this so much that
he and his fiancé refrained from sex until their wedding night because this
is the requirement of scripture. Also, he point out that in each of Jesus’
three confrontations with the demon in the desert Jesus replied, ‘It is
written. . . ‘ How could the Bishop place himself above Jesus?”

            The Bishop’s answer was rather impassioned. First, he noted that
the Bible had saved his life. As a young boy his ultra-conservative church
used the Bible to berate him until he considered suicide. However, in spite
of all their efforts, he still was able to hear the Word of God that he was
loved just as he was. Second, the Bishop said that he believes that God,
while “the same yesterday, today and tomorrow,” is a living God and
continues through the action of the Holy Spirit to make new revelations
every day. In this regard, the Bible, while the best witness we have to this
love demonstrated in Jesus Christ is not the only, nor the final, word about
God’s love.  

            Earlier, the Bishop addressed an earlier question and made the
observation that he would like to have the questioner (a man) in his
congregation. He noted, “You may not want me in your congregation, but I’d
like you in mine. Because I believe that my church is big enough for both of
us as long as we are open to each other rather than to be closed.” 

 

My generalizations

            This speech was very rational, well developed, and well
delivered. It was given as a C-Span presentation, so that it had a national
audience. Evidently, the speech was to be re-presented again at midnight.
I’m certain my notes do not do justice to his presentation, but these are
shared with you in the hopes of stirring your own juices. It might be
possible to retrieve this message some way by contacting C-Span, or to
directly emailing Bishop Gene Robinson. 

 

            Inner Peace!

            Pastor Bill

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