finding affirmation: [part 1] are you serious?

I try to take the Bible seriously. I am also theologically affirming of my LGBTQ neighbors.

This is BECAUSE of my understanding of the narrative of the scriptures, clarified by Jesus, not in spite of it.

More times than not, when other church people find out, I hear some form of:
“I get that, but for meeeeee....I believe the words written in the Bible when it says that marriage is between one man and one woman.”

The implication is that I (or the many others like me) have either never read those words or have read them and simply choose to ignore their existence.

The further implication is that those who are serious about the Bible follow it literally.

But here are some other words written in the New Testament:

• Women should be silent in church (1 Co 14:34-35) 

• Women shouldn’t braid their hair, or wear gold or pearls (1 Pe 3:3, 1 Ti 2:9)

• Men must pray with their head covered (1 Co 11:4)

• Women shouldn’t cut their hair short (1 Co 11:6)

• It is a disgrace for men to have long hair (1 Co 11:14)

• Slaves should obey their masters in everything (Col 3:22)

• Give to anyone who begs from you or asks to borrow (Matt 5:42)

• If anyone sues us, we must not resist but must give them even more than they ask for (Matt 5:40)

• If our eye causes us to stumble, we must gouge it out and throw it away (Matt 5:29)

• Anyone who calls someone a fool will be in danger of the fire of hell (Matt 5:22)

• We should not resist evil people when they try to hurt us, instead when they hit us we should turn the other cheek to them so they can hit that too (Matt 5:39)

Most people I talk with don’t take these very clear words very seriously literally.

And I’m not saying they should.

Because the Bible needs interpreted. We need to understand context and culture and examine the whole picture. And we make those choices every time we read the Bible.

Every time we choose NOT to take something literally, that’s a choice of interpretation.

And every time we choose TO take something literally, that’s ALSO a choice of interpretation.

It’s not taking it more seriously. It’s just coming to a different interpretation.

Now I’m not saying all interpretations are correct. And I’m not going to argue with you right now that MY interpretation is correct. And what we’re definitely not going to do is publicly debate the souls of friends.

All I’m asking is that we stop playing the game that acts like everything is as simple as reading the words on the page. 

And then maybe sometime we can grab coffee and discuss the rest.