The Children Are Free

Transcription

1 Teaching the book a Reading Strategy for teachers & students to familiarize themselves with The Children Are Free Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-sex Relationships by Rev. Jeff Miner and Rev. John Tyler Connoley Written by Rev. Stephen Parelli June 2015 Bronx, New York For Biblical-studies use in Uganda 2015

2 a Reading Strategy for teachers & students to familiarize themselves with The Children Are Free Table of Contents Understanding the authors purpose in writing this book Preface of the Book page 2 Unlearning where the Bible has been misunderstood Chapter One: The Clobber Passages page 3 Discovery how the Bible affirms LGBT people Chapter Two: Finding Affirmation in Scripture page 12 The gold standard of biblical interpretation: Jesus! Chapter Three: How Jesus Applied Scripture page 18 Yes, it can happen again: 21 st century straight and LGBT Christians can become one! Chapter Four: Relearning an Ancient Lesson page 22 A Final Word: To Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual People page 26 1

3 Understanding the authors purpose in writing this book Preface of the Book - page xiii Preface, first paragraph, last sentence Question 1 Your answer Question 2 Your answer The Goal of the Book To present a comprehensive, well-document analysis of all the Biblical data on homosexuality Flip through the book. Where in the book do the authors give their documentations for their interpretation of the Bible passages? What are some of the Bible texts that you can think of that talk about homosexuality? Question 3 Your answer On pages 23 25, find the endnotes. (1) Endnote #17 names what author as a source/documentation? (2) Endnote #24 provides what type of source/documentation for a list of the usages of arsenokoitai? (1) What author: (2) What type of source: Preface, third paragraph, last sentence Question 4 Your answer Question 5 Your answer The Question the Book is Answering Can two people of the same sex live in committed, loving relationship with the blessing of God? What are the two key words the authors used in describing the same sex relationship they are talking about? In a few words, what makes for a loving, committed relationship? 2

4 Unlearning where the Bible has been misunderstood Chapter One: The Clobber Passages pages 1 26 Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) Read pages 2 6 and answer the following questions Q6 Why do you think the authors mention the Middle Ages the way they do in paragraph 1, page 3 Answer (page 3, paragraph 1) Two Facts found in the Bible text of Genesis Q7 Fact #1 Why do the authors say all the people to the last man (Gen. 19:4) is an important Fact of the story? Answer is on page 3: Q8 Fact #2 Why do the authors say that for Lot to offer his daughters to the people at the door is an important Fact of the story? Answer is on page 4: Here is the authors leading question in view of the above two facts (page 7, paragraph 2): If the m for the attack was n h d, then what was it? Three illustrations to show Genesis 19 is about male rape Q9 Illustration #1 What is the August 9, 1997, Illustration? Are the policemen here homosexuals? 3

5 Q10 Illustration #2 What is the F**f you! illustration about? Is the man in the Ford F150 a homosexual? Q11 Illustration #3 What is the ancient Near Eastern practice mentioned here? Are the soldiers homosexual? Q12 Endnote #3 (on page 5) is given to document Near Eastern soldiers sexual abuse of their male enemies. What are the two sources? (1) Author s name: (2) Author s name: The Genesis 19 story of Sodom and Gomorrah is about a m r, not homosexual desire. (page 5, paragraph 3, last sentence) The authors test their above proposition (male rape not homosexual desire): The acid test: The question: If the Sodom story (Gen. 19) were... would Bible students say the about men attempting to force story (Gen. 19) is a condemnation themselves sexually upon women... of heterosexuality? Q13 see page 5, para. 4 Q13a Yes, it would condemn heterosexuality, or No, it would not condemn heterosexuality Q13b How does this acid test prove, according to the authors, their argument that Genesis 19 is about male rape? Your Answer: 4

6 The Bible never refers to the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah as homosexual desire Q14 Ezekiel 16:49-50 Jeremiah 23:14; 49:18; 50:40 Deuteronomy 29:13; 32:32 Lamentations 4:6 Isiah 1:9-17, 3:9, 13:19 Amos 4:11 Zephaniah 2:9 Read the above verses. Write here some of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah: Yes or No: Did any of the Bible verses mention homosexuality as the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? Q15 Page 6, Paragraph 1 The words assume and driven and stereotype are used by the authors to describe how Christians today misread Genesis 19 What words would you use to describe how Christians today misread Genesis 19: Unlearning where the Bible has been misunderstood (con t) Going after strange flesh (Jude 19) Read pages 6 7 and answer the following questions Q16 At the time Jude was written, what did strange flesh refer to? Q17 Jude 7 refers to the women of Sodom, not the men of Sodom. Name the two parties involved in the sex act of Jude 7. 5

7 Unlearning where the Bible has been misunderstood (con t) Do not lie with men as you would with women (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13) Read Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 Read pages 7 12 and answer the following questions How Language is Interpreted, pages 7 9 The Authors Argument A rule, because it is established in the context of a set of facts that describe the situation under which the rule was first established, is to be applied to subsequent situations only if the facts of the subsequent situation are the same as the facts of the original situation under which the rule was made. If a wife says to her husband Don t touch me! What is she saying? It depends. What were the facts of the situation in which she said Don t Q18 touch me? Situation #1 The husband and wife are going through a divorce Situation #2 The wife is awful sick with a fever and her skin is prickly If the Rule Don t touch me was established under Situation #1, how would you interpret the rule? Q19 Q20 Q21 If the Rule Don t touch me was established under Situation #2, how would you interpret the rule? What is the NT passage of Scripture that illustrates this principle that rules are limited to the facts of the original situation under which they were established? You Reflect Why do you think the authors are discussing this common sense approach to the application of rules just before they present their study on Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 (and also their study on Romans 1)? 6

8 According to the authors: We cannot correctly apply the RULE of Lev. 18:22 and 20:13 to same-sex couples today, pages Q22 Read pages 10 and 11 and list some of the facts of the Leviticus situation: FACT: FACT: FACT: Q23 List some of the characteristics of a modern day same-sex relationships FACT: FACT: FACT: Q24 What is Rev. Jeff Miner s Answer (page 8, lines 1 and 2) background in law (he is one of the two authors of the book)? Q25 Do you feel Miner s background helps or hinders his interpretation of Leviticus 18 and 20? Explain your answer. Your Answer: Do you agree or disagree with the authors conclusion (page 12, Q26 paragraphs 2-4): Lev. 18 and 20 is not a rule against all sex between men, it was a rule against sex in pagan ritual, directed at homosexual temple prostitution only. I agree. I do not agree Explain why you do agree, or why you do not agree: 7

9 Unlearning Where the Bible has been misunderstood (con t) Trading natural relations for unnatural (Romans 1:21-28) Read Romans 1:21-28 Read pages and answer the following questions Revisit (above) How Language is Interpreted, pages 7 9 in the book Establish Paul s style of writing (page 16, lines 1 4): Paul thoroughly explains the factual assumptions and rational behind his condemnation of the behavior described here Q27 Q28 Q29 Q30 Why do the authors say this clobber Answer: passage (Romans 1) is the easiest one to interpret? Read page 14 and name any three of the 5 steps in Paul s step-by-step logical progression: STEP: STEP: STEP: List here any of the 5 steps in Paul s logical progression (from page 14) that describe the homosexual(s) you know personally. STEP: STEP: STEP: According to the authors, why is step #4 in Paul s logical progression NOT a description of a homosexual today? Answer page 14, paragraph 2: Q31 The authors contrast two MODELS On the next page, write in the respective columns some of the contrasting characteristics of each MODEL 8

10 Romans 1 Paul s MODEL, p 14 Tyler s MODEL, p15 The authors conclude (page 16, paragraph 2) that Paul is addressing a d s of f... and issued a ruling applicable to those facts which ruling does not apply to homosexuals today Q32 In one sentence and using the word MODEL, tell why the authors have come to this conclusion about Romans 1? Answer: Unlearning where the Bible has been misunderstood (con t) No fems? No fairies? (I Corinthians 6:9-20 and I Timothy 1:10) Read I Corinthians 6:9-10 and I Timothy 1:10 Read pages and answer the following questions I Corithians 6:9 Looking at the word effeminate (KJV) which is the Greek work malakoi which means soft (Note, the Greek word is plural and masculine, so we apparently are taking about men, but what kind of men?) The authors give two possible translations for malakoi (masc. plural): Q33 If a general reference is intended, then a type of m w is meant (page 17, paragraph 2) If a specific reference is intended, then m p is perhaps meant (page 18, last sentence before the first paragraph) If the general reference is intended, then what is meant is a soft or effeminate or malakoi man who was more fearful, more vulnerable, and more vain than women. 9

11 Rate a yes or no: What would make a man effeminate today? Q34 Is a man who likes to... (see page 17)... considered woman-like in Paul s time... considered woman-like in our time dress well eat a lot own expensive things experience pleasure over duty look attractive; fixing his hair all the time hyper-masculine posturing -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO -YES/NO Q35 According to the authors, malakoi has nothing to do with the question at hand, (see page 1, paragraph 2). What do you think? Why would some Bible translators mistranslate the word malakoi to read homosexuals? (The author does not say why; this is for you to think of mayb3 why.) Write your ideas here: I Corithians 6:10 and I Timothy 1:10 Looking at the phrase abusers of themselves with mankind (I Cor. 6 and a similar phrase in I Timothy 1:10, KJV). This phrase is translated from the Greek work arsenokoitai. Because the word is so rare, its exact meaning is probably lost forever. Q36 Arsenokoitai has been identified how many times? over how many centuries? (page 19, paragraph 4) Used how many times? Over how many centuries? Q37 What does endnote #24 provide the reader? And on what page is the endnote found? EndNote #24 provides: Endnote #24 is on page Q38 Arsenokoitai is used in reference to a Greek god (page 20) What is the name of the Greek god? 10

12 Q39 Q40 Arsenokoitai is used in a legend as a reference to a Satanic figure (Page 20) What is the name of the Satanic figure? In both stories the Greek god and Ganymede, and the Satanic figure with Adam what does arsenokoitai seem to mean in these stories? Answer: (page 20, top half of the page) Looking at the two Bible lists of sins in which arsenokoitai appears (see page 20) Q41 Q42 Q43 I Corinthians 6:9-10 I Timothy 1:10 What is The preceding word The word in question arsenokoitai arsenokoitai What is The word that follows Because of the place where (or, the order in which) the word arsenokoitai appears in the two Bible lists, the meaning would seem to be: (see page 20) How can so many Christians be wrong? (pages 22-23) Q44 Q45 Who have been the theologians who have studied these Bible passages? The authors use the saying when their own ox is being bored to mean what here? Answer (page 23, paragraph 2): Answer (page 22, paragraph 3): 11

13 Discovery how the Bible affirms LGBT people Chapter Two: Finding Affirmation in Scripture pages The authors introduce this chapter by exposing our filters, by exposing the lenses or glasses through which we read the Bible Q1 Q2 Q3 Surprise! The following Bible stories are gay-positive (page 27) Surprise! The following Bible stories have special meaning for sexual minorities (page 27) Watchout! The following Bible stories threatens some of society s deepest prejudices (page 27) Write a response (not from the book): Write a response (not from the book): Write a response (not from the book): Mark Twain s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn illustrates how it is hard to change our prejudices read pages Q4 Who is Widow Douglas Answer: Q5 Who is Huckleberry Finn Answer: Q6 Who is Jim Answer: Q7 Huckleberry Finn believes he will go Answer: to hell for doing what? Q8 What are the Bible verses that Widow Douglas would use to allow for the institution of slavery Answer: Reading the Bible with a Fresh Perspective Ruth s covenant with Naomi, pages What was the nature of Jonathan and David s relationship? pages The Ethiopian eunuch: Despised and rejected, but not by God, pages Diversity in Creation (Jesus on gay men and marriage), pages When Jesus met a gay man, pages

14 Ruth s covenant with Naomi Read Ruth s vow of love and commitments to Naomi, Ruth 1:16-17 Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main argument (page 31, paragraph 2): It is inconsistent to use Ruth s vow of love and commitment to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17) in heterosexual wedding ceremonies today and say the love between Ruth and Naomi could not have been a spousal love. Q9 How do the authors describe Answer (page 30, paragraph 3) Ruth s marriage to her husband (Boaz) Q10 The authors note that Ruth makes no mention of her love for her husband as she does for Naomi Does this contrast support the idea of spousal love between Ruth and Naomi, or not necessarily? (Not from the book.) Your own response: Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 In Ruth 4:17, Ruth s newborn son is said to be born to whom? Ruth 4:15 celebrates the love between Ruth and whom? Read Ruth 1: List items from this passage that indicate aspects of what we look for in a husband-andwife spousal love relationship The authors title this section Ruth s covenant with Naomi. What is a covenant? Does the book of Ruth support the idea of a covenant? Answer (page 31, line 3) Answer (page 31, line 4) Write your list here: You Reflect. Your Answer: 13

15 What was the nature of Jonathan and David s relationship? Read I Samuel 18:1-4; 20:30-42; II Samuel 1:1-38 Read pages and answer the following questions A story of romantic love between two men (page 33, paragraph 2): The authors maintain that Jonathan and David s love was not a brotherly-love, but a deeper (romantic) love based on the evidence of the story (page 33, paragraph 4). EXHIBIT A A classic love-at-first sight encounter I Samuel 18:1-4, p Q15 The authors ask us to imagine two different situations. What are they? (1) First situation - (2) Second situation - EXHIBIT B The sexual shame of Jonathan (with David) I Samuel 20:30, p Q16 Q17 Q18 The authors paraphrase (page 36, paragraph 1) The blame goes first to the mother Can t you see how you are shaming the whole family. Do you even care what this will do to your career? Write here the corresponding phrase from I Samuel 20:13 Q19 Saul s reference to shaming Answer (page 36, paragraph 2): Jonathan s mother s nakedness carries a s connotation. Q20 Endnote 4 references an Old Testament passage. What is it? Answer (page 53, endnote 4): EXHIBIT C A tearful goodbye; an eternal covenant I Samuel 20:41-42, p Q21 Why was it unusual for David, as king, to adopt Jonathan s son as his own son? Answer (page 37, lines 2-5) EXHIBIT D A love song by David about Jonathan II Samuel 1:23, 26-27, p Q22 The authors say that David s love song is a black and white statement of David s romantic love for Jonathan. Write here the last line of the love song (from II Samuel 1:27) 14

16 Endnotes 6 and 7 on David and Jonathan as lovers, pages Q23 Endnote 6 makes reference to what ancient Near Eastern writing? What is Answer (page 53) (1) (2) homoeroticism? Q24 Endnote 6 connects the Epic of Answer (page 53) Q25 Gilgamesh with what Bible story? Endnote 7 says David and Jonathan were queer; one was gay and the other was bisexual which was which? (1) David was ---- (2) Jonathan was ---- The Ethiopian eunuch: Despised and rejected, but not by God Acts 8 Read pages and answer the following questions We have no way of knowing whether the Ethiopian eunuch was in fact gay. But we do know he was part of a class of people commonly associated with homosexuality and that this fact was completely irrelevant to whether he could become a Christian (page 44, paragraph 2). Q26 What did a eunuch do? Answer (page 40, paragraph 3) Q27 What did this (Acts 8:27) eunuch do? Where was he from? Q28 Q29 Q30 Q31 Name sources from antiquity that indicate that eunuchs were, by and large, gay. The authors claim that eunuchs were the sexual outcasts of New Testament times. What OT passage is the clobber passage for eunuchs? What OT passage promises hope for eunuchs? Answer (page 40, paragraph 3) (1) What -- (2) Where -- Answer (page 41 42) Could this eunuch have entered the temple area? Answer Answer (page 43, paragraph 1) Answer (page 43, paragraph 2 and 3) 15

17 Diversity in creation (Jesus on gay men and marriage) Matthew 19:4-5, Read pages and answer the following questions Q32 What are eunuchs who have been made so from birth, according to the authors? Q33 Q34 On page 46, the authors say As we have already seen... What pages in the book are they referring to? Do you agree with the authors conclusion that Jesus is saying, in Matt. 19:11-12, that gay people are created this way by God? Give your reason why or why not. Answer (page 46, paragraphs 2-3) Answer Answer When Jesus met a gay man (and healed his male lover) Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10 Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main argument According to the authors, the Greek word pais used for the sick servant of the centurion in the two gospel accounts (Matthew and Luke) identifies the centurion as a gay man and his servant (or purchased slave) as his male lover. As used in Mathew and/or Luke List the possible meaning(s)... Q35 Q36 Q37 The centurion calls his sick servant pais (Matt. 8:6, 13) The people call the centurion s sick servant entimos doulos (Luke 7:2) The centurion calls his other servants doulos (Luke 7:8; Matt. 8:9) Answer (page 47, paragraph 2): (1) (2) (3) Answer (page 48, paragraph 3): entimos doulos Answer (page 48, paragraph 3): Textual and circumstantial evidence as seen in the Biblical account that 16

18 Q38 the sick salve (pais) is the centurion s male lover, not his son nor a slave in general (pages 48-50). EVIDENCE #1 Luke s account indicates male lover How do the authors show that Luke must be using pais to mean male lover and not boy/son and not slave Explain (page 48): Q39 EVIDENCE #2 In Matthew s account the centurion uses both doulas and pais. How does the centurion presumably use these two words differently? Answer(pages 48-49) : Q40 EVIDENCE #3 Because the centurion is seeking a miraculous healing for this slave, it may indicate that the pais (which is a dear slave see Luke and therefore not a son ) is therefore someone very special, i.e., his male lover which pais means (as one of its three usages) How do the authors develop this idea (as circumstantial evidence) that seeking a miraculous healing could indicate pais as male lover? Explain (pages 49-50): 17

19 The gold standard of Biblical interpretation: Jesus! Chapter Three: How Jesus applied Scripture pages The authors introduce this chapter by challenging our modern day approach to spiritual decision-making which can be summed up with the catch-phrase The Bible says it. I believe it. That settles it! Q1 Q2 Q3 How many commandments have been catalogued in the first five books of the Bible? The authors present two NT rules that Christians often dismiss. Give the Bible references. All will acknowledge that at least some rules in the Bible are inapplicable which leads to a very important question--- Answer (page 57, paragraph 4): Answer (page 58): (1) Bible reference #1 (2) Bible reference #2 What is that important question? Answer (page 59, paragraph 3): Three key instances when Jesus was asked whether he or his disciples should follow a particular scriptural rule 1) The common-sense approach to Scripture (Mark 7:14-15) Read Mark 7:14-15 Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main idea Legalism should not prevail over common sense (page 60, paragraph 5). This principle is derived from Jesus having taught, with regards to food rules, that externalities don t (obviously) affect the soul (page 64, paragraph 1). Q4 What had occurred, which upset Jesus so much, that he had to talk about legalism and common sense? Answer (page 60, paragraph 5 page 61): 18

20 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 In a few words, what were the food rules of the OT about? Jesus decision that the Bible s food laws need not be kept was based on what? How do the authors apply this principle of common sense (tied with abolishing food rules) to same-sex relationships Even if there was a Bible rule against homosexuality, how would the law of common sense apply, according to the authors? Answer (page 61-62): Answer (page 63, paragraph 1): Answer (page 64, lines 3-5, and paragraphs 1 and 2): Answer (page 64, paragraph 2): 2) The standard of compassion (Matthew 12:7) Read Mathew 12:7 Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main idea (page 66, paragraph 1): Jesus always chose compassion for people over strict adherence to biblical rules. Q9 What were Jesus disciples Answer (page 64, paragraph 5) doing on the Sabbath? Q10 What did the Pharisees say about the disciples? Answer (page 64, paragraph 5) Q11 Q12 Q13 For breaking the Sabbath, one could be stoned to death in Moses day. Whom did Jesus call guiltless? Jesus quoted Hosea. What was that quote? What OT passage tells us this? Answer (page 65, paragraph 1) Answer (page 65, paragraphs 2 and 3) Answer (page 65, paragraph 2 and 3) 19

21 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 Q19 When the same story is told in which Gospel, the principle is mankind was not made for the Sabbath. On page 66, paragraph 1, the authors list the many biblical rules Jesus broke. Name some of these rules he broker. What did Jill and the gay married man in public ministry have in common? What did David and Pam have in common? What did the professor say about Troy s suicide? How do the authors apply this law of mercy to supposed biblical rules against homosexuals? In which Gospel? Answer (page 65, paragraph 5) Answer (pages 66 68, paragraph 2) Answer (page 68, paragraphs 4 and 5) Answer (page 69, paragraph 1) Answer (page 69, paragraph 3) 3) : The responsibility of Jesus followers (think) (Matthew 17:24-27) Read Mathew 17:24-27 Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main argument (page 31, paragraph 2): We know that Jesus want[s] us to approach Scripture the same way he did (with common sense and mercy, not strict observance, thinking through each situation) because, in this case of legalism versus freedom (Matt 17), Jesus asks Peter to think for himself (like Jesus would think for himself in every situation ) about the given biblical rule at hand in this passage (which rule was the Old Testament tax law). NOTE: In the authors Study Guide, page 13, they clearly state that Jesus made it clear that he and Peter were not bound by the tax law. Q20 Where in the OT was the Answer (page 70, paragraph 2) temple tax prescribed? 20

22 Q21 Q22 Q23 Jesus was not satisfied that Peter had assumed the legalistic approach to follow a biblical teaching without thinking about it first. When Jesus said the children are free, of whom was he speaking according to the authors point of view? According to the authors, what are we free from? What did Jesus ask Peter to think about? Answer (page 70, paragraph 2) Answer (page 70, paragraph 4) Answer (page 70, paragraph 4) Taking the Bible seriously, pages Q24 The Bible is not a book of Answer (page 71, paragraph 3) laws frozen in time. What is the other great source for guidance? Q25 In the statement... what is new and what is old, the authors identify each as... Answer (page 71, paragraph 3 page 72, paragraph 3) The old = The new = Q26 Galatians 5:1, Paul is writing Answer (page 72, paragraph 1) against legalism; what does he say we should do? Q27 How does a follower of Jesus discern truth? Answer (page 72, paragraph 3) Freedom in Christ, pages 73 If there were a rule in the Bible which prohibited loving, committed relationships between people of the same sex, Jesus would set that rule aside by applying common sense and mercy. Q28 What does common sense say in this case? Answer (page 73, paragraph 2) Q29 What does mercy say in this case? Answer (page 73, paragraph 2) 21

23 Yes, it can happen again: 21 st Century Straight and LGBT Christians can become one! Chapter Four: Relearning an Ancient Lesson pages Setting the stage: First century Jewish and Gentile Christians Q1 Q2 What two Jewish practices (from the Old Testament) did Gentile Christians, unlike their Jewish Christian counterparts, not follow? The Jewish Christians of Acts learned to accept the Gentile Christians. The authors compare this with what need in the 21 st century. Answer (page 75, paragraphs 2 and 3): Answer (page 76, paragraph 1): The Acts 10 and Acts 15 Story A biblical model for becoming one Scene 1: Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10) Read Acts 10 Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main idea Peter learns that Gentiles are not to be called profane or unclean and that he can eat with them in their homes even though the Bible strictly forbids it (page 77). Q3 What was the meaning of the vision of the lowered sheet with unclean animals in it? Answer (page 76, paragraph 2 page 77, paragraph 1): Q4 What was the gift the Gentiles received in Cornelius house? Answer (page 77, paragraphs 2 and 3): 22

24 Q5 The authors call the Christian Jews legalistic in how they accepted the Christian Gentiles? Why? Answer (page 78, paragraph 1): Scene 2: The showdown (Acts 15) Read Acts 15 Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main idea The authors want us to see how the first century Christians came to understand that God made no distinction between the Gentile and Jew, Acts 15:9 (page 77). Q6 What was the difference between the church in Antioch, where Paul was, and the church in Jerusalem? Answer (page 78, paragraph 3): Q7 Q8 Q9 Q10 Q11 Q12 What message did the legalistic Jews of Jerusalem send to the church in Antioch (Acts 15:10)? What were the two camps that arose in the church at Antioch? Act 15 is commonly called the Jerusalem Council Why did the Council meet? What did Peter say at the Jerusalem Council? and Why was this important? What did Paul and Barnabas say at the Jerusalem Council? Did the Jerusalem Council, in the end, welcome the Gentile Christians into the Church? Answer (page 78, paragraph 3): Answer (page 79, paragraph 1): Answer (page 79, paragraphs 1 and 2): Answer (page 79, paragraphs 2 and 3): Answer (page 79, paragraph 4): Answer (page 78, paragraph 4): 23

25 You will know them by their fruits (or, an eye-witness account) Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main idea Just like the Jerusalem Council upon seeing that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit permitted them into the Church without significant restrictions, so too should the 21 st century church do the same with LGBT people of faith. And so, this section of the book is a testimony to present-day gay Christians. Q13 Peter and Paul did not make a Answer (page 81, paragraph 1): Biblical case for accepting Gentiles into the Church, instead, what was their reasoning based on? Q14 Accepting Gentiles into the Answer (page 81, paragraph 2): Church was hard to do for two reasons. What were those two reasons Q15 According to the authors application of Acts 10 and 15, who, today, are the modern Gentiles? Answer (page 81, paragraph 3): Like Peter and Paul before the Jerusalem Council, the authors share with the Church at large what they have observed of gay Christians individually, and the gay Christian community as a whole The Christian (pages 81-85) Q16 Sarah Fershee Write a word or two that describes this person, or what this person contributes to the discussion Q17 Q18 Q19 Q20 Mike Driskell David Squire Brenda Wilhelm Rev. Linda Patrick (straight) 24

26 Two steps forward, one step back (or, confronting legalism) Read pages and answer the following questions The authors main idea The struggle with legalism has continued throughout the history of the Church (page 85, paragraph 4). Q21 The legalists at Jerusalem Answer (page 85, paragraph 3): continued. Eventual, they had which apostle arrested? Q22 Which apostle waffled back and forth over legalism? Answer (page 85, paragraph 3): Q23 Beginning with the Middle Ages to the present time, the authors list the history of the Church s struggle against legalism. Identify here some of the Churches struggle with legalism: Answer (pages 85-86) Q24 In Acts 7:51, what did Answer (page 86, paragraph 4): Stephen say to the legalistic Pharisees? Q25 If Christians (with compassion and common sense) resist the churches legalism against LGBT people, what will God s grace accomplish? Answer (page 87, paragraph 1): A summary of what we have learned by reading this book (page 87, paragraph 2) Q26 In Chapters 1 and 2, we learned that... Q27 In Chapter 3, we learned that... Q28 In Chapter 4, we learned that... 25

27 A Final Word: To Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual People pages Coming back, or for the first time ever, to (the real) Jesus Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 What is the point the authors are making in telling how Tyler, as an adult, does not have any interest in any team sport. The negative voices of those who have condemned us should not be confused with... The first two chapters of the book taught us what about God and LGBT people? Name some of the radical positions Jesus took as listed by the authors Answer (page 89, paragraphs 2 page 90): Answer (page 90, paragraph 1): Answer (page 90, paragraph 2): Answer (page 90, paragraph 3): Three recommended practices for following Jesus (bottom of page 90 91) Q5 What is the first recommended practice? Q6 What is the second recommended practice? Q7 What is the third recommended practice? 26