Hopkins "exiled women" and "expelled homosexuals"

I would like to make a few comments regarding the aforementioned article by Mr. Thad Hopkins. I understand that this article was printed in the “Opinion” section of the Almanian and I understand that this article was just that, opinion. I am not writing this letter to in anyway judge Mr. Hopkins remarks for then I would be hypocritical. However, I must remind Mr. Hopkins of a few things that he seems to have forgotten.

I first begin with the appeal to Christians about the use of and leadership of the chapel. Mr. Hopkins, the Alma College Chapel is not a Christian church. It, in fact, is not any kind of church. It is a chapel, a non-denominational place of worship for all religions. Yes, I do understand that there are Catholic masses held at the chapel and that sometimes services take the form of Presbyterian worship. However, the chapel is still non-denominational. I say with a great degree of certainty that other religions are welcome to hold ser-vices in the building. Whether Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, or otherwise, all religions are welcome in the Alma College Chapel, not just Christians. You cannot claim the chapel as solely a Christian place of worship; it is not. Next, I examine your claim that women have no place in the leadership of worship. I respect your opinion, but in my opinion, women DO have a place in the church. You quote I Corinthians 14:36 as stating that women shall not teach or usurp authority over men. You take this verse com-pletely out of context. I suggest that you read ALL of Paul’s writings in the Bible and make an attempt to understand what his writings mean, not what they say. This is not an issue of interpretation. This is an issue of your lack of background. Paul is speaking to the women of a congregation who were “out of order.” He is speaking to a group of “rowdy” women who, if left to teach, would seek to usurp authority (men’s or otherwise) and teach incorrect lessons. This is the meaning behind Paul’s statement. Here is a partial list of women Paul supported who were in church lead-ership positions: Pheobe (Romans 16:1-2), Priscilla (Acts 18:26), Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3), and Junia (Romans 16:7). Paul would not have supported these women in leadership positions if he had desired women to be left out of leader-ship roles.

I move on to your claims about ho-mosexuals. Yes, according to the Bible, homosexuality is sinful. But what you fail to consider is that homosexuality is not the only sin the Bible lists as “perverted sexuality”. According to the Bible, por-nography, pedophilia, prostitution, bes-tiality, oral sex, phone sex and cyber sex are also considered “perverted sexuality.” I find it appalling that you single out ho-mosexuals when there are countless men and or women who have partaken in any number of these activities. However, I find more appalling this statement that you made: “…homosexuals – people who are not Christians, and who are clearly living sinful lifestyles according to the Bible.” I have two huge problems with this statement. First of all, where in the Bible does it ever state that homosexuals are not Christian? IT DOES NOT! According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin, nothing more, nothing less. Yes, homosexuals are living a sinful lifestyle. But it seems to have slipped your mind that ALL of us live sinful lifestyles. Have your forgotten that all people sin? I feel that you need to be reminded that you and I are sinners just as much as any homosexual or any other person in this world. I also need to remind you that all sins are equal in the eyes of the Lord. According to the Bible, homosexuality is a sin, yes, but it is not a special sin that cannot be forgiven. Homosexuality is forgiven just like any other sin. How dare you make a claim on behalf of Christianity that the sinful lifestyle of homosexuals makes them non-Christians? If a sinful lifestyle makes someone a non-Christian, then neither you nor I, nor anyone else in this world is a Christian.

I would like to close with a final point that I feel you must be reminded of. Luke 6:37 states: “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” Please consider that you are judging women and homosexuals, you are condemning them, and you are not forgiving them. You have exiled women from leading any sort of religious gathering and you have expelled homosexuals from the Christian religion. These are broad and powerful statements and I ask that you prayerfully consider the serious-ness of the claims you have made. I will not judge your opinion to be right or wrong (doing so would be hypocritical), however, I do disagree with your opinion. I feel that women always have and should continue to have a place in the Christian church. And while I do not choose homo-sexuality as my sexual orientation, I will not judge others who do. I will support them as children of God and recognize that their sins can be forgiven. In closing, I pray for you Mr. Hopkins. I pray that you fully understand the statements you have made and their seriousness. I also pray that you understand that our God is a forgiving God. We all sin Mr. Hopkins, regardless of gender, sexual preference, age, denomination, race, social status, or anything else. God forgives all our sins if only we ask forgiveness. Mr. Hopkins, I pray for you.

JOHN KRUSE (06)

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