Okay – I think it’s time to finally drop my ten foot pole and offer some thoughts on what is probably the most divisive issue among Christians today:  homosexuality.  Yes, I’m going to take a deep breath, step out into the open, and try my best not to get hit by the cross-fire.

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One of the saddest and most embarrassing truths about Christianity is the staggering number of divisions and denominations which litter the religious landscape, with each group believing that it is the most accurate representation of what it means to follow Jesus.  Two thousand years ago Jesus launched a world-wide revolution, praying that his followers might “be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you… so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21), and two millennia later, thousands of denominations have split over everything from how churches should be governed to how baptism should be administered to whether or not women can be pastors (for a depressing list of denominations, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominations).  I strongly believe that it is time for the universal church to take a step back and pray again with conviction the words of Jesus – “May we be one, Father, just as Jesus and His Heavenly Father are one, so that the world might know that Jesus is the Savior.”

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A year and a half ago, when I was unemployed and home taking care of my baby son, I was visited by two Jehovah’s Witnesses, who asked if they might come on a regular basis to lead me through their “Bible study”.  While I had read books and browsed websites in the past that had helped me understand what they believe and how it differs from orthodox Christianity, I felt that it would be valuable and respectful to hear directly from the JW’s themselves what it was that they believed and why it is that they believe I am mistaken in my beliefs.  Over the course of about ten visits, I listened to their spiel and engaged them in some dialogue and debate over their views on Jehovah, Jesus, and what it means to be a true worshiper of God.  But when it became frustratingly clear to me that they weren’t the least bit interested in considering my opinion on matters, I let them know that I wouldn’t be able to meet with them any more.  It was very frustrating to me to get to know people who were so eager to convert others but so afraid of actually considering that they themselves might be wrong.

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Last week I quoted Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, who said something on Larry King Live a few years back which I believe accurately describes the climate of religious tolerance in which we live today:

“I am absolutely against any religion that says that one faith is superior to another. I don ‘t see how that is anything different than spiritual racism. It ’s a way of saying that we are closer to God than you, and that ’s what leads to hatred.”

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