Burnishing Bigotry - 3rd edition

Wayne: Actually, they would not be speaking the truth about the Way of Jesus. But that is
part of the problem today; many people treat the New Testament of the Bible as though it were
a bag of ―Trail Mix‖; taking only what they want and ignoring what doesn't suit their taste.
Scaughdt: Wayne – just as a matter of clarification – are you one of the parties of this
discussion who ―picks & chooses‖ the Loving portions of the New Testament (i.e. someone who
give the teachings of Jesus precedence over all other teachings in the Bible), or are you one of those
who ―picks & chooses‖ condemnatory verses from the Old Testament to justify his own
personal, childhood-indoctrinated prejudices? If you consider yourself to be the former group,
then I say Right On, Brother! (the Jesus of the Gospels would soooo be digging that vibe as well) ...
And yet if you consider yourself to belong to the latter, what do you make of Hebrews 8:6-13?
―But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the
mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. For if that first
covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one ... In
speaking of ‗a new covenant‘, he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and
growing old will soon disappear.‖ ~ Hebrews 8:6-13
Wayne: You did notice that I specifically mentioned the ―New Testament‖, did you not? I am
not one of those who mentions Matthew 7:1 and then ignores the rest of that chapter.
Scaughdt: I see … Then I can fairly assume that you are one of those instead who focuses on
Matthew 25 while ignoring the rest of that Gospel?
Bart: I ask again: What message are such [gay] pastors sending?
Scaughdt: Well, for starters, a gay pastor would be sending the message that God's Love truly
is perfect (Matthew 5:48) ... *And a gay pastor would be sending the message that Love is
indeed stronger than fear (1 John 4:18) ... *And a gay pastor would be sending the message that
above all else we are to have the courage to Love our enemies (Luke 6:27 et al – even if those
enemies are arch-conservative members of our own church) ... *And a gay pastor would be sending
the message that God's Love is extended to all His creations, not only His heterosexual ones …
*And a gay pastor would be sending the message that God's Grace is much greater than some
of His more prejudiced, Old-Testament-based, ―Paulinist‖ followers might believe ...
Those are just some of the wonderful messages that a homosexual pastor could be
sending by his mere presence behind the pulpit. Shall I go on and list a few more?
16