On 02/08/2004, at 15:21, Greg Crawford wrote:
At the end of the day, I don't think the matter will be determined by agreeing
on the *role* of the Bible, but rather by a judgement of how, on balance, the
principals of hermeneutics should be applied concerning this particular case.
Surely both of these are important. Application of the principles of hermeneutics is clearly one important issue, (a related but separate one is *which* principles of hermeneutics we apply); but an equally important issue is the authority of the Bible and how that authority is appropriated in the church's life.
Even if it was possible (which of course it isn't) to come up with a definitive interpretation of the biblical data on homosexuality, that doesn't answer the question of how that interpretation is applied to the life of the church - is it binding? Is it non-binding but useful guidance? Does it act as an exemplar and if so, what are the conditions of application in our current circumstances. I see these as primarily theological issues rather than hermeneutical issues per se.
I took it that these are the kind of questions to which Jonathan referred and I agree that they are critical to any move forward.
Cheers Linz
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