02-09-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 9, 2024
In the study we had yesterday on Mark’s Gospel, I made a passing comment about Mark 1:29-30 where we read: “As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.” In its history, the church has often danced around the idea of the disciples being married. There have been times when the church could not hold the Apostles up as these exemplary models of Christ-like living and at the same time suggest that they were married (and having sex). Yet, as far as I know, it is nearly impossible to have a mother-in-law and not be married (or widowed). There have even been those who have tried to translate it as something other than mother-in-law, yet Clement of Alexandria (born in 150AD) suggested in his writing that both Peter and Philip were married. How is it that a religion based on the Bible can be so prudish and find it necessary to have such a strong aversion to anything that implies sex? The Bible, specifically the Old Testament, is rather racy in places. There are many verses where an euphemism is used that might be missed in the English translation. Yet at the end of the day, even if we play down some of the passages that are spoken with a wink and a nod, we have too often made a part of what it means to be human into something that is dirty or brings shame. Despite some folks wanting to ignore it, each time there is a ‘begot’ in the Bible, there was some sex involved.

Help us, Gracious God of all, to embrace a faith that is real, honest, and unashamed of what it means to be human. Your church has been filled with folks who are trying to figure out who they are, and we should not be afraid to speak faithfully about what it means to be creatures that not only have sex but desire it. Amen.