同志議題的神學、醫學與社會學討論講義

同志議題的神學、醫學與社會學討論講義
王道仁

2014/10/1

開始討論之前

同志議題是非常敏感的議題，在開始探討前，我必須說明幾點：

1.      我不是同志(LGBT男同、女同、雙性、變性)，但有很多同志的朋友。我個人不喜歡公開談論這個議題，因不管站在什麼立場，總是很容易有人在討論過程中受傷，這是會令我非常難過的。而且對同志朋友們來說，這是切身相關的重大議題，我身為局外人卻在外評論這個議題，讓我覺得很不配。但另一方面，身為傳道人我常常被詢問這方面的意見，許多基督徒和基督徒同志也都不斷在上帝面前思考和尋找答案，因此我不得不學習盡我所能來探討這個辛苦的議題，願恩典與真理的上帝的引導整個討論，保護每一個人，也安慰醫治受傷的人。

2.      對於我所認識的同志朋友們：謝謝你們願意接納我成為你們的朋友，我寫這篇文章的時候最害怕也最不希望的就是傷害到你們。其實你們不一定要在意我的想法或意見，但如果你們想看下去，無論如何我可以保證，這不會影響我和你們的關係。若我有不小心讓你們受傷或難過的地方，我感到萬分抱歉，也請你們饒恕接納我只是一個軟弱且常犯錯的人。我會繼續學習，也願上帝的愛與恩典不斷與我們同在。

3.      本文並不是希望去影響一個政策，而是希望能和基督徒一起研討並反省我們面對同志議題的選擇。因此本文是從基督信仰的觀點出發來寫給基督徒看的，不是要評論別人，而是為了調整自己。

同性性行為的聖經討論

以下我將嘗試用〈基督徒面對同志議題的第三個選擇〉[1]提出的原則來探討同志議題，在此先從聖經來討論。

1.      婚姻的設計

(1)   經文：人要離開父母，與妻子結合，二人成為一體。(創2:24、太19:5、可10:7、弗5:31)

(2)   經文：耶和華上帝說：「那人單獨一個不好，我要為他造一個配偶幫助他。」(創2:18)

(3)   說明：上帝對婚姻一男一女的原始設計，為耶穌所肯定。

(4)   爭議點：對雙性人來說，原始設計仍然有效嗎？但一些特殊情形並不妨礙原始設計。

(5)   爭議點：這個婚姻設計是強調性別還是強調陪伴與合一？這裡是有爭議的。

(6)   爭議點：原始設計是否要定成法律？例如雖然離婚不是原始設計，但摩西律法仍然允許。

基督徒面對同志議題的第三個選擇

基督徒面對同志議題的第三個選擇
王道仁

2014/10/1

開始討論之前

同志議題是非常敏感的議題，在開始探討前，我必須說明幾點：

1.      我不是同志(LGBT男同、女同、雙性、變性)，但有很多同志的朋友。我個人不喜歡公開談論這個議題，因不管站在什麼立場，總是很容易有人在討論過程中受傷，這是會令我非常難過的。而且對同志朋友們來說，這是切身相關的重大議題，我身為局外人卻在外評論這個議題，讓我覺得很不配。但另一方面，身為傳道人我常常被詢問這方面的意見，許多基督徒和基督徒同志也都不斷在上帝面前思考和尋找答案，因此我不得不學習盡我所能來探討這個辛苦的議題，願恩典與真理的上帝的引導整個討論，保護每一個人，也安慰醫治受傷的人。

2.      對於我所認識的同志朋友們：謝謝你們願意接納我成為你們的朋友，我寫這篇文章的時候最害怕也最不希望的就是傷害到你們。其實你們不一定要在意我的想法或意見，但如果你們想看下去，無論如何我可以保證，這不會影響我和你們的關係。若我有不小心讓你們受傷或難過的地方，我感到萬分抱歉，也請你們饒恕接納我只是一個軟弱且常犯錯的人。我會繼續學習，也願上帝的愛與恩典不斷與我們同在。

3.      本文並不是希望去影響一個政策，而是希望能和基督徒一起反省我們面對同志議題的選擇，因此本文是從基督信仰的觀點出發來寫給基督徒看的，不是要評論別人，而是為了調整自己。

基督徒面對同志議題的兩個選擇與困境

同志議題在台灣社會一直是有爭議的議題，老一輩的人有根深蒂固的想法，但年輕一代則完全相反。去年開始同志議題在基督徒圈中討論得非常熱烈，伴侶盟推動的伴侶三法，其中婚姻平權(同性婚姻)的修訂草案通過了一讀。雖然婚姻平權的草案並不包括伴侶制度或性解放，但教會界仍非常緊張，並以遊行來表達一夫一妻家庭的訴求。遊行之後法案似乎暫時沉寂下來，但有些基督徒同志非常受傷而離開原來的教會。

在爭辯的過程中，基督徒或傳道人似乎就是要選邊站：一邊是堅持聖經真理反對同性性行為，不過卻被另一邊視為歧視壓迫同志；另一邊則是和受壓迫的人站在一起，卻被視為放棄聖經和放棄性道德。兩邊都很痛苦：因為稍一發表意見，立刻就會被貼上許多標籤，並且批評、謾罵或嘲笑就接踵而至。基督徒似乎就是兩個選擇：要不是「恐同」就是「放棄聖經與性道德」。這兩種標籤都非常沉重，也讓人非常痛苦。

Advocacy for Social Justice: A Personal Reflection

Advocacy for Social Justice: A Personal Reflection

Tao-jen Wang

Social justice is important in the Bible and also in real world, and this is the reason for Christians to love and stand with the oppressed.  But things get complicated when dealing with homosexuality, which is becoming a heated issue in Taiwan.  The society of Taiwan is divided on this controversy, where the younger generation being more open and pushing the older generation to change.  A Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights (TAPCPR)[1] was formed and has been trying to change the law: to allow same-sex marriage and establish a system “partnership relationship” to coexist with the traditional marriage system.  In 2013, TAPCPR successfully pushed the same-sex marriage law amendment draft proposal into Legislative Yuan’s committee review process, which did not include the “partnership system,” but might lead to a quick law change regarding to same-sex marriage if the proposal was accepted.  But this ignited the churches in Taiwan to form a Family Alliance with multiple religious groups and organize a parade to defend traditional marriage system and uphold family values.  The parade seemed successful and the proposal was not accepted, but churches in Taiwan were labeled as “not tolerant” and “homophobia” by the younger generation and some LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Christians left their church.  There were a few pastors sympathetic of the difficult plight of LGBTs and were supportive of same-sex marriage.  Though they might not be supportive of the “partnership system,” they were labeled as compromising the Bible and succumbing to sexual liberation movement by others. 

Church and Mission in Global Contexts: A Personal Reflection

Church and Mission in Global Contexts: A Personal Reflection

Tao-jen Wang

Global Christianity is changing: an emerging “south” Christianity that Jenkins described in his book[1] is transforming the look of global Christianity.  The “south” is more conservative,[2] indigenous,[3] and sometimes Pentecostal.[4]  In contrast, religiosity is declining in Western society and even in the United States.[5]  So what’s wrong with western Christianity?  Is the culture of western Christianity too liberal and going down the wrong path?  Or is charismatic experience the key and we should all pursue it?  Or from a non-Christian point of view, do people become more “civilized” and “rational” and then abandon their religion? 

If we look deeper, people tired of churches in the United States are still seeking spirituality.[6] Human, being created by God, certainly has spiritual needs; it’s the church that disappoints.  And a conservative theology does not guarantee from disappointment or decline; evangelical churches in the United States are also going down.[7]  Pentecostalism may or may not help, but there seems to be difficulties for some people to experience God in this way than others even if they are willing: spiritual gifts are given by the Spirit “who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Cor. 12:11 NRSV)

And when we are analyzing global Christianity, we should keep in mind another important question: is “size” or “number of Christians” the only right way to analyze a church?  Is the largest church in the world always doing the right thing?  If so, the Protestant Reformation should never take place and Jesus’s church should be seen as a failure.  Actually nearly every church with its theology has its ups and downs.  Only God and His Word have the final say on what is right or wrong for a church.