Neither do I condemn thee...

Ok. So I have so many conflicting thoughts on this particular topic: mainly, the interpretation of Scripture, and how it does or does not change with the changes in culture. I have no idea if anyone will even read what I'm writing here.  But if you do read, I ask that you will come with an open mind. And that you will read the whole way through before commenting, should you choose.  Also, I question whether I even dare take on such an issue as this, being such a lay person as I am.  I have never studied Greek or Hebrew.  Theology is not my day job.  (And feel free, if it is yours, to correct me where needed here.) With those fences in place, I'll tiptoe in.
  A recent blog post over at Momastery (I'm not linking to it, but it would be pretty easy to search for it there) discussed whether or not homosexuality is a sin. The writer says, no, it is not.  She says that all of us pick and choose what we want to believe in Scripture.  Yes, she actually says that.  And she proves her point by saying that women speaking in the church (even in an all women's Bible study) or wearing a necklace at church and not wearing a head covering proves that.   And while I see what she's attempting to say there, I completely disagree with her reasoning.
The biggest thing I have learned from becoming Reformed is that you must let Scripture interpret Scripture. Where Scripture is silent, stay silent.  Where it is undeniable, be undeniable.  And the questions that inevitably come up?  You can search the whole of Scripture and come to an answer.  (And if you can't, then just say "I don't know.)
So: head coverings.  I am no theologian.  From what I understand, you can look through Scripture and see  many places where women are required to wear them.  However, Paul makes it very clear that it has become a cultural situation, not a universal mandate inherent in the whole of Scripture.  There are several (good) interpretations for why women should wear them.  This is where you continue to go back to the Scriptures time and again. Then,  using the truth that "in a multitude of counselors there is wisdom," ask for help if it's still unclear.  At the time of Paul's writing more churches than not women were wearing the covering.  The churches were mainly in agreement, and Paul is asking them to stay in agreement.  However, he is not making a universal statement for all times and all cultures. He is speaking in a certain context.  Which is why today, mainline orthodox Christians have come together and reasoned- in agreement- for women to no longer wear them. Today, the culture has shifted so that it would be more distracting for women TO wear them. So we don't.  Times have changed. But the truth of unity has not.
The same is true for the idea of women speaking in the church.  At the time, women were not allowed to go to school and get an education.  So they had to learn from the men in their lives.  But- in a radical move for that culture- they WERE being allowed to learn at church.  Imagine how excited and happy they were!  They were equals before God! Can you imagine all the questions they had?  You've been there before.  Maybe it was a class with a teacher that taught in just the right way that it seemed your brain was completely engaged.  You had so many questions!  The same was true for these women.  Where to start?!  Well, this would obviously have been quite distracting for in the middle of the church service women began raising their hands so much that no teaching or preaching got done, just answering a million questions.  So Paul is answering a practical need for women in that day. *There are other interpretations of this passage, this is the one that makes the most sense to me, and seems in keeping with the whole of Scripture as I understand it.
So....now for those who would like to apply this same principle to matters such as homosexuality;  or women preaching from the pulpit; or any manner of cultural issue that comes up to test our faith as the years go by.  What are we to do?  Is there any universal truth?  Are there any truths that stand the test of time and culture?  Why should I believe what they are saying is truth if it's going to change in just a few years? How in the world do we navigate all of this?
As for homosexuality and women preaching, I actually go to the same principle: the order established at creation.  That is a guiding principle that stands the test of time.  It is undeniable that God created Adam first, then Eve.  A man, then a woman.  He then gave them different jobs immediately.  He also created the first marriage right there in the garden and called it "good."  And throughout the rest of the Bible, God expounds on those first principles without straying from the original truth.    If one looks at the Bible, it is plain that these stand the test of time and culture.  There is not a point where we see God saying, "Well, you see, that was only for then, now I'm creating a new creature and a new standard."  No. Some practical and cultural things change, but the guiding principles established at creation haven't changed.   So what am I to do when the culture all around me starts changing and even folks in the church start to wonder if the Bible is really right on all of this?   I am to go back to the Bible, the source of truth. If I can't come to a definitive answer on my own, go to godly men (and women!) who are also studying the Bible for answers and see what their thoughts are on the matter. (I love the Westminster Confession in times like these.)  And pray.   Take my time and search the Scriptures, prayerfully asking God to show me His heart on the issue at hand.  If I can't come to a conclusion, leave it there for a time while continuing to ask for clarity.  And don't dare speak one way or another until that clarity comes.
I hesitate to write this post because the way the Church is presented on issues such as this is "judgmental." "Haters." And, yeah. There are way too many who claim to be Christians out there promoting their particular views in horrible ways. It is detestable. There should be this outcry against it.  And we should be known by our love, not by our hate.    Additionally, there are so many Christians being incredibly wishy-washy on these issues that as a whole we either come across as hateful or weak.    But thankfully, the Word of God is neither of those.  It boldly proclaims the truth of God and the love of God.  It proclaims that the One true God, who created the world and mankind, out of His love, allowed His only Son, Jesus, to be born on earth and to die to correct the problem of sin and redeem His people.   And in light of that gospel message, I cannot judge another for his or her sin.  Because my sin did just as much damage.  I stand equal to all the other sinners out there-my sins are just as guilt-ridden and worthy of judgement as yours.  So for me or any Christian to participate in hate speech or bully type behavior is completely contrary to the gospel. It is wrong, and it grieves our Lord.  But what also grieves Him is for us to say something that He calls evil is "not sin" or "good."  We are not God. We don't get to decide what is sin or not.  It was not our only Son who died to pay for those sins.
So what do we do?  First, the most important thing: our clarion call must be love.  Just as Jesus told the Pharisees that the first one who had not sinned could cast the first stone at the woman caught in adultery, the same is true for us.  We come to our fellow human beings out of a shared experience of utter sinfulness.  Oh that we would understand this more!
From that point of equal share in the guilt of sin, we can point to the cross.  Only from that place.  If Jesus, the One sinless human did not condemn the woman caught in adultery, neither should we when faced with homosexuality or anything else God calls sin. It is not our own righteousness that saved us. If it couldn't save us at the cross, why do we dare to act as if it gives us reason now to look down our self-righteous noses at those around us?  And if Jesus, the only One who could have made a huge example of the woman caught in adultery to prove how evil and destructive adultery is....if He didn't do that, why should I when faced with a similar scenario today?
So, first we love. Second, we point to the cross.  First, we love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and strength. Second, we love our neighbor as ourself while looking to the cross.  We love the Lord by loving His Word. We love our neighbor as we would want to be treated and loved if found in the same scenario as we remember that we all stand equal at the foot of the cross.
I truly believe if we follow these principles we could navigate these issues with more clarity and effectiveness.  Oh that the Church today would be known for love, not judgement; for cross centeredness, not self-centeredness; for lifting up, not tearing down!