In an Aug. 12 news statement, the Exodus national office cites Matthew 18 as a guideline for Episcopalians responding to the naming of a monogamous gay bishop.

The Exodus national office neglects to consider that, in the view of many Christians (conservative and liberal), antigay Christians are sinning brothers. The widely published tirades of antigay Episcopal priests like Steven R. Randall, who equates gay-tolerant Christians with the Sept. 11 terrorists, exemplify the antigay movement’s refusal to hear the church — in other words, its insistence on being “like a heathen and a tax collector.”

Exodus reflects:

The difficult part will be to not rush to separation before seeking reconciliation.

Conflict and division is never easy but it is sometimes necessary in order for the kingdom of God to remain undiluted and unified. We feel the Episcopal leaders who voted to approve the unrepentant gay Bishop and passed other measure are in error. We support the efforts of our brothers and sisters to bring the leadership to repentance or for separation.

In its finger-wagging against gay-tolerant Episcopalians, Exodus seems to misapply core Christian practices of reconciliation and repentance.

Both are two-way streets. Reconciliation and repentance often require a change of heart among both factions in a dispute. And given the violent hate being voiced by the former faction, it is unfortunate that Exodus selectively points fingers at the latter.

Exodus doesn’t seem to “get” reconciliation or repentance. Whether this stems from a subjective morality, political bias, or something else, is subject to debate.

In any event, if any partisan cause is going to quote the Bible as if to say, “God is on MY side,” then it can expect to have the Bible — sometimes the same verses — quoted right back at ’em.

Selective use of the Bible is rarely, if ever, a productive way to solve a dispute.

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