I follow several conservative blogs. Many of their denizens are enraged by the Episcopal Church’s consent to the election of a gay bishop living in a long-term committed same-sex relationship.
These folks invariably argue that Scripture disapproves of homosexual activity; therefore, they say, noncelibate homosexuals have no business holding leadership positions in the church. In effect, these people argue that Scripture is the ultimate, pre-emptive authority in matters of faith and morals.
For other Christians, what ultimately matters is truth — what I would call the external reality of God’s creation. That which others believe to be the truth can be important — including what the scriptural authors believed.
But like we, those others — including the scriptural authors — are naturally limited in their knowledge and understanding. And the importance of their views can never override that of truth itself, as best as it can be discerned at any given moment.
Make no mistake — we cannot rely totally on our own judgment. In many, many matters, the wisest choice is often to follow the views of others. In theology, that’s where Scripture and tradition come in. If we’re wondering whether Jesus was divine, or whether God is a Trinity, we cannot disregard the evidence we have concerning the views of the New Testament authors, of the post-apostolic Fathers, and even of Jesus himself.
But we must also be prudent stewards of our gifts of free will. In exercising our free will, we may choose to follow the views of others, that that is still a choice, for which we are each individually accountable. We can never properly allow those views to automatically dominate our thinking, to be a priori dispositive.
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