A Theology of Restoration: the Themes of Order, Harmony, and Reconciliation in the Kingdom of God

This workshop explores why Scripture understands same-sex sexual behavior or gender incongruence as sin. Too often, the sin of same-sex sexuality is relegated to a few specific verses in scripture where the behaviour is criticized and rejected (Gen 1:27-28; Gen 18:20, 19; Lev 18:22, 20:13; Deut 23:17-18; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:10-11).​1 This misleading hermeneutical approach has led many to believe that the behavior was insignificant, particularly since Jesus does not explicitly mention it. Instead, we will take a macro approach to Scripture to observe aspects of God’s overarching creative plan, not merely individual thoughts and actions. To fully appreciate the problem of same-sex sexuality in Scripture, interpreters must consider how ancients understood divine participation in the natural order and how that harmony was related to human thriving.​ This session will explore themes of order, harmony, and reconciliation, ending with a brief examination of Jesus’ relational ethic and its implications for issues concerning sexual behavior.