On Being Wary When Left and Right Meet

Today's Washington Post has an article about Rob Schenck and David Saperstein finding some common ground on the issue of homosexuality. The article says that Schenck is prepared to say that homosexuality is a "predisposition" that is "deeply rooted" in some people and not necessarily a choice. Schenck retains his strident opposition to abortion.

If Schenck's statements are sincere, and not merely a ploy, it would be a remarkable development. He would be one of the first Christian Reconstructionists to challenge the prevailing biblical view of homosexuality. He would also be one of the first to abandon the idea of applying the whole of the Mosaic law to modern society. That will be perceived as the first step on a slippery slope that would undermine the entire Reconstructionist agenda.

Personally, I am skeptical of Schenck's sincerity. He has long been identified with the most militant wing of the Christian Reconstructionists -- those who applaud the bombing of abortion clinics and the assassination of abortion providers. In those circles, their "ends" have justified even the most violent "means." For information more about Schenck and his cohorts see, Jerry Reiter's Live from the Gates of Hell: An Insider's Look at the Anti-Abortion Movement.

The Washington Post quotes Schenck enough to discern his concern to craft a message that will appeal to young people. The article says,

Schenck, who is president of Faith and Action, an evangelical organization on Capitol Hill, said that a willingness to reach across partisan lines is attractive, particularly to young people. . . .

Schenck outlined his limits: "There is no room for compromise on the sanctity of human life, the sanctity of marriage and the public acknowledgement of God." But he said that when he preaches at the Creation Festival, a four-day Christian music event in Mount Union, Pa., he will say that the Bible forbids homosexual acts but that evangelicals are wrong to insist that sexual orientation is a matter of choice.

"As far as affirming that there may be people in our midst who have this as their nature, that will be radical within evangelical circles, because we want to see this purely as an act of will, like breaking and entering," he said. "And it just isn't that. It is so much more complex. If young people hear Christian leaders like me say that, I think they'll be interested in hearing what more we have to say."

There is little doubt that Christian Reconstructionism's message about homosexuality is one of its least attractive features. Christian Reconstructionism would re-apply the Mosaic law to all of ancient Israel's capital offenses. Homosexuality was a capital offense in ancient Israel. So was apostacy, blasphemy, incorrigibility in children, murder, rape, Sabbath breaking, and witchcraft.