St Paul and sexuality
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As the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul strongly supported the position that Gentiles could become Christians, without converting to Judaism. Although himself a Jew and a Pharisee, Paul opposed those Gentiles who sought to apply the Torah to all Christians. Paul did not consider it appropriate to introduce Jewish dietary laws or circumcision into the Gentile Churches. The simple fact is that the rules in Leviticus are for Jews, they have never applied to Christians. This is reported in Acts chapter 15 and the decision is versuse 24 to 29. Paul was more interested in the way that the different perspective taught by Jesus provided a basis for transforming the way people treated each other in all their relationships, social, economic and sexual. This is why Paul worked at evangelism, rather than rewriting the rule books. Compared to the attitudes of his day, Paul was pro women, pro gay and anti slavery. The effectiveness of his vision to transform society through wider acceptance of the truth of Jesus' way of seeing things means that we have gone far beyond what Paul hoped for in his day. To the modern reader Paul may appear anti women, anti gay and pro salvery. Paul supported women in positions of authority in the churches, as women then held positions of similiar authority in synagogues. When some Gentile christians objected, Paul proposed a compromise. Paul understood that they had not got the point of the Gospel yet and was patient. He did not placate them by denying the gifts of the women. Instead he suggested that the women exercise their gifts by teaching other women. The letters which Paul dictated to the many churches he visited were some of the first Christian writings. As a trained Pharisee, who was also well educated in Greek literature, Paul was well respected by the many churches, which sought his advice. Paul often balanced a keen sense of the theological issues with a genuine desire to avoid conflict on trivial matters. He advised mature Christians to be patient with those who are new to the faith and are too easily distressed by irrelevant issues. For example, some Christians were worried about eating meat, which had been sacrificed to pagan gods. Sometimes it was served at a special dinner. Other times the meat was simply sold in the market. Paul grasped the key issue. Pagan gods do not exist and therefore Christians are free to eat the meat. Paul then expressed his concern that some immature Christians may be distressed by this behaviour. For their sake, he suggested that Christians refrain from eating meat if they were told it had been offered as a sacrifice to a pagan god. But he instructed Christians to eat what is offered to them without asking questions. Another issue was whether Greek converts to Christianity should be circumised. Although himself circumcised, Paul was certain that circumcision was not to be required of Christians.
Paul understood that believing the gospel message and being guided by the Spirit would make a difference in the way people lived their lives and how they treated each other. Those Gentiles who wanted to substitute an external act like circumcision for and internal change of perspective had missed the point.
Read how Paul viewed the abusive religion of his past compared to his present hope in Christ in Philippians 3 and 4 and meditate on what Romans 15:1-7 has to say about our acceptance of ourselves and each other. How to recognise abusive religion
In conclusion, there are a few things you should know about St Paul. He had a criminal record, ranging from charges of murder to convictions for civil disobedience and disturbing the peace, and was in jail in Rome. He was driven out of several communities. He stayed in no congregation longer than eighteen months. Nevertheless, he was called as an apostle of Jesus Christ
to live out and witness to the transforming reality of his grace.
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"Not even my companion Titus, Greek though he is, was compelled to be circumcised."