Abstract:
This paper is written in two separate but closely related movements. The first is a broad exegetical sweep of the Gospel of Luke with the conclusion that (1) worship is central to the Gospel of Luke and that (2) the use of this hermeneutic leads to a conflation of hospitality and worship. For Luke, boundary-breaking, hostility-disarming hospitality is worship.
Second, we examine the pericope of the woman caught in adultery from John 8 as Jesus' greatest existing statement on dealing with sexuality. In this instance, Jesus demonstrates a total reversal of priority compared to modern Church dialogues on sexuality: that posture precedes position. Jesus "draws a line in the sand" that does not exclude the woman, but demonstrates hospitality and solidarity before he takes a position. By elevating our emphasis on posture, or relationality, as opposed to position (doctrinal stance-taking), I seek to open a new way for all Christians, regardless of their current position, to boldly pursue mutual transformation and open pathways for sharing the Good News by means of boundary-breaking, hostility disarming hospitality.
The full paper is attached to this post.
