Philip E. Friesen is a member of Emmanual Mennonite Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is planning to publish a longer version of this article in the future. 

Where is the Holy Spirit leading the Mennonite Church in its teaching about sexuality? Maybe all sides have it wrong.

In 1 Kings 18 God led Elijah to butcher 400 prophets of Baal and Jezebel, the immigrant woman who had come to live in King Ahab’s palace, was bitterly humiliated. This caused her father, King Ethbaal in Sidon, to cancel the mutual defense treaty he had arranged with Ahab, as would have been part of an international royal marriage.

In a few short years, Syrian raiding parties were raiding across the border and taking slaves. King Ahab took exception to this behavior and called out his army, while the majority of prophets proclaimed the justice of his cause. In 1 Kings 22 Micaiah, an opposition prophet, took exception to this plan, claiming to have God’s authority. One of the “majority prophets”, Zedekiah, slapped him in the face with this question, “How did the Spirit of God travel from me over to you?”

We can all ask the same question, “What makes you think you have the Holy Spirit for your idea instead of mine?”

As a young man, many of my spiritual mentors were military people, while my parents and church opposed military participation. I asked myself the question, when will the Spirit of God make up his mind? Is not this argument among ourselves also an argument with God?

Perhaps the line between truth and error passes through the middle of all camps. Does God lead some to go to prison and others to join the military? Might not God lead people in opposite directions based upon the partial truth that each one knows about sexuality? The peace of God is incompatible with war, but many who go to war still have the peace of God within them. Sexual purity of chastity before marriage, marriage in two genders, and an irrevocable commitment for life are God’s design, but many who have a different experience can still find and enjoy fellowship with God.

The well of the water of life is deep. Would someone hand me a longer rope?

The views expressed in this opinion post do not necessarily represent the official positions of The Mennonite, the board for The Mennonite, Inc., or Mennonite Church USA.