Another section of an email to Ty from me:
I liked what you said about how what we do DOES matter, but not for our salvation. I had already come to the conclusion that what we did didn't matter for salvation because we can't DO anything.
But when you're left with that, it often seems as though you are stuck without a purpose or drive in life. Making our lives a RESPONSE to God's salvation is so much more of a welcome thought. It's not something I can check off and be ready to go to Heaven with; it's a lifestyle of living constantly in the glorification of God. THAT seems more like a purpose in life. Not just an, "ok I accepted Jesus, now I'm in" kind of thing, but a "I've accepted Jesus, now what can I do every day to glorify and serve others to say, 'You know what God, thanks a bunch.'"The Meant To Live song is a really good example. (It made me like Switchfoot.) We WERE meant to live for so much more. And so our purpose in life is to get as close to how God intended our lives to be as we can (which I believe leads to getting the most out of life.)
I remember reading about the "love"/"tolerance" thing in a C.S. Lewis book, I think Mere Christianity. I liked what he said though because it was saying that you have to actively LOVE someone. Not just not dislike them.
We DO need to build a community. Mom and I were looking at Dr. Gagnon's (you know, her Greek professor) website (http://www.robgagnon.net/AnswersToEMails.htm) and reading some of the emails he received and responded to. The second one listed was the one that really jumped out at me. It was essentially: should we withhold membership privileges from cohabiting heterosexual partners, just as we do from cohabiting homosexual partners? Apparently Gagnon had labeled homosexual relations as an "extreme sin" (weighing sins now, are we?), and this pastor was wondering if he should place the same label on a parallel situation. Gagnon said NO that it wasn't "as serious". (So lying isn't as serious, I'll just do that and maybe I'll get off? Huh?)
He said it wasn't like homosexuality because it wasn't unnatural, and then he threw out some Scripture (like always) about the prostitute creating a "one flesh" union, even though it was unholy. Then, even if homosexuality is unholy, why is IT not still "one flesh"?
Some of what he says makes sense, he's just so polarizing and completely close-minded that it makes me angry.
My main point here is why are we turning off membership in the first place?
Mom said that it was because when you join the church you are saying that you are going to withhold a certain moral code, which makes sense in theory, but where do we draw the line?
Are we saying you're not allowed to be a part of the church if you're an active sinner? Yeah, I think we kind of are.
And here's the amazing ending to his email:
"From a pastoral standpoint, I recommend having a personal meeting with the offenders, going through Jesus’ teaching on marriage in Matt 19, highlighting the importance of obeying Jesus as his disciples, and explaining that membership can only be granted (or actively retained) if they marry or dissolve the sexual bond. I also recommend, if you haven’t already done so, that you regularly preach on the importance of sexual purity and marriage. I doubt that they would want to become members of a church that clearly declared their behavior to be sin, if they insisted on staying in a sexual relationship outside of marriage."
"I doubt they would want to be members." I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. This is disgusting. He's now telling people to preach to WARD PEOPLE OFF!!! This is absolutely ridiculous. Some community. No wonder people don't want to be a part of us. WE don't want THEM.
Sometimes I really can't stand Christians.
Jesus didn't come to save the perfect people. We are all sinners, and anyone who labels Homosexuality as being a "Major" does have some issues. Clearly the acts of homosexuality is a Sin...the same way becoming one flesh outside the bonds of marriage is. The point in my mind has always been around knowing its a sin and continuing the act.
ReplyDeleteChristianity in and of itself is always going to appear to be unaatractive to more and more people as the norms of society continue to change. What was consider bad 10 years ago is now socially acceptable. But, Christianity and the Bible remain the same.
Christians are not called to be perfect, but to try and glorify God daily. Love your neighbor and follow jesus' teachings. Part of which requires the belief that He is the one and only way to heaven. So to that effect...you MUST believe Jesus is the lord and savior. The only way...and all the while trying your best to follow him. That seems to be the way...at least I think. Believe anything differently and you undoubtedly aren't going to have a place in heaven.
Its sad...but "oh he was a good guy" isn't good enough. Maybe Im a little rigid. I hope Im not coming off so. What is it they say: Works without faith...
Addie stuff like this is why I keep telling you that you should think as little as possible. Its dangerous. You should just let other people tell you what you should think. It is way easier. But I digress. So here is my two cents: You are right that community is key. The question is what does that community look like. For me it all goes back to Jesus (In theory at least - practice is always a little trickier) Your thought about C.S. Lewis and love/tolerance is a good intersection. Jesus clearly modeled active, sacrificial, life-giving love - but tolerance is a slightly different story. There seems to be a pattern to Jesus' interactions with 'sinners': 1 - active love, 2 - welcome of the person into community, 3 - call to leave the old ways of living behind. Jesus didn't just accept or tolerate people, he loved them unconditionally - but that is not how he dealt with their actions. Once they were part of the community there was and expectation of a changed life.
ReplyDeleteI have already rambled on for too long - So I will end by saying that I think most of us fall short in one of two ways in following Jesus. One - we go the 'Gagnon' route and cling to the law, shouting about the sins of the world from the rooftop, alienating the world in the process and leaving God's love out of the equation. Two - we go the 'whatever works for you route' and forget that while always welcoming 'sinners' with open arms Jesus never told those he came into contact with that thier sins were somehow okay. He instead welcomed them into the community of God's love and empowered them to live free from the bonds of sin and into the freedom of God's grace
Word Up Chip. Gagnon has fallen into the legalism trap. Legalists are skin deep, hollow Christians...and at different times of our lives when we lose focus we cling to this type of rhetoric to make ourselves feel in tune with Christ, when in actuality we are moving farther away. At the same time we are pushing people away from Him, focusing on our self, and pushing others farther away. In effect, ignoring the great commission.
ReplyDelete