A number of friends of mine have crossed a line that I think they should not have crossed and I am extremely disappointed. Given that their actions are causing public news, I should write about it publicly so they can subtweet me. Their guy lost the Southern Baptist Convention presidency. Instead of acting with grace in a church setting, they’ve acted now with partisanship as if the winners and losers are political figures to be slimed in a never ending campaign. The perpetual campaign in a church setting is staggeringly gross. That they are doing it with half-truths and distortions makes it worse. That they have not one ounce of humility left to consider the sins of their own actions makes it damnable.
Your remark, "Litton’s point was that the New Testament’s condemnation amounts to a whisper compared to God’s yelling about greed, etc." is spot on, Erick. Whatever sexual sins, no matter how reprehensible they may appear, or really are, pale in comparison to the evils committed by the corporatists who, for reasons of greed and power lust, have thrown in with the radical Marxist leftists and in the process given those leftists more power and visibility than they should ever have been granted. 1 Timothy 6:10 is proven true yet again.
Golly. A denomination that only exists because white supremacists found other white supremacists insufficiently devoted to the cause of white supremacy has leaders who cherry-pick scripture for their own purposes. Who'd've thought it possible?
I would never have believed church leaders would follow the bad examples of politics. I never thought political bias would serve as such a powerful influence. Finding out how naive I am in my old age. Also very disappointed.
Unfortunately, this nonsense is not limited to the SBC. The only reason that I have not pushed my wife on leaving the PC(USA) is that our local congregation has been supportive in ways that matter most over the past 8 years. The national leadership act like the PC(USA) is an official, DNC affiliated PAC. Of course, this is before you get to the fact that the underlying theology of far too many in public facing positions is problematic at best, down-right near heretical, if not heretical, at worst. But, it's only a difference of opinion to implicitly espouse a position on Matt. 15:1-15, of which the logical result is an implicit rejection of the sinless nature of Jesus. And that's before you get to recent assertions that the nuclear family is an anti-biblical invention of white supremacists to oppress certain types of people of color and that purity culture is the result of white supremacy too, despite being rejected by a leftist on a PC(USA) webcast, who pointed out that purity culture exists in other cultures as well.
In other words, by polity diversity of opinion is allowed, but the PC(USA) leadership seems to believe that this should include any and all unorthodox positions, as long as one utters Jesus and love in spouting the opinion.
And if you reject any of this nonsense, your right to dissent is acknowledged, but even if well founded and supported, you are a name your -ist/-ic/anti- for doing so.
And no’s you know why I left the SBC and became Methodist. I’ve been dealing with this nonsense since I was at Southwestern Seminary in early 80s and teaching at a little Baptist college all through the 80s.
I really have nothing to add y'all have said it all. If I was the Devil and was going to destroy the Church I would transform myself in to that Angel of light and start quoting scripture out of context.
As a SBC Pastor, it is both uncomfortable and shaming to admit this is going on in the convention. Your analysis is, unfortunately, spot on. Any pastors who engage in this kind of activity should resign or be fired.
All sin. None are sinless.
Yet pastors must be held to a higher moral credibility.
Interestingly, in Jesus day, His detractors were overwhelmingly religious…….
Excellent points, Jim! Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." What part of ALL don't we (collectively) understand?? It is an ugly characteristic of human nature that we attempt to elevate ourselves above others. Nowhere is this characteristic more ugly than in the Christian community where the grace and love extended to us through Jesus Christ is to be emulated. But instead, many Christians (myself included) use, or have used morality to bludgeon those who have fallen where we have not. Doesn't sound like grace, doesn't sound like love.
Exactly & nicely stated! Anytime a pastor or believer cannot be distinguished from the unsaved of this world due to their actions or words, it cannot bring glory to God and His kingdom. Believers must always remember the only thing that separates us from the sins of others is God's grace.
what was that first breach? That first time politics leaked into the real world? Was it politicizing the weather? I don't remember, but it sure is everywhere now...and I don't like it.
sigh. A wasted opportunity to show the world what Christians do. Instead, they've just proven the point of the anti-Christians who say that Christianity is a religion made of of and for white men. Way to go, SBC.
I’ve never understood why conservatives did not want to prosecute women who had abortions. If abortion is murder, then clearly it is murder for hire; i.e., someone is being paid to commit the murder. Conservatives want to imprison the murderer (i.e., the doctor performing the murder), but not the person hiring the murderer to commit the crime (i.e., the woman hiring the doctor). Seems illogical if one really believes that abortion is murder. If a spouse hires someone to kill the other spouse, the first spouse would surely be prosecuted if discovered.
Perhaps folks have come to realize that women do not conceive without a partner. I suspect that if the 'fathers' were forced to admit their part and held equally responsible then a lot of people would be horrified to find their sons, brothers, fathers and husbands on trial along with his lover, for murder.
Erick, whether you realize it or not, you are fulfilling the ancient five-fold role of the prophet, by keeping these guys in line with Christian standards of brotherhood and leadership.
As for the plagiarism controversy, since when do preachers claim their own territory in biblical exegesis and inspiration? Isn't the Holy Spirit the author of all biblical inspiration?
Once again my brother Erick you echo the importance of understanding Natural Law, and how it is vitally important for a people to remain virtuous/ which is much different than winning in the short term or bring “right”. Thank you for your courage
This is the price we are paying by letting Trumpism and the Trump "style" of discourse into the church. Some Christians are not acting like they are very "Christian."
Your remark, "Litton’s point was that the New Testament’s condemnation amounts to a whisper compared to God’s yelling about greed, etc." is spot on, Erick. Whatever sexual sins, no matter how reprehensible they may appear, or really are, pale in comparison to the evils committed by the corporatists who, for reasons of greed and power lust, have thrown in with the radical Marxist leftists and in the process given those leftists more power and visibility than they should ever have been granted. 1 Timothy 6:10 is proven true yet again.
Golly. A denomination that only exists because white supremacists found other white supremacists insufficiently devoted to the cause of white supremacy has leaders who cherry-pick scripture for their own purposes. Who'd've thought it possible?
I would never have believed church leaders would follow the bad examples of politics. I never thought political bias would serve as such a powerful influence. Finding out how naive I am in my old age. Also very disappointed.
Unfortunately, this nonsense is not limited to the SBC. The only reason that I have not pushed my wife on leaving the PC(USA) is that our local congregation has been supportive in ways that matter most over the past 8 years. The national leadership act like the PC(USA) is an official, DNC affiliated PAC. Of course, this is before you get to the fact that the underlying theology of far too many in public facing positions is problematic at best, down-right near heretical, if not heretical, at worst. But, it's only a difference of opinion to implicitly espouse a position on Matt. 15:1-15, of which the logical result is an implicit rejection of the sinless nature of Jesus. And that's before you get to recent assertions that the nuclear family is an anti-biblical invention of white supremacists to oppress certain types of people of color and that purity culture is the result of white supremacy too, despite being rejected by a leftist on a PC(USA) webcast, who pointed out that purity culture exists in other cultures as well.
It's adorable when protestants start labeling other protestants heretics. Adorable.
In other words, by polity diversity of opinion is allowed, but the PC(USA) leadership seems to believe that this should include any and all unorthodox positions, as long as one utters Jesus and love in spouting the opinion.
And if you reject any of this nonsense, your right to dissent is acknowledged, but even if well founded and supported, you are a name your -ist/-ic/anti- for doing so.
And no’s you know why I left the SBC and became Methodist. I’ve been dealing with this nonsense since I was at Southwestern Seminary in early 80s and teaching at a little Baptist college all through the 80s.
Amen Eric and well said. It is as if all who are not truly “in Him” have gone mad. Satan is trolling for these souls who sow discord.
I really have nothing to add y'all have said it all. If I was the Devil and was going to destroy the Church I would transform myself in to that Angel of light and start quoting scripture out of context.
As a SBC Pastor, it is both uncomfortable and shaming to admit this is going on in the convention. Your analysis is, unfortunately, spot on. Any pastors who engage in this kind of activity should resign or be fired.
All sin. None are sinless.
Yet pastors must be held to a higher moral credibility.
Interestingly, in Jesus day, His detractors were overwhelmingly religious…….
Excellent points, Jim! Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." What part of ALL don't we (collectively) understand?? It is an ugly characteristic of human nature that we attempt to elevate ourselves above others. Nowhere is this characteristic more ugly than in the Christian community where the grace and love extended to us through Jesus Christ is to be emulated. But instead, many Christians (myself included) use, or have used morality to bludgeon those who have fallen where we have not. Doesn't sound like grace, doesn't sound like love.
Exactly & nicely stated! Anytime a pastor or believer cannot be distinguished from the unsaved of this world due to their actions or words, it cannot bring glory to God and His kingdom. Believers must always remember the only thing that separates us from the sins of others is God's grace.
what was that first breach? That first time politics leaked into the real world? Was it politicizing the weather? I don't remember, but it sure is everywhere now...and I don't like it.
sigh. A wasted opportunity to show the world what Christians do. Instead, they've just proven the point of the anti-Christians who say that Christianity is a religion made of of and for white men. Way to go, SBC.
I’ve never understood why conservatives did not want to prosecute women who had abortions. If abortion is murder, then clearly it is murder for hire; i.e., someone is being paid to commit the murder. Conservatives want to imprison the murderer (i.e., the doctor performing the murder), but not the person hiring the murderer to commit the crime (i.e., the woman hiring the doctor). Seems illogical if one really believes that abortion is murder. If a spouse hires someone to kill the other spouse, the first spouse would surely be prosecuted if discovered.
Perhaps folks have come to realize that women do not conceive without a partner. I suspect that if the 'fathers' were forced to admit their part and held equally responsible then a lot of people would be horrified to find their sons, brothers, fathers and husbands on trial along with his lover, for murder.
I agree
Erick, whether you realize it or not, you are fulfilling the ancient five-fold role of the prophet, by keeping these guys in line with Christian standards of brotherhood and leadership.
As for the plagiarism controversy, since when do preachers claim their own territory in biblical exegesis and inspiration? Isn't the Holy Spirit the author of all biblical inspiration?
Good words.
Once again my brother Erick you echo the importance of understanding Natural Law, and how it is vitally important for a people to remain virtuous/ which is much different than winning in the short term or bring “right”. Thank you for your courage
This is the price we are paying by letting Trumpism and the Trump "style" of discourse into the church. Some Christians are not acting like they are very "Christian."
Seriously, are you only 5 years old or just had your head in the sand for the past 40+ years?
Yeah…….it is all Trump’s fault…….
The church cannot be brought down from the outside. But it certainly can from within.
that is what satan wants, to divide God's people!