It was a wonderfully cordial email (especially compared to some of the other comments I have received). Thanks, writer, for your kindness. I have withheld his name here but have reproduced his email to me, and my response to him.
I responded:Larry,
I noticed your comments on the McLaren article, and I simply followed the links. While I respect your position regarding the Scripture and homosexuality, the Bible is also clear about divorce and yet we give grace and love and acceptance to those who continue to live as divorced people. From a biblical perspective, it is fair to make this comparison. So, why do we then fail to take this kind of stance against our divorced friends and church members?Before we get too hard on McLaren, we need to recognize that we are equally guilty of that which we put onto others such as Brian. Perhaps this is part of the reason for Jesus talking about the planks in our own eyes.
Thanks for your comments and question. From a biblical perspective I do not think it is fair to make the comparison for several reasons.1. Homosexuality is a behavior; Divorce is a state. Therefore, we are dealing with two completely different issues. I have made clear my position on divorce: Divorce is never the best option; it is always the result of sin. In any situation, even so called "legitimate" situations, it is the very last option.
2. Homosexual behavior is something that can be changed; a divorced state is something that cannot be changed. On the other hand, the behavior that led to the divorce can be changed and must be changed. I take the same stand about that as I do about homosexual behavior. I have tried to make that clear in my ministry. Homosexual behavior is something that can be immediately changed (just like the sin issues that lead to divorce). The call to all sinful behavior is immediate cessation. We are not to spend "one more night with the frogs" as Pharaoh wanted to do. We are to immediately change.
3. Remember that not all sins are equal, nor do all have the same consequences. God has given us specific answers on how to deal with divorce moving forward. We are to follow those instructions.
4. With anyone in any sin, we should always deal with them in grace and love. But we cannot give acceptance to things that God does not accept. I no more accept the sinful behavior that leads to divorce than I do homosexual behavior. The glory of the gospel is that there is grace for both, and far more. Remember Paul's words that where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. Where there is a thimbleful of sin, there is a truckload of grace.
The line between grace, love, and biblical confrontation of sin is often a fine line to walk gracefully, and in our sinful fallenness, we probably trip over that line more often than not. But my mind returns often to our master and teacher Christ who sat with prostitutes and loved them, and called them to change, not to continue in sin. That should be our approach to those in homosexual behavior, adulterous behavior, abusive behavior, substance abuse behavior, or any other kind of unbiblical behavior. We must not be afraid to get our hands dirty in the ministry. Let's love them, but let's not be so unloving as to let them continue.
If, as the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 6, those who practice homosexual behavior (and others are listed as well) will not enter the kingdom of God, how can we be so unloving as to not tell them that? How can we stand by and let them continue in kingdom-rejecting behavior without warning them?
There are certainly some who are guilty of the same things that Brian has been guilty of, and we should be careful in making charges. There are many who have been unloving in their approach to dealing with the sin of homosexuality. It grieves my soul when I see that type of approach. It is unChristlike. It is sinful. But it is equally sinful to muddle up what God has made clear.
But Brian failed to be clear where Scripture has been clear. The fact that someone else (even me) might do the same thing is irrelevant. Jesus' words about the plank were not a call to not judge (as they are so often interpreted). It was a call to not be a hypocrite. BTW, as you probably know, Brian has a history of this. He routinely dodges very simple questions. That is not to speak with a clear sound. It is to sound a confusing trumpet. I can appreciate Brian's concern for how people respond to our responses, for the reasons that lie behind their questions.
But along with Brian's concern to be pastoral, we must add the concern to be biblical. And that is unfortunately where Brian dropped the ball. I hope he will pick it up, learn from this experience, and begin to be more open with the things that God is open about.
Thanks again for your question. I hope this brings some clarity to my position.
2 comments:
You say "3. Remember that not all sins are equal, nor do all have the same consequences."
Jesus says:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” - Romans 3:23
"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men: but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven."- Matthew 12:31
"Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." - Matthew 7:1-5
First, if you are going to post, then use your name. Don't post anonymously and hide behind it.
Second, your verses are all great. I agree with every single one of them. But they have no relevance here.
I am not saying that anyone is perfect. I am not saying that certain sins are not forgiveable. And I am not judging by a hypocritical standard. I judged myself by the same standard that I have used to judge Brian.
Scripture makes it clear that all sin is sin, but not all sin is equal. That is why differing sins have differing consequences under the law. They all separate us from God and result in eternal death. But they are not equal sins.
One of the greatest sins of Scripture was committed by Brian in light of James 3:1. Here is a teacher with the ear of millions who has waffled when Scripture is clear. That is shameful on his part. Teachers are judged by a higher standard because of their influence.
It is because of men like Brian that scriptural understanding is so low. You have misused Scripture to try to make your point, and that is not the right use of Scripture. When teachers fail to teach properly, everyone suffers.
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