An Inkling
This is the final blog in a series I commenced on August 16 about our denomination’s unfaithful choice to change ordination standards. It’s not just a minor adjustment of church government. It’s a matter of whether the leadership of the church will embody the gospel or the spirit of the age. And I’ve saved the most important reason till last.
I once heard Tom Gillespie (President of Princeton Seminary at the time) say that we must not celebrate what God would redeem. The revisionists have persuaded a voting majority in our denomination that homosexual behavior is to be celebrated, not redeemed. This despite the list in 1 Corinthians 6 of those God had redeemed: “fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, robbers.” Paul’s list includes some of the behaviors he had seen God redeem in the lives of the Corinthian Christians. Thus the happy conclusion to his list: “and such were some of you.” Past tense. Redeemed!
What does redemption entail? Is it just a “get out of jail free” card for the next life? Or does it offer real hope for changed lives? I’ve heard no one in the church making the case that idolaters, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, or robbers are beyond transformation. But we have now singled out sexuality as immutable. Really?
Then what would we say to Tiger Woods, had he come to our church when he was beginning to deal with his compulsive sexual patterns? Would we have had anything to offer him? When he made his public statement he said that it was up to him to change. That’s commendable. But given the power of sin’s compulsions in sexuality and many other areas of life, it’s not very hopeful. What a tragedy to exclude a whole range of dysfunction (be it homosexual or heterosexual) from the transformational power of the gospel!
We must not! And that message is spoken most winsomely by those who have been redeemed themselves from various patterns of sexual brokenness. Check out the testimonies on the One by One website (http://www.oneby1.org/). They have come out of all manner of sexual dysfunction, and are a living example of “such were some of you.” Frequently their testimonies include gratitude that their congregations neither condemned them, nor celebrated what God would redeem. And wisely they offer their ministry only to those who want to deal with their sexuality – i.e., they are not out crusading against anyone, but simply offering the full gospel hope to those who want it.
I wish we as a whole denomination had a gospel for Tiger. But we can trust that God’s faithfulness and transforming work will continue through those who do avail themselves of his full redemption power. And let it begin with us.
Blessings,
Keith
