As noted by all major news services, another Protestant denomination (in this case the Presbyterian Church. U.S.A., otherwise known as PCUSA) has now officially endorsed the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy (the other three being the United Church of Christ; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Episcopal Church). While there are other liberally oriented bodies in which homosexual and lesbian clergy function freely and openly, official sanction now exists in these four mainline organizations.
That this, as well as other liberal pursuits, serves to underscore the growing division between a biblically oriented Christianity and that sphere of religious identity increasingly committed to the conceptual drift of politically liberal interests requires little comment. Given the realities of past experience, it is almost certain that those within the denomination having opposed the present development are well acquainted with the charge of having ignored Christ's admonition to "judge not lest you be judged" (Matt. 7:1; Luke 7:37).
To those who, in the interests of moral revision, choose to remove biblical pronouncement from both context and contextual intent - we have little to say. To those confused by the liberal establishment's obfuscation of our Lord's exhortation at this point, the following will prove useful.
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The essential thrust of Christ's words here is that the quality of spirit one manifests in relation to others will be that which they, in return, manifest toward him. It is in no way a proscription of meaningful assessment in relation to biblical mandate or its observance. Indeed, our Lord elsewhere exhorts those adherent his cause to "be just in your judgments" (John 7:24 NEB).
Luke, interestingly, notes that at this point of discourse Jesus continued: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure it whall be measured to you again" (Luke 7:37-38). Simply stated, it is a matter of reciprocal interchange; one's actions and attitudes inciting the same quality of response in others. "Therefore, all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them" (Matt. 7:12).
Far from prohibiting the exercise of discerning assessment in relation to the observance of biblical mandate, Jesus also enjoins: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine..." (Matt. 7:6) - an injunction impossible to observe apart from the insightful appraisal of another's actions and quality of character.
Are we then to be hateful toward those thus involved? No. As to their persons, Christ died for them the same as he died for us. At the same time, Scripture does not lack for warning as to the ultimate consequence of morally aberrant philosophies and pursuits (Rom. 1:18-21, for example).
Finally, it should be noted that, as in most instances wherein biblical directives are wilfully renounced, there are yet those unequivocally opposed. God is never without his seven thousand who refuse to bow to Baal (I Kings 19:18). At this juncture a growing number of churches are severing ties with the PCUSA and, in the interests of scriptural integrity, affiliating with the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
We need to pray for those thus willing to uphold the cause of Christ and biblical mandate. They are our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Indeed, the day is coming in which all persons of valid Christian commitment - whatever their denominational identity - are going to need one another.
God grant that we not fail at that point.
Burl Ratzsch
Showing posts with label religious liberalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religious liberalism. Show all posts
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Monday, August 24, 2009
DROPPING THE BALL...and then some
We were much disappointed this past week by the action of the national assembly of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) in striking down its ban on non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy in roles of pastoral leadership.
Not that such, in keeping with the adopted policies of various other bodies of liberal persuasion, was unexpected. Nor should the passing of similar resolutions on the part of yet others alleging to represent the faith be unexpected. The following will presently suffice here:
Problems of this nature are nothing new. In preaching the Gospel of freedom in Christ, Paul's message was purposely distorted by those "slanderously" reporting him as saying, "Let us do evil that good may come." "Their condemnation ('damnation,' KJV)," the apostle continues, "is just" (Rom. 3:8). In addressing various such attacks on the integrity of his person and ministry, the apostle accordingly wrote of "false apostles and deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And," he continued, "no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light..." (II Cor. 11:13-15). Other passages might be cited.
The extent to which the promotion of unrestrained behavior in the name of Christian liberty (a philosophy ultimately known as Nicolaitanism) eventually spread is reflected in the writings of not only Paul, Peter and Jude, but also the Revelation in which three particular instances of the teaching's presence and influence are addressed. Opposed by the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6), the system's tenets had become fully accepted doctrine at Pergamum (vs. 14), while both practice and advocacy were tolerated at Thyatira (vv. 14-15). According to Church history, the heresy continued until at least 200 A.D. - eventually merging into the realm of Gnosticism; itself a havoc creating heterodoxy that almost destroyed the Church in the second and third centuries.
The trend will almost certainly lead to a day wherein the realm of professed faith will consist largely of two camps: the orthodox and biblically grounded vs. that and those that are not. At such time meaningful Christian identity will relate more to one's commitment to Jesus Christ and scriptural values than to sectarian and/or organizational ties and association.
In the meantime we need to pray for those seeking to uphold the truth in difficult settings. It is not an easy task. We have been there.
Burl Ratzsch
Not that such, in keeping with the adopted policies of various other bodies of liberal persuasion, was unexpected. Nor should the passing of similar resolutions on the part of yet others alleging to represent the faith be unexpected. The following will presently suffice here:
Problems of this nature are nothing new. In preaching the Gospel of freedom in Christ, Paul's message was purposely distorted by those "slanderously" reporting him as saying, "Let us do evil that good may come." "Their condemnation ('damnation,' KJV)," the apostle continues, "is just" (Rom. 3:8). In addressing various such attacks on the integrity of his person and ministry, the apostle accordingly wrote of "false apostles and deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And," he continued, "no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light..." (II Cor. 11:13-15). Other passages might be cited.
The extent to which the promotion of unrestrained behavior in the name of Christian liberty (a philosophy ultimately known as Nicolaitanism) eventually spread is reflected in the writings of not only Paul, Peter and Jude, but also the Revelation in which three particular instances of the teaching's presence and influence are addressed. Opposed by the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6), the system's tenets had become fully accepted doctrine at Pergamum (vs. 14), while both practice and advocacy were tolerated at Thyatira (vv. 14-15). According to Church history, the heresy continued until at least 200 A.D. - eventually merging into the realm of Gnosticism; itself a havoc creating heterodoxy that almost destroyed the Church in the second and third centuries.
The trend will almost certainly lead to a day wherein the realm of professed faith will consist largely of two camps: the orthodox and biblically grounded vs. that and those that are not. At such time meaningful Christian identity will relate more to one's commitment to Jesus Christ and scriptural values than to sectarian and/or organizational ties and association.
In the meantime we need to pray for those seeking to uphold the truth in difficult settings. It is not an easy task. We have been there.
Burl Ratzsch
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
SHERLOCK'S TENT
While having addressed the following some four years ago, its relevance nontheless continues.
Scripture stresses the importance of perceptiveness. When, speaking for the Twelve, Peter once asked concerning his dismissal of the Pharisee's shallow legalism, Jesus responded with something akin to exasperation: "Are you, too, yet incapable of understanding?" (Matt. 15:15 NAB).
Perhaps few examples of Scripture better illustrate the point than John 12:27-29. Following his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus foretold his impending death: "But for this purpose I came to this hour," he stated - an assertion to which he then added the exclamation: "Father, glorify your name!"
At this point, "a voice came out of heaven: 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.'" Of the possibly more perceptive present, some conjectured that "an angel spoke to him." To others, it merely "thundered."
We are reminded of a story that Marvin Olasky, onetime Marxist and present editor-in-chief of the conservative publication WORLD tells of a camping trip taken by the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his associate, Dr. Watson. Awaking early in the morning, Holmes rouses the doctor and asks, "Tell me, Watson, what do you see?" To which Watson replies, "I see the sun rising in the east; the trees and hills to the west; the dawning of a beautiful day."
"Idiot," fumes Holmes, "while we were sleeping, someone stole our tent."
While offered primarily within a context of political interests, Mr. Olasky's story is applicable on many fronts. To the spiritually perceptive there is, of course, an impelling sense of identification - indeed, urgency - in relation to the ongoing efforts of liberal elements within the Church to "steal the tent" while more than a few, unfortunatly, have been asleep.
As believers, it is time, not only to act where possible but, as per the apostle, to earnestly "pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (i.e., Christ's true Body at large," Eph. 6:18).
Burl Ratzsch
Scripture stresses the importance of perceptiveness. When, speaking for the Twelve, Peter once asked concerning his dismissal of the Pharisee's shallow legalism, Jesus responded with something akin to exasperation: "Are you, too, yet incapable of understanding?" (Matt. 15:15 NAB).
Perhaps few examples of Scripture better illustrate the point than John 12:27-29. Following his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus foretold his impending death: "But for this purpose I came to this hour," he stated - an assertion to which he then added the exclamation: "Father, glorify your name!"
At this point, "a voice came out of heaven: 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.'" Of the possibly more perceptive present, some conjectured that "an angel spoke to him." To others, it merely "thundered."
We are reminded of a story that Marvin Olasky, onetime Marxist and present editor-in-chief of the conservative publication WORLD tells of a camping trip taken by the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and his associate, Dr. Watson. Awaking early in the morning, Holmes rouses the doctor and asks, "Tell me, Watson, what do you see?" To which Watson replies, "I see the sun rising in the east; the trees and hills to the west; the dawning of a beautiful day."
"Idiot," fumes Holmes, "while we were sleeping, someone stole our tent."
While offered primarily within a context of political interests, Mr. Olasky's story is applicable on many fronts. To the spiritually perceptive there is, of course, an impelling sense of identification - indeed, urgency - in relation to the ongoing efforts of liberal elements within the Church to "steal the tent" while more than a few, unfortunatly, have been asleep.
As believers, it is time, not only to act where possible but, as per the apostle, to earnestly "pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (i.e., Christ's true Body at large," Eph. 6:18).
Burl Ratzsch
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