From Law to Grace » Archive
Clergy Sex Abuse, Off-Limits Questions & Pink Elephants
In yet another bizarre turn of events at SBC Voices – a place for Southern Baptist News and Opinion — I have found myself in the strange position (I’m in good company) of not only having my own comments deleted, but also the comments of others based upon my original comment that got the ball rolling, as it were. The comments, which I’m so relieved were deemed not “sinful or evil or anything,” were nevertheless deleted because I asked questions that were apparently uncomfortable for some at Voices. So, “based on advice” (from who we do not know), the editor of Voices, Dave Miller, decided to delete multiple comments because “they took the discussion in a direction it does not need to go.” I thought I was offering discussion on a post … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Law, Religion
Andy Stanley’s Soft Landing on Homosexuality?
Say it isn’t so, Joe (or, in this case, Andy)! Did my ears hear what I think they heard? Surely not. Was my mind playing tricks on me? It’s happened before, so I wouldn’t discount it. No way that Andy Stanley — one of Evangelical Christianity’s best communicators — would say something that could be misconstrued as condoning homosexuality. But, that’s exactly what my Student Pastor and I heard after listening to Part 5 of Stanley’s sermon series, “Christian: When Gracie Met Truthy.”(h/t to Peter Lumpkins’ post, “Mark Driscoll, Liberty University, Mitt Romney, Richard Land, Lifeway, Andy Stanley: a bit of potpourri”). I suppose both of us could have simply misunderstood what Andy Stanley was trying to communicate through one of his sermon illustrations. Believe me. As one who has benefited … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Featured, Homosexual Agenda, Religion, Theology
Tim Tebow, Ashley Madison & America’s Moral Abyss
Just when you think that the Tim Tebow story can’t get any more bizarre, along comes internet “dating” website Ashley Madison (“Life is short. Have an Affair”) to offer a $1 million bounty on the New York Jets’ quarterback. Not to be confused with a New Orleans Saints’ bounty – which was also morally repugnant — Ashley Madison’s bounty will be given to anyone (I’m assuming both men or women) who can provide proof that Tim Tebow is not, in fact, a virgin, as he has long claimed. I thought it would be hard to top New England Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski’s crude comment about Tebow’s virginity, but I think this easily beats Gronk. That, in itself, is pretty pathetic. And, it is further evidence of America’s rapid descent into the moral abyss. Who could even imagine 15 years … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Culture, Religion, Sports
Moderate Baptists: The Road Less Traveled & Cliffs Ahead!
“This conference, announced with such fanfare, may well prove to be the undoing of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. I have no doubt that other sexual ethics topics will be addressed, but homosexuality will be THE topic which garners the most dialogue and discussion.” (CBF, Sexual Ethics & Muddled Baptists, June 1, 2011) I wish I could say that I was wrong when I wrote the above statement last June. But, if Baptist Press’ reporting is any indication, those words proved all-too prescient. In a BP article entitled, “Gay issue major theme of CBF sponsored conf,” the opening paragraph sums up what was a far-too easy prediction: Despite conference organizers’ best attempts to keep the Baptist Conference on Sexuality & Covenant focused on broader issues April 19-21, the conversation often centered on the topic of homosexuality. In many ways, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Religion, Theology