The mean season and the joy of Christ

As some complain about how the Jane Spahr case turned out and others write about how they can deal with those who still believe same gender sex is sin the meanness is deafening. On one blog one elder writing a comment about what he believes is the inevitableness of the PCUSA accepting same gender marriage writes:

I'm not sure what the fundies get out of delaying the inevitable (I mean, even they can see it, right?) other than the opportunity to just be mean because they can be mean and/or because they enjoy it. But whatever the reason, the PCUSA and the rest of society will change for the simple reason that we will not stop until it does change.

We’ve clearly taught the PCUSA that lesson on ordination, but apparently some people are slow. So we’ll teach them again.[1]

On the Covenant Network a sermon by Tricia Dykers Koenig entitled All Things to All People has been posted. Using 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23, the text in which Paul admonishes Christians to forego food offered to idols for the sake of the weaker brother, Koenig manages to continually insult those who believe that same gender sex is sin.

Through the whole sermon she considers them weaker brothers and sisters. She speaks of their “homophobia,” their discrimination and insists that they harm others. She even states that they obscure the gospel. And she adds that one of the reasons we must try to stay together is “For the sake of those who think they do know absolute Truth and need, themselves, to be redeemed by the Gospel of grace.”

Added to this is her contrast of the weaker Christian with those who possess a “superior theological understanding.” So how do the orthodox respond?

Not to the Progressives at all, but to the love of the Lord Jesus Christ in thankfulness for his many blessings. In John 17: 13-19, Jesus prays for his own. He says that they will be hated as he is hated. He prays for their joy, their unity, their sanctity in the truth and he sends them into the world with the good news. And not least he prays for their protection from the evil one.

There is joy because we do know the Truth. He has a name, Jesus. In John’s first epistle he writes:

What was from the beginning what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. These things we write so that our joy may be made complete. (1:1-4)

Thomas Brooks, a puritan pastor, in his book, Precious remedies against Satan’s Devices writes of Christ as the only worthy object in a Christian's life. While I find myself wanting to quote several pages there is this:

We have all things in Christ, and Christ is all things to a Christian. If he be sick, he is a physician; if we thirst, he is a fountain; if our sins trouble us, he is righteousness; if we stand in need of help, he is mighty to save; if we fear death, he is life; if we be in darkness, he is light; if we be weak, he is strength; if we be in poverty, he is plenty; if we desire heaven, he is the way. The soul cannot say, this I would have, and that I would have; but saith Christ, it is in me, it is in me eminently, perfectly, eternally.

There is a haven wide enough for all of the weak brothers and sisters. It is a place where we are not considered evil but are seen covered with Christ’s righteousness. Jesus gives us a name that is not known by the world. It is not a place where we necessarily hold absolute truth but where the absolute Truth holds us and we know absolutely that he holds us.

[1] by Alan Kiste