I’ve been sitting here attempting to write, afraid of my own
anger which I must put aside. I have listened to a song I particularly like.
Over and over I have listened.
Span of stars over head as we walk this route/ While this darkness remains I will bear your load/ And together we will tend to the seeds we've sown/ As we walk along that road to that city/
Well my eyes can't see what is waiting there/ And my mind can't conceive all that he has prepared/ There the blind will see the Son/ what was old will be young/ And the lame, the lame will run, all over the city/
I don’t
belong to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) anymore, I know, but I have many
dear friends that do—friends that, like Rev. Tim Keller, do not
believe in the ordination of those who practice biblical sexual sin, be it fornication, adultery or homosexuality. I suppose,
now, like Keller, they are not qualified to win theological awards such as the annual Kuyper Prize for
Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Witness given by Princeton
Theological Seminary. Or perhaps they too could have it offered and then taken
away because too many progressives protest.
Keller is still speaking at the seminary and his subject is
Church Mission. The Religion News Service quoted PT’s president, Rev. Craig
Barnes, stating that “Reverend Keller will be lecturing on Lesslie Newbigin and
the mission of the church – not on ordination.” He is still ministering.
I have been troubled by this for several days after seeing a
link placed on a Facebook site I belong to, Happy to be a Presbyterian. The
link was
a petition produced by Princeton’s Center for Theology, The Women and
Gender Advisory Council, Women’s Center and BGLASS which is Bisexual, Gay,
Lesbian, and Straight Supporters. Bruce Gillette posted the link with these words, “My father Jerry
Gillette (Class of 1953), my wife Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Class of 1985) and
I (MDiv Class of 1984, ThM Class of 1985) have all signed this petition. Please
encourage others to join us, especially the Princeton Theological Seminary
graduates. Thank You.” Of course this is good American political action but hardly
conducive to care for the orthodox still in the PC (U.S.A.).
But
it was very troubling to see another on the thread refer to Keller’s theology
as idolatrous and in another thread where it was announced that the award had
been rescinded, A
Christianity Today article, a person wrote, “Because he's a homophobic and
misogynistic schismatic who doesn't deserve to be honored by any PCUSA body.”
That comment was liked by eight people including one of the administrators of
the Facebook site.
This
kind of hatefulness is a gathered storm in the PC (U.S.A.) and other mainline denominations.
Why
is it that many of us who are orthodox and believe that women can biblically be
ordained are appalled by Princeton’s action of taking away the award that was
to be given to Keller? Keller loves the Lord Jesus Christ. He has labored
faithfully a long time in a great city, New York City, which desperately needs
the gospel of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. He does not hate the LGBTQ
community but longs for them to experience the transformation that Jesus bought
with his cross. He cares about both women and men. He loves people. He has
taught many of us with his sermons and books. His and our agenda is simply leading
people to the Lord Jesus Christ.
And
that is what the enemy of our Lord does not want.
It is he, Satan, that seeks
to hurt or ruin those who are in Christ. We are called to love and care for brothers
and sisters and to love those who are enemies of the gospel.
10 comments:
Amen. Thanks Viola.
Viola, thank you for heartfelt words. I agree
Tim Keller is a member of the PCA which has lied about the PCUSA for years as it sought to encourage congregations to leave the PCUSA to join the PCA. Keller has written in support of the PCA's sexist positions against women serving as pastors and women submitting to their husbands that can lead to abuse. I am fine with his being invited to speak at the seminary that I have two graduate degrees from, but am also happy he is not getting an award since his sexist positions snubbing women are in no way showing excellence in the Reformed tradition.
Bruce I do believe in the very distant past some PCA members tried to get PCUSA members to leave, but not Tim Keller and not many others. I don't believe as a whole the PCA has lied about the PCUSA. I also don't see Keller's views on women as sexist, simply because he believes, biblically, that women can't be ordained. I don't agree with him but I understand that he is trying to be faithful.
Jeff and Mark thank you for your comments.
Bruce, your tone in the first two sentences is very off-putting. In my 34 years as an ordained PCUSA pastor I have never been encouraged by my pastor friends in the PCA to leave the denomination. Rev. Keller's interpretation of Scripture leads him and the rest of the PCA to hold the position they do in regard to women in leadership. To those in the PCA, their position is not sexist. The "abuse"comment is over the top. Please document such comments as well as the one about the PCA lying about the PCUSA in order to encourage congregations to leave their denomination. Frankly, you and I can't hold a candle to the grace, intelligence, leadership and biblical scholarship of Rev. Keller.
I've been in the PC(USA)since 1980; as a teaching elder since 2002. I've yet to read or experience anything out of the PCA that "sought to encourage congregations to leave the PCUSA" as Bruce Gillette alleges. In fact the very limited contact I've had with PCA pastors has had them encouraging me to stay in the PC(USA) as an orthodox witness. We can debate whether or not I have been that, but that's another story.
Keller himself is one of the great gifts to the American church, a gentle, irenic witness to the love and grace and truth in Jesus Christ. Concerns aside, I would encourage his relatively few detractors to read his writings and explore for yourself the deep well of wisdom and grace he has to share. You will be blessed..
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