tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7560220615271337359.post1740786715975336843..comments2024-03-12T08:04:47.314-07:00Comments on Naming His Grace: Brian Ellison: conforming the Church to the StateViola Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09146967423654966140noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7560220615271337359.post-40331555082883382142013-02-06T10:34:58.640-08:002013-02-06T10:34:58.640-08:00Robert,
It seems to me that the relationship that ...Robert,<br />It seems to me that the relationship that is marriage must be a covenant relationship between three, a man & woman & God—see Malachi on this (2:13-16) and once again Matthew 19:4b-6 along side the Genesis account which is the account Jesus uses thus bypassing all rabbinical arguments on marriage. <br /><br />You have written, “The Spirit is speaking through great parts of the church that it is not merely accommodation that is needed but a rethinking about what it means to love another in covenant relationship.” Covenant love as shown in both the Old Testament & the New is always ensconced in the work of Christ, his life, death and resurrection. And it does not change. <br /><br />You suggest that it is those who disagree, on biblical grounds, with same sex marriage who are conforming to the state. Not so—the state has always followed the Church in this area-not because it necessarily agreed with Christian doctrine but because it was what had always been acceptable even in secular society. Ellison and others want the church to conform to the changes in state laws whether those laws agree with scripture or not. The church must not change its biblical teaching in order to conform to culture or State.<br />Viola Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09146967423654966140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7560220615271337359.post-30042547181703158292013-02-06T08:46:23.332-08:002013-02-06T08:46:23.332-08:00I would argue that those who favor limiting marria...I would argue that those who favor limiting marriage are the ones conforming to government and society. 30+ states have enshrined marriage inequality in their constitutions and DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) has essentially the same effect on the national level. Continuing to rely on any definition of civil contract for marriage is a mistake. The church should be in the blessing of covenant business not the affirming of a civil contract business.<br /><br />I am not a great supporter of simply changing the definition of marriage. Just saying 2 people rather than man and woman misses the point. This is about far more than mere semantics. The Spirit is speaking through great parts of the church that it is not merely accommodation that is needed but a rethinking about what it means to love another in covenant relationship. <br /><br />I wish that you had addressed the issues that Ellison raised with something more than boilerplate rhetoric. And I also wish that he had made a more sound theological argument. As long as our intra-church debate and discernment focuses on the definition of a word, marriage, and not the larger issue of understanding covenant love as a reflection of God's love for the world and Christ's love for the church, I fear that we will continue to talk past one another.Robert Wm Lowryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14268510560196713583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7560220615271337359.post-50304055710800551272013-02-05T15:39:21.740-08:002013-02-05T15:39:21.740-08:00Anonymous,
I'm not writing this thinking that ...Anonymous,<br />I'm not writing this thinking that I might change Ellison's views. Instead I am writing for brothers and sisters to know and understand what is happening. I am also writing because it is important to speak truth & in particular, truth to power.<br /><br />Please next time you comment leave your name and city. I do not allow anonymous comments.Viola Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09146967423654966140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7560220615271337359.post-74716589440391749202013-02-05T13:56:47.626-08:002013-02-05T13:56:47.626-08:00Ellison doesn't care what you or the Bible say...Ellison doesn't care what you or the Bible says. He wants what he wants and Christianity be damned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com