Sorry, I don't have time to continue the discussion on marriage and family issues right now (at this point I am planning on at least two more posts) but I did want to post one quick clarification to my last post, since a few of you have asked about Rick Warren's position on gay marriage. Here are the facts as I understand them:
1. Rick Warren did come out in public support of Proposition 8.
2. He did "back-peddle" on national TV and even said that he had apologized to some of his gay friends because of it.
Probably Rick could have handled the situation better. Personally, I think he just got caught off guard and was unprepared, so he did not make himself clear. However, I also think that too many people are taking his comments out of context to make it out as if Rick has flip-flopped on the issue. This is not the case. I think what Rick was back-peddling from is the (undeserved) perception that if you are in favor of Prop 8, you must be "against" gay people. As I said in my last post, one does not necessitate the other. We can honestly disagree with someone and at the same time treat them with dignity and respect.
But it really is not my place to defend Rick Warren, nor will I try. Like I said, I don't know the man personally. Instead, Click here to see Rick Warren explain for himself what he meant.
I will do my best to get back to this just as soon as I can...
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Why are we losing the "battle" over marriage and family? (Part 2)
Sometimes I'm amazed at the timeliness of how God brings things into our lives. Within a few hours of closing my last post with the idea that viewing the debate over same-sex marriage as a battle contributes to the problem someone sent me this link - click here. To be honest, I have no idea who Joseph Farah is or what he stands for -- I'm sure he is a nice person and probably well-intentioned, but based on this I would have to conclude that he is either ignorant or dishonest.
I don't personally know Rick Warren either, but anyone who has ever read his writings or heard him speak (with an open mind, that is) cannot plausibly characterize his beliefs and teachings as "mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, namby-pamby hokum." That's neither fair nor accurate; and it is just this kind of pejorative mud-slinging that unnecessarily polarizes the issue. I am convinced that this nonsense flows directly from the false assumption that those who diagree with same-sex marriages can only express their position with aggressive vitriol and anyone who would try to engage in a reasonable dialog which treats those on the other side with a degree of dignity and respect is a pro-homosexual compromiser. These are not the only two options available. I know this because I have read Luke 15 and other Scriptures like it.
Even those who are not familiar with the Bible probably recognize the story that is commonly called the parable of the prodigal son. Most people think of this parable as a powerful illustration of God's love and patience for repentant sinners - which, of course, it is - but a careful reading of this story in its context reveals that there is far more to it than that. The reason Jesus tells the parable in the first place is because of the self-righteous Pharisees who are disdainfully complaining that "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (v. 2) There is also a second, older son in the story - the one I believe Jesus actually intended as the principal character - who will not welcome his younger brother home because of his sin. (vv. 25-28) The moral of the story is that we should all be more like the father, and not like this self-righteous and vindicitive older brother.
It would not surprise me, after hearing this story, if the Pharisees accused Jesus of spouting "mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, namby-pamby hokum." Joseph Farah and others who criticize Rick Warren need to read this passage again and remember that Jesus Himself said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35) For my part, I don't agree with everything that Rick Warren espouses, but on this issue at least I think he is much closer to God's heart than Mr. Farah.
We can justifiably and firmly disagree with homosexuals, political liberals and others on the same-sex marriage issue - and we should. But in the name of Christ, let us do it with love, gentleness and respect. (cf. 1 Peter 3:15) For a much deeper and balanced discussion of this issue, I heartily recommend the book unChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, especially chapter 5.
I don't personally know Rick Warren either, but anyone who has ever read his writings or heard him speak (with an open mind, that is) cannot plausibly characterize his beliefs and teachings as "mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, namby-pamby hokum." That's neither fair nor accurate; and it is just this kind of pejorative mud-slinging that unnecessarily polarizes the issue. I am convinced that this nonsense flows directly from the false assumption that those who diagree with same-sex marriages can only express their position with aggressive vitriol and anyone who would try to engage in a reasonable dialog which treats those on the other side with a degree of dignity and respect is a pro-homosexual compromiser. These are not the only two options available. I know this because I have read Luke 15 and other Scriptures like it.
Even those who are not familiar with the Bible probably recognize the story that is commonly called the parable of the prodigal son. Most people think of this parable as a powerful illustration of God's love and patience for repentant sinners - which, of course, it is - but a careful reading of this story in its context reveals that there is far more to it than that. The reason Jesus tells the parable in the first place is because of the self-righteous Pharisees who are disdainfully complaining that "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (v. 2) There is also a second, older son in the story - the one I believe Jesus actually intended as the principal character - who will not welcome his younger brother home because of his sin. (vv. 25-28) The moral of the story is that we should all be more like the father, and not like this self-righteous and vindicitive older brother.
It would not surprise me, after hearing this story, if the Pharisees accused Jesus of spouting "mealy-mouthed, wishy-washy, namby-pamby hokum." Joseph Farah and others who criticize Rick Warren need to read this passage again and remember that Jesus Himself said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35) For my part, I don't agree with everything that Rick Warren espouses, but on this issue at least I think he is much closer to God's heart than Mr. Farah.
We can justifiably and firmly disagree with homosexuals, political liberals and others on the same-sex marriage issue - and we should. But in the name of Christ, let us do it with love, gentleness and respect. (cf. 1 Peter 3:15) For a much deeper and balanced discussion of this issue, I heartily recommend the book unChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, especially chapter 5.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Why are we losing the "battle" over marriage and family? (Part 1)
The battle rages on against marriage and the family.
Perhaps you read today as I did that the Vermont legislature overturned the governor's veto and became the fourth state in the union to legalize gay marriage. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before we see similar stories coming out of other states where similar bills are in various stages of passage. Also in my opinion, we are fighting a losing battle. In fact, it seems to me that we already lost the battle a long time ago and the squabbles we see now are in the "last stand" stage -- noble, but doomed. How did it get this way?
Proposition 8 in California is a notable example. All the time I hear Christians lamenting, "How can the courts overturn the will of the majority?" This is a terrible argument for a couple of reasons. First of all, the will of "the majority" is a fleeting thing as opinions constantly shift. Back in November prop 8 passed by a margin of 52-48%. But if had been voted on ten years ago, "the majority" would have been far greater. In other words, at the rate they are going, it is only a matter of time before proponents of same-sex marriage have "the majority." What will we say then?
Secondly, what would we say if a vote of "the majority" passed a law making it illegal to worship in a church? You can bet that we would want the courts to overturn such a law, "the majority" notwithstanding. Simply having "the majority" does not make a cause right. Remember it was not that long ago that "the majority" of voters in southern states favored segregation laws. I think most Christians would probably acknowlege that those laws were wrong, in spite of their widespread support at the time.
To my mind, this is exactly why the battle is being lost. We have allowed the opposition to frame the debate as a civil rights issue. Too many people in this country have accepted the view that homosexuals are born that way and therefore, not allowing them to marry (along with other things) is a violation of their civil rights. As long as the debate is framed in these terms, the will of "the majority" argument is doomed to failure.
Does that mean we should give up? Certainly not. But we need to stop fighting the war on the wrong battlefield. In fact, maybe the fact that we view it as a "battle" or "war" is part of the problem. Perhaps if we quit fighting against those who are on the other side of the debate and instead approached them as Jesus did, with love and consideration, we might make far more progress. This is a possibility I will explore in more detail in my next post...
Perhaps you read today as I did that the Vermont legislature overturned the governor's veto and became the fourth state in the union to legalize gay marriage. In my opinion, it is only a matter of time before we see similar stories coming out of other states where similar bills are in various stages of passage. Also in my opinion, we are fighting a losing battle. In fact, it seems to me that we already lost the battle a long time ago and the squabbles we see now are in the "last stand" stage -- noble, but doomed. How did it get this way?
Proposition 8 in California is a notable example. All the time I hear Christians lamenting, "How can the courts overturn the will of the majority?" This is a terrible argument for a couple of reasons. First of all, the will of "the majority" is a fleeting thing as opinions constantly shift. Back in November prop 8 passed by a margin of 52-48%. But if had been voted on ten years ago, "the majority" would have been far greater. In other words, at the rate they are going, it is only a matter of time before proponents of same-sex marriage have "the majority." What will we say then?
Secondly, what would we say if a vote of "the majority" passed a law making it illegal to worship in a church? You can bet that we would want the courts to overturn such a law, "the majority" notwithstanding. Simply having "the majority" does not make a cause right. Remember it was not that long ago that "the majority" of voters in southern states favored segregation laws. I think most Christians would probably acknowlege that those laws were wrong, in spite of their widespread support at the time.
To my mind, this is exactly why the battle is being lost. We have allowed the opposition to frame the debate as a civil rights issue. Too many people in this country have accepted the view that homosexuals are born that way and therefore, not allowing them to marry (along with other things) is a violation of their civil rights. As long as the debate is framed in these terms, the will of "the majority" argument is doomed to failure.
Does that mean we should give up? Certainly not. But we need to stop fighting the war on the wrong battlefield. In fact, maybe the fact that we view it as a "battle" or "war" is part of the problem. Perhaps if we quit fighting against those who are on the other side of the debate and instead approached them as Jesus did, with love and consideration, we might make far more progress. This is a possibility I will explore in more detail in my next post...
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