I agree that we in the CRC ought to do more to inform ourselves, from a Scriptural perspective, about Climate Change. But my focus is a little different...
It is clear that environment & climate was a common theme among many of the demon-gods of antiquity (the false idols worshipped by people who did not worship the One True God). The other 2 main themes were child sacrifice and sexual immorality. Those 3 things, deification of elements of the environment, child sacrifice, and sexual perversion were the 3 main aspects of demon worship.
I believe that the CRC has been tempted to flirt with the environmental idol. The "science" offered to pass the overture that jumped on board the global warming bandwagon has been proven to be false. And I think the environment (pun intended) within the CRC has changed a lot since then.
I hope that a future Synod will refocus our denomination away from the demon-god of environmentalism, and back toward the One True God of Scripture.
Saul (pre-conversion) is a fantastic example of someone whose orthodoxy was all wrong. Saul's beliefs were based on falsehood. He did not understand that Jesus is the long-promised Messiah of Israel. This is the mystery of the Gospel that Paul (post-conversion) refers to in his letters to the churches.
I think that is why Paul is so critical of false teachers and false teachings. He himself used to be a false teacher who believed in false teachings.
But once Paul got his orthodoxy correct, he was able to spread the truth of the Gospel in love. Love radiated from his right beliefs!
I am thankful for parents who raised me to realize that there is 1 race...the human race. And that God created all of us brown. Some of us are light brown. Some of us are dark brown. But in the end, we are all brown!
We need to see each other the way God sees us: as individuals created in His image. Not as members of artificial groups based on our DNA.
Those who wish to divide us (and profit from that division) based on our skin tone, must be opposed as deniers of the true Gospel of Christ. That Gospel teaches us that people who harbor animosity based on skin tone (whether dark-toward-light or light-toward-dark) will be forgiven by Almighty God when they accept God's call to the Cross and leave their animosity there for Christ to destroy for all eternity. Man-made schemes will not bring forgiveness and reconciliation. Only the True Gospel can do that!
To Kevin, Mark, Reggie, and all the others who support changing the definition of marriage and changing the teachings of the CRC regarding sexual immorality, please consider this question...
Why not join one of the other Christian denominations that ALREADY teach your new-found beliefs?
I ask that question in love and grace. If your ideas change and no longer line up with your church's teachings, isn't it better to leave that church, and join another one that lines up with your new beliefs? Why do you need to force the original denomination to change her teachings to match your new ones?
Steven, the Scriptures I shared are not about Sodom, per se. They are about current religious leaders going along with the "wisdom" of the world, encouraging the sheep to go astray, and even celebrating sin.
It's a warning...when church leaders turn the flock away from God, God is not pleased.
Steven, you've made some assumptions that are completely wrong. But I love you as my neighbor anyway.
My question for you is this: If your views on sexual immorality have changed and no longer line up with the teachings of the CRC, why not graciously join another denomination that already DOES line up with your new viewpoint?
Thanks, Kevin. You covered a lot, but seemed to assume I meant an official split of the CRC. I didn't mean that. There are plenty of other churches and denominations that already exist, who line up with your views on sexual immorality. I was asking why you don't join one of those?
About 10 years ago I joined the CRC because I personally hold to the teachings of the CRC. If, for some reason, I found new views (say, for example, I came to believe in universal salvation), then I would join a different church that already teaches that. I would not demand that the CRC start teaching universal salvation.
It's like someone who hates baseball, who becomes a little league coach, and then demands that the kids stop playing baseball.
As a father of 3 young boys (ages 10, 7, and 5) I have wondered what life would be like if one of them came up to me in their teenage years and said "Dad...I like other boys more than girls." It's a very real thing to me.
Thankfully, I know what I would do. I would be honest with them that I often find myself physically attracted to people that are "off limits" for me. And that at those times I need to fall at the feet of my Savior and ask him to help me resist the temptation to think or act on those sinful impulses. And that I need to ask the Holy Spirit to give me strength. I would tell my son to do the same.
Then I would tell my son that I love him, and that God loves him, and that he is a part of God's family, and that ALL members of God's family experience temptation. I would tell him that God's love is not an excuse to sin, but rather it is a weapon against sin.
And I would never, never demand that other believers make excuses for my son's temptations, or encourage them, or elevate them as being worthy of embracing rather than resisting.
Mr. Stephenson, your emphatic claim that you are not trying to influence the outcome reminds me of the saying "Me thinks you doth protest too much."
Those (like "All One Body") who have publicly stated they want to change the CRC's teaching on human sexuality have been very open and honest that their tactic is going to be to be to push the "love, love, love" narrative. So when employees of the CRCNA use church resources to echo a very similar sentiment, it is completely reasonable for people to be concerned.
As for the statement that "God loves you the way you are," that sentiment is not found in Scripture. A more accurate paraphrase would be "God loves you despite the way you are, and loves you enough to transform you."
Hi Steven, you were incorrect in assuming that I don't know any LGBTQ people who are heartbroken and struggle every day with their temptations. You were incorrect in assuming that because I still agree with the Scriptural guidelines on human sexuality, marriage, and gender, that I would be unwilling to help an injured person by the side of the road (I have literally and figuratively helped the injured person). I don't want to belabor this point, as I truly do love you as my neighbor.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you were "born in the CRC and have just as much right" as anyone else to stay here and demand the church change its teachings. In truth, we must be willing to admit when it is WE who have changed (not God's Word), and then have the courage to find others who believe the same way we do now. That's what I did when I joined the CRC 10 years ago.
If an issue is both fundamental and mutually exclusive (as is the case with God's holy design for marriage, human sexuality, and gender), then it is both destructive and untenable to stay together.
Posted in: Survey Results: Leading the Way in Faith-Driven Climate Action
I agree that we in the CRC ought to do more to inform ourselves, from a Scriptural perspective, about Climate Change. But my focus is a little different...
It is clear that environment & climate was a common theme among many of the demon-gods of antiquity (the false idols worshipped by people who did not worship the One True God). The other 2 main themes were child sacrifice and sexual immorality. Those 3 things, deification of elements of the environment, child sacrifice, and sexual perversion were the 3 main aspects of demon worship.
I believe that the CRC has been tempted to flirt with the environmental idol. The "science" offered to pass the overture that jumped on board the global warming bandwagon has been proven to be false. And I think the environment (pun intended) within the CRC has changed a lot since then.
I hope that a future Synod will refocus our denomination away from the demon-god of environmentalism, and back toward the One True God of Scripture.
Posted in: Survey Results: Leading the Way in Faith-Driven Climate Action
Mark, does Scripture tell us to "care for creation"? Where? Or are we instructed to use it for our own flourishing, and give thanks to God for it?
Yes, to the extent that global warming alarmism is preached by Christians, it is idolatry and false religion.
I would love to meet with you and talk more about this. Will you be at Synod this year? I will be there as a delegate.
Posted in: No Such Thing as "Loveless Orthodoxy"
Saul (pre-conversion) is a fantastic example of someone whose orthodoxy was all wrong. Saul's beliefs were based on falsehood. He did not understand that Jesus is the long-promised Messiah of Israel. This is the mystery of the Gospel that Paul (post-conversion) refers to in his letters to the churches.
I think that is why Paul is so critical of false teachers and false teachings. He himself used to be a false teacher who believed in false teachings.
But once Paul got his orthodoxy correct, he was able to spread the truth of the Gospel in love. Love radiated from his right beliefs!
Posted in: Standing Up to Racism: The Gospel Thing to Do
I am thankful for parents who raised me to realize that there is 1 race...the human race. And that God created all of us brown. Some of us are light brown. Some of us are dark brown. But in the end, we are all brown!
We need to see each other the way God sees us: as individuals created in His image. Not as members of artificial groups based on our DNA.
Those who wish to divide us (and profit from that division) based on our skin tone, must be opposed as deniers of the true Gospel of Christ. That Gospel teaches us that people who harbor animosity based on skin tone (whether dark-toward-light or light-toward-dark) will be forgiven by Almighty God when they accept God's call to the Cross and leave their animosity there for Christ to destroy for all eternity. Man-made schemes will not bring forgiveness and reconciliation. Only the True Gospel can do that!
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
To Kevin, Mark, Reggie, and all the others who support changing the definition of marriage and changing the teachings of the CRC regarding sexual immorality, please consider this question...
Why not join one of the other Christian denominations that ALREADY teach your new-found beliefs?
I ask that question in love and grace. If your ideas change and no longer line up with your church's teachings, isn't it better to leave that church, and join another one that lines up with your new beliefs? Why do you need to force the original denomination to change her teachings to match your new ones?
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
Steven, the Scriptures I shared are not about Sodom, per se. They are about current religious leaders going along with the "wisdom" of the world, encouraging the sheep to go astray, and even celebrating sin.
It's a warning...when church leaders turn the flock away from God, God is not pleased.
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
Steven, you've made some assumptions that are completely wrong. But I love you as my neighbor anyway.
My question for you is this: If your views on sexual immorality have changed and no longer line up with the teachings of the CRC, why not graciously join another denomination that already DOES line up with your new viewpoint?
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
Thanks, Kevin. You covered a lot, but seemed to assume I meant an official split of the CRC. I didn't mean that. There are plenty of other churches and denominations that already exist, who line up with your views on sexual immorality. I was asking why you don't join one of those?
About 10 years ago I joined the CRC because I personally hold to the teachings of the CRC. If, for some reason, I found new views (say, for example, I came to believe in universal salvation), then I would join a different church that already teaches that. I would not demand that the CRC start teaching universal salvation.
It's like someone who hates baseball, who becomes a little league coach, and then demands that the kids stop playing baseball.
Posted in: I Wonder
As a father of 3 young boys (ages 10, 7, and 5) I have wondered what life would be like if one of them came up to me in their teenage years and said "Dad...I like other boys more than girls." It's a very real thing to me.
Thankfully, I know what I would do. I would be honest with them that I often find myself physically attracted to people that are "off limits" for me. And that at those times I need to fall at the feet of my Savior and ask him to help me resist the temptation to think or act on those sinful impulses. And that I need to ask the Holy Spirit to give me strength. I would tell my son to do the same.
Then I would tell my son that I love him, and that God loves him, and that he is a part of God's family, and that ALL members of God's family experience temptation. I would tell him that God's love is not an excuse to sin, but rather it is a weapon against sin.
And I would never, never demand that other believers make excuses for my son's temptations, or encourage them, or elevate them as being worthy of embracing rather than resisting.
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
Mr. Stephenson, your emphatic claim that you are not trying to influence the outcome reminds me of the saying "Me thinks you doth protest too much."
Those (like "All One Body") who have publicly stated they want to change the CRC's teaching on human sexuality have been very open and honest that their tactic is going to be to be to push the "love, love, love" narrative. So when employees of the CRCNA use church resources to echo a very similar sentiment, it is completely reasonable for people to be concerned.
As for the statement that "God loves you the way you are," that sentiment is not found in Scripture. A more accurate paraphrase would be "God loves you despite the way you are, and loves you enough to transform you."
Would you agree?
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
Hi Steven, you were incorrect in assuming that I don't know any LGBTQ people who are heartbroken and struggle every day with their temptations. You were incorrect in assuming that because I still agree with the Scriptural guidelines on human sexuality, marriage, and gender, that I would be unwilling to help an injured person by the side of the road (I have literally and figuratively helped the injured person). I don't want to belabor this point, as I truly do love you as my neighbor.
I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you were "born in the CRC and have just as much right" as anyone else to stay here and demand the church change its teachings. In truth, we must be willing to admit when it is WE who have changed (not God's Word), and then have the courage to find others who believe the same way we do now. That's what I did when I joined the CRC 10 years ago.
Posted in: Talking About Human Sexuality With Love
If an issue is both fundamental and mutually exclusive (as is the case with God's holy design for marriage, human sexuality, and gender), then it is both destructive and untenable to stay together.