4th and 10

Don't you love it when you ask someone a question and they give you a "no answer" response? Of course, I won't even bother going into the whole problem that a "no answer" is actually an "answer". When I approach one of my professors or pastors with a question about Christianity, I usually hope to find an answer. It's the same with my boss at work, the guy in charge at the store, or when I really approach anyone with a question who is supposed to have an answer. I'm not saying that these people should be omniscient in their field of expertise and know absolutely everything about it. However, the easy questions should have an answer and if they don't have an answer, then I expect them to say something like, "Well, that's a good question. Let me look it up and I will get back to you". Now, I certainly don't expect them to tell me to wait about 5 or 10 years before coming up with an answer. Then, if he still isn't sure, then maybe I should wait another 5 or 10 years. Huh? Well, that's exactly what one pastor and unfortunately prominent author is telling people about the issue of homosexuality.

Now starting at punter, Brian McLaren! No one likes a punter. In football, everyone knows that the offense was unable to get the necessarily yardage available and then must give the ball back to the other team. In laymens terms, they failed. They weren't good enough at that time and couldn't get the job done. The same is true in the academic world when it comes to discussing issues. If you don't know the answer, you just punt. Brian McLaren in the February 7, 2005 issue of Time Magazine said, “Asked at a conference last spring what he thought about gay marriage, Brian McLaren replied, ‘You know what, the thing that breaks my heart is that there's no way I can answer it without hurting someone on either side.’” Awww, isn't that sensitive of him? What's that age-old addage again...the truth hurts?

In the January 2006 edition of the Leadership Journal, Brian McLaren once again tackles the homosexual issue:

"Perhaps we need a five-year moratorium on making pronouncements. In the meantime, we'll practice prayerful Christian dialogue, listening respectfully, disagreeing agreeably. When decisions need to be made, they'll be admittedly provisional. We'll keep our ears attuned to scholars in biblical studies, theology, ethics, psychology, genetics, sociology, and related fields. Then in five years, if we have clarity, we'll speak; if not, we'll set another five years for ongoing reflection. After all, many important issues in church history took centuries to figure out. Maybe this moratorium would help us resist the "winds of doctrine" blowing furiously from the left and right, so we can patiently wait for the wind of the Spirit to set our course."

In proper context, McLaren is talking about a new couple in his church coming up to him and asking him the "homosexual question". I'm not going to dumb-down the issue at stake here because I believe that most biblically-literate Christians know that the Bible is pretty clear on homosexuality. It's a sin and marriage is strictly between one man and one woman. It is really hard for honest, Bible-believing followers of Christ to deny this fact.

On the other hand, this reason is not an excuse to condemn those who are same-sex oriented. We are to love them unconditionally, respect them, and show them the total love of Christ. We are to reach out to them and not turn away from them in disgust. They are just like anyone else who needs the love and grace of Jesus. However, part of loving them is telling them the truth about how God feels about their lifestyle and all sin. By telling them that God loves them and they can continue to live in sin is not really loving them at all. It is selling them a false gospel that is really not "good news" at all. Believing in Christ, repenting of our sins, and following Him involves a change in my sinful life. Not that we are perfect, because we are all sinners. Rather, we move out of a lifestyle of "practicing" sin.

I saw a comic the other day that had two guys sitting at a diner counter. The TV was on with a picture of Barack Obama with the headline, "Democratic Debate". One guy turns to the other and asks, "Why are Democrats so interested in stem-cell research?" The other guy turns to him and says, "Maybe so they can grow themselves a backbone!". The comic was funny, but it made me think about something. Couldn't the same be said today about many pastors and Christian leaders, especially those involved in the Emergent Church? Asking them to answer a question is like trying to pin the proverbial "jell-o to the wall". It's amazing to me that a guy who claims to have a Generous Orthodoxy and the Secret Message of Jesus isn't really sure about most of his answers. He is a walking contradiction and isn't sure we can ever know the truth about something. This begs the question, "Why is he writing books?"

It is sad to see that a person who is writing so many books and having so much influence on young Christians today is so confused about so much. We have the most biblically-illiterate generation today who has lost it's ability to think and reason. Instead of knee-jerk reactions to the extreme opposite end of things, we need reasoned and thoughtful approaches to church and presenting the one, unchangeable truth of the Gospel to a culture that desperately needs something firm on which to hold.