Hi Ack-Ack,
Regarding "hating" people in the name of religion you wrote -
Originally posted by Ack-Ack
Guys like Seagoon have been doing that for centuries.
Didn't expect to be answering this one but since it touches on oft repeating theme, I guess I will.
[Incidentally Ack, I usually need to have met someone before they come to the conclusion they hate and despise me, apparently we cut that step out this time]
Contrary to what you seem to believe, I don't spend my time railing against homosexuals from the pulpit.
Actually, the vast majority of my preaching is what they call expository and
lectio continua, in other words I systematically go verse by verse through a book of the bible. I have no desire to be simply preaching my opinions on current events, and I certainly am not interested in politicizing the pulpit. My job is to act, as Paul put, as "an ambassador" delivering the message of the King. Therefore I hope I can always truthfully say that the main thrust of everything I preach follows the Pauline exhortation:
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:20-21) As a result the majority of my preaching aimed at convicting of sin is aimed within the church - what after all would be the point of convicting men who need the gospel themselves that other men are sinners? In essence, it would be like a patient sick with cancer going to the doctor, and the doctor spending the entire visit diagnosing the ills of his neighbors.
I end up talking about current events, politics, movies, and so on, here because that is the kind of discussion that goes on around here. Generally, I only begin discussing the bible when someone else mentions it or asks a question. I don't really expect to get into discussions like I had at the office yesterday over the actual meaning of "the husband of one wife" in 1 Tim. 3:2.
Yes, when there is a big issue in the culture that people in the church are talking about and looking for instruction on, I'll teach what scripture says about it, and no I won't just pull one verse out of context, I'll try to systematically present the whole witness of the bible on it (the whole counsel of God - per Acts 20:27) and I won't soft peddle or sugar coat.
I know you probably won't believe this, but while yes, I hate sin - especially my own, and there's gonna be a lot of that for so long as I live - I don't hate sinners. That said, I know that the answer to the problem of sin doesn't lie in denying it or norming it (like Brokeback), or explaining it away or even calling it 'sickness.' The answer to sin lies in grace, forgiveness, and new life. Ultimately, I'm looking forward to an eternity where there are no more sins, sorrows, death, tears, sickness, or any of the other sad consequences of the fall and my desire is to be used in seeing that as many other weary sinners also enjoy the rest of eternity. To that end to quote Baxter, "I preach as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men." I sincerely regret that that offends you.
- SEAGOON
