There is much ongoing commentary regarding homosexuality in our local paper. And there is much confusion swarming around that is misleading people and distorting the truth of God’s Word. Although men appreciate “charitable discussion”, one can hardly restrain himself to charity when it comes to eternal matters affecting the destiny of men’s souls. There is the warning that those who teach God’s Word are going to face stricter judgment (James 3:1). The worst of God’s judgments await those who manipulate His Word (2 Peter 2; Jude 3-4). And there is the command to correctly handle God’s Word in order to avoid being shamed before Him when we give an account for what we said about Him (2 Tim. 2:15). Therefore, to hopefully offer clarity I would like to submit a series of articles explaining various fallacies that have circulated regarding homosexuality. A fallacy is defined in the dictionary as “a mistaken idea; error. A flaw in reasoning.” There is no more important area in life to be void of fallacies than in matters found in the Scriptures. I’d like to submit the following articles: 1) The Fallacy of Church Tradition and Man’s Philosophies as Authority, 2) The Fallacy of “Judge Not”, 3) the Fallacy from Leviticus, and 4) the Fallacy of Homosexual Love.
The Fallacy of Church Tradition and Man’s Philosophies as Authority: The Scriptures are the only authority when it comes to the truth of God and what is righteous and unrighteous. Jared Cramer said regarding Pastor Ray Paget, “we both would affirm its [Scriptures] primacy” .(1) But Cramer is not consistent here. Later in the same article he equates the “tradition of the Church and our own God-given reason” (2) as equal in authority for understanding God’s will. Again later he states, “Each generation is called to carefully study the texts of Scripture and the traditions of the church…” (3) He contradicts himself by elevating Church tradition and man’s reasoning and philosophies to the same level as Scripture. If he affirms the primacy of Scripture then this is antinomical. The words of men are not equivalent in any way with God’s Word. The Scriptures are God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) and no Scripture originated in the mind of any man (2 Pet. 1:21). God is the Ultimate Source of the words of the Bible. He is not the Ultimate Source of the opinions and traditions of men. The Bible even says that man’s wisdom, reason, philosophies and tradition are unable to bring us to an true understanding of God (1 Cor. 1:21). These must not be elevated and treated as equal with Scripture.
In the Bible, God used men to write to men. Men can understand and are expected to understand what it says because God communicated on man’s level so men could understand. The Bible is unique in this matter. That is why when Cramer states that the process for understanding homosexuality in the Bible “included a very intentional listening to our GLBTQ members” (4), he elevated the opinions of men to be equal in authority with Scripture. What’s worse is the opinions he consulted came from those whose lifestyles are in contradiction with and are clearly condemned by Scripture. Every time man’s word is elevated in authority God’s Word loses authority. Men begin to diminish God’s authority and expand their own. In doing so, they begin to do what is right in their own eyes while distorting God’s Word to support what is really their own opinions and agendas. The Bible is not the cause of confusion regarding homosexuality. It is clear and there is no question. What is not clear and where there is question is in the motive of people who try to make it confusing.
I would appeal to anyone who practices homosexuality to read the passages below for themselves. Set aside what you want it to say and what others are saying. Read it for yourself. Is it really that ambiguous? I would challenge you to read the Bible personally to find out what the Author meant when He spoke in the following passages: (Genesis 18:20; 19:4-13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Mark 7:18-23; Romans 1:25-27, 32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Peter 2:6).
These passages have been called “clobber passages” (5) by the homosexual community. But understand that all of us need to be “clobbered” by God’s Word so that we are convicted of our own sinfulness (Luke 18:13; John 16:8; 1 Cor. 14:24-25). Some need to be clobbered and convicted of their idolatry, stealing, adultery, rage, lust, envy, blasphemy, etc. (Mark 7:18-23; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Tim. 1:9-11; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) while others need to be convicted of their homosexuality. Only with such conviction can anyone see the incredible grace offered to us in Jesus Christ when He died for our sins on the cross (6). Only then can we really comprehend God’s love that despite all of our sin against a holy God He would offer salvation through the substitutionary death of His own holy Son.
What God requires is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and all our sins will be forgiven. Our guilt will be taken away if we will confess the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not succumb to the fallacy that the Church’s traditions and the philosophies of men are equal in authority with Scripture. Eternity is at stake.
(1)Cramer, Jared. “Scripture, sexuality and the Church’s call to faithfulness and reform.” The Grand Haven Tribune, [Grand Haven, MI] 24/06/2012: 24 Jun. 2012, http://www.grandhaventribune.com/content/cramer-scripture-sexuality-and-church%E2%80%99s-call-faithfulness-and-reform.
(2)Ibid.
(3)Ibid.
(4)Cramer, Jared. “Blessed by gay Christians.” The Grand Haven Tribune, [Grand Haven, MI] 06/05/2012: 06 May 2012, http://www.grandhaventribune.com/content/rev-cramer-blessed-gay-christians.
(5)West, Mona. “The Power of the Bible [PDF file].” http://www.mccofthespirit.org/connect/sexandthebible.html
(6)See “A Response to Brian McLaren: ‘The Cross is False Advertising’.” 10/07/2012: 10 Jul. 2012, http://www.efcthetaker.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html
The Fallacy of Church Tradition and Man’s Philosophies as Authority: The Scriptures are the only authority when it comes to the truth of God and what is righteous and unrighteous. Jared Cramer said regarding Pastor Ray Paget, “we both would affirm its [Scriptures] primacy” .(1) But Cramer is not consistent here. Later in the same article he equates the “tradition of the Church and our own God-given reason” (2) as equal in authority for understanding God’s will. Again later he states, “Each generation is called to carefully study the texts of Scripture and the traditions of the church…” (3) He contradicts himself by elevating Church tradition and man’s reasoning and philosophies to the same level as Scripture. If he affirms the primacy of Scripture then this is antinomical. The words of men are not equivalent in any way with God’s Word. The Scriptures are God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) and no Scripture originated in the mind of any man (2 Pet. 1:21). God is the Ultimate Source of the words of the Bible. He is not the Ultimate Source of the opinions and traditions of men. The Bible even says that man’s wisdom, reason, philosophies and tradition are unable to bring us to an true understanding of God (1 Cor. 1:21). These must not be elevated and treated as equal with Scripture.
In the Bible, God used men to write to men. Men can understand and are expected to understand what it says because God communicated on man’s level so men could understand. The Bible is unique in this matter. That is why when Cramer states that the process for understanding homosexuality in the Bible “included a very intentional listening to our GLBTQ members” (4), he elevated the opinions of men to be equal in authority with Scripture. What’s worse is the opinions he consulted came from those whose lifestyles are in contradiction with and are clearly condemned by Scripture. Every time man’s word is elevated in authority God’s Word loses authority. Men begin to diminish God’s authority and expand their own. In doing so, they begin to do what is right in their own eyes while distorting God’s Word to support what is really their own opinions and agendas. The Bible is not the cause of confusion regarding homosexuality. It is clear and there is no question. What is not clear and where there is question is in the motive of people who try to make it confusing.
I would appeal to anyone who practices homosexuality to read the passages below for themselves. Set aside what you want it to say and what others are saying. Read it for yourself. Is it really that ambiguous? I would challenge you to read the Bible personally to find out what the Author meant when He spoke in the following passages: (Genesis 18:20; 19:4-13; Leviticus 18:22; 20:13; Mark 7:18-23; Romans 1:25-27, 32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Peter 2:6).
These passages have been called “clobber passages” (5) by the homosexual community. But understand that all of us need to be “clobbered” by God’s Word so that we are convicted of our own sinfulness (Luke 18:13; John 16:8; 1 Cor. 14:24-25). Some need to be clobbered and convicted of their idolatry, stealing, adultery, rage, lust, envy, blasphemy, etc. (Mark 7:18-23; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Tim. 1:9-11; 2 Tim. 3:1-5) while others need to be convicted of their homosexuality. Only with such conviction can anyone see the incredible grace offered to us in Jesus Christ when He died for our sins on the cross (6). Only then can we really comprehend God’s love that despite all of our sin against a holy God He would offer salvation through the substitutionary death of His own holy Son.
What God requires is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and all our sins will be forgiven. Our guilt will be taken away if we will confess the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not succumb to the fallacy that the Church’s traditions and the philosophies of men are equal in authority with Scripture. Eternity is at stake.
(1)Cramer, Jared. “Scripture, sexuality and the Church’s call to faithfulness and reform.” The Grand Haven Tribune, [Grand Haven, MI] 24/06/2012: 24 Jun. 2012, http://www.grandhaventribune.com/content/cramer-scripture-sexuality-and-church%E2%80%99s-call-faithfulness-and-reform.
(2)Ibid.
(3)Ibid.
(4)Cramer, Jared. “Blessed by gay Christians.” The Grand Haven Tribune, [Grand Haven, MI] 06/05/2012: 06 May 2012, http://www.grandhaventribune.com/content/rev-cramer-blessed-gay-christians.
(5)West, Mona. “The Power of the Bible [PDF file].” http://www.mccofthespirit.org/connect/sexandthebible.html
(6)See “A Response to Brian McLaren: ‘The Cross is False Advertising’.” 10/07/2012: 10 Jul. 2012, http://www.efcthetaker.blogspot.com/2012_07_01_archive.html
Comments
Post a Comment