Race and Sexuality / Are You a Conservative?

For the audiovisual version of the bulletin (YouTube, about 3 minutes, read by Chase Mackintosh), click here. 

Good morning from Lancashire.

After spending most of June in Turkey—and then a 36-hour homeward journey because of the İzmir wildfires—we’re finally back in North West England. It was a terrific trip, but it’s certainly good to be back.

I hope the four offerings in today’s bulletin prove useful—that they help us think about faith.

“Christians Were Pro-Slavery—They’ll Change on LGBTQ+ Issues Too!”

In this 15-minute #STRask clip, Greg and Amy explain why the comparison between race and sexuality fails, pointing out the clear differences between race, which is morally neutral, and sexual behavior, which carries moral weight.

“Pride Is Important Because Someone Still Believes They’re Better Off Dead than Gay.”

In this 10-minute excerpt from the Stand to Reason podcast, Greg responds to a passive-aggressive argument that wrongly places blame on Christians.

Q&A

Q&A 1701: Once an elder, always an elder? 

Am I legitimately an elder? I was appointed as an elder in our church, but then the church became multiple churches, and I resigned as an elder (for the entire group) when our ministry became separate. Yet I'm still in the same congregation that commended me originally, even though it has a new name. I am on the current leadership team, but don't hold positional authority as an “elder.” I trust, however, that my moral and relational authority are of some use to the church. I am personally uncomfortable with being in a state of ambiguity, so am reaching out to wiser heads than mine for some clarity, if such clarity exists! Thanks for your consideration.

Eldership is, in my understanding, a function more than a position or status. If you are overseeing and shepherding a group, then yes, you are an elder. You are serving in a pastoral role. (Pastor = shepherd, Latin.) But if you aren’t serving in this capacity, there’s no need to call you an elder.

So it’s not the case that once an elder, one is always an elder. A shepherd to one group may not at all be a shepherd once he relocates to a new group, or his role is redefined.

Q&A 1702: Are you a conservative?

Hi! Okay, I'm a bit nervous to ask this, but here goes: In your response to a question regarding Idan Dershowitz, you say "Conservative scholars, recognizing God's prerogative to reveal his will in any way he determines, believe this [canonization] took place under the auspices of the Holy Spirit." I don't consider you a "conservative" scholar (maybe I'm wrong there), but I do believe that you consider the entire Bible as we have it to be the inspired Word of God. Maybe it's just the way it's worded, but this shook me a little. Can you shed some light on this for me? — A.M.

As for scholarship, I am a conservative, although to fundamentalists I could easily be mistaken for a liberal. (As for politics, I am neither a liberal, conservative, or independent. I strive to be apolitical, nonpartisan—recognizing that my citizenship is in heaven, not in any earthly nation.)

And yes, I accept the Bible as God's Word. But my views of inerrancy and inspiration and infallibility differ from those of some of my conservative friends. The truth is, liberals make some good points, as do moderates and conservatives. We can all learn from each other. 

FAREWELL FOR NOW!