I think you’re absolutely right… especially around seeing the fruit of the church’s utterly failed discipleship in the arena of sexuality/gender/marriage. It will take a disengagement from cultural ways of thinking about love to begin to align ourselves with what marriage, sex, and gender actually should be in the kingdom of God.
Hi David, like your failure in discipleship approach but feel the article leaves your stand on sexual sin a bit ambiguous or casual. Holiness and beauty require more detest and direct confrontation to biblical norms of sexual sin , "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." 1 Cor 6:18. If you believe in Christ the strong word is 'flee' from 2SLGBTQIA+ lifestyles.
I agree we have to be more explicit in our guidance within the church. But none of this guidance makes sense without a discipleship from within which what we "say" can make sense. This is the reality of a completely botched and confused and culture aligned practice of sexuality within the church ... and this is why I resist putting the cart before the horse.
Thanks for this. Discipleship implies within the church, we cannot even begin to judge those outside the faith, certainly not disciple. Is not ‘teaching them to obey the things I commanded’ the horse before the cart? The truth carries the load, not ambiguity, for a disciple?
Hi David, thank you for this thoughtful article. I too would like the church to be far more intentional in our discipleship around these issues. Well said.
I am wondering however, if it would be helpful for your reframing to ask the question, "should a Christian attend the wedding of a divorced church member?" Doesn't that bring the issue even closer to home and into clearer view?
David, This is so good! This is the kind of thinking and work that the christian community has been unwilling to do - rather than just spouting off about positional statements on the issues. I have worked with couples of all identities to learn what it means to have a covenantal commitment in marriage that is mysteriously and powerfully beyond human approaches, cultural approaches and other effort based approaches to marriage. I know a handful of gay couples now who are approaching their marriages with that submission and vision. Thanks for your thoughtfulness on this. It is very helpful. Peace!!
I fully agree with the need for the church to develop such a dsicipleship process. However, I don't think that can equate into it being a good decsion to attend such a wedding. There are too many other factors related to marriage and weddings.
I think you’re absolutely right… especially around seeing the fruit of the church’s utterly failed discipleship in the arena of sexuality/gender/marriage. It will take a disengagement from cultural ways of thinking about love to begin to align ourselves with what marriage, sex, and gender actually should be in the kingdom of God.
Hi David, like your failure in discipleship approach but feel the article leaves your stand on sexual sin a bit ambiguous or casual. Holiness and beauty require more detest and direct confrontation to biblical norms of sexual sin , "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." 1 Cor 6:18. If you believe in Christ the strong word is 'flee' from 2SLGBTQIA+ lifestyles.
I agree we have to be more explicit in our guidance within the church. But none of this guidance makes sense without a discipleship from within which what we "say" can make sense. This is the reality of a completely botched and confused and culture aligned practice of sexuality within the church ... and this is why I resist putting the cart before the horse.
Thanks for this. Discipleship implies within the church, we cannot even begin to judge those outside the faith, certainly not disciple. Is not ‘teaching them to obey the things I commanded’ the horse before the cart? The truth carries the load, not ambiguity, for a disciple?
Hi David, thank you for this thoughtful article. I too would like the church to be far more intentional in our discipleship around these issues. Well said.
I am wondering however, if it would be helpful for your reframing to ask the question, "should a Christian attend the wedding of a divorced church member?" Doesn't that bring the issue even closer to home and into clearer view?
David, This is so good! This is the kind of thinking and work that the christian community has been unwilling to do - rather than just spouting off about positional statements on the issues. I have worked with couples of all identities to learn what it means to have a covenantal commitment in marriage that is mysteriously and powerfully beyond human approaches, cultural approaches and other effort based approaches to marriage. I know a handful of gay couples now who are approaching their marriages with that submission and vision. Thanks for your thoughtfulness on this. It is very helpful. Peace!!
I fully agree with the need for the church to develop such a dsicipleship process. However, I don't think that can equate into it being a good decsion to attend such a wedding. There are too many other factors related to marriage and weddings.