Emerging Conservative

OK, this is where I will get myself in trouble. Yes, I get some spirited talk when I talk about my concerns within Emergent but I take real, local hits whenever I dive into the “Too Conservative” topic. I take a risk that some in my home town will see me as watering down their understanding of the Word. Not that I haven’t been talked about or talked at before but it’s always a different twist when it’s local instead of abroad.

When I wrote my original homosexuality blog that (in my view) still called acting upon homosexual desires a sin but also entered into the emotional and spiritual struggles within the topic, I lost some customers from our Christian bookstore and almost lost a couple from our church. Thankfully, on some relationships, we were able to have great talks that allowed further understanding and I am thankful for that.

Sadly, however, there are those in what I call the “Too Conservative” group. No slam intended here any more than the “Too Emergent” folks. However, I grew up in the “Too Conservative” group and I still have concerns. For instance, in the above mentioned situation, there were people really bothered and upset that anything I put out there should be “Homosexuality is a sin! (yes we love homosexuals but) Homosexuality is a sin!” Anything else was considered a threat. My blog said that there is a sinful element is a sin (which is in my words agreed with the theological basis of their belief) but anything beyond that to meet people in the GLBT community in the struggle was seen as a threat.

This is an example of “Too Conservative” from my view point. Where we get the theological understanding of something from the Word but then take the implications from that belief to an unloving level.

Another for instance, In the early 80’s, a pastor who encouraged me as a youth was forced out of our church because he used the NIV Bible. I’m glad the church was fervent about their desire in respecting the Word of God. Sadly though, got a little off track with the local talk at the time about the NIV instead of studying it to see if it was sound. I bet they felt good about it as his car left town.

A more recent example breaks my heart as I try to understand where some other pastors are coming from. Recently, I was approached by another pastor in town asking if I would officiate a wedding for a young couple. He wanted to (even though he was not the pastor of any of the churches that they or their family went to) but would be out of town. They were having problems finding a pastor who would officiate the wedding. Oh, they had asked a few but since they had a child out of wedlock, the others had turned them down.

I don’t get that. I do not get that.

Yes, they sinned. God intends for sex to be part of the marriage relationship. I get it. They messed up. However, isn’t that where mercy, reconciliation and grace begins?

They are a great couple! Since that time, they have both worked hard with the support of their families to rebuild there lives. I won’t give you a lot of details because I want to respect their privacy and they are not the main point of this blog. I will say, they are wonderful people, walking a new path together, we were able to have wonderful talks concerning Christ and Christian community and it was my honor to be a part of their lives for such a period of time.

If nothing else, at the lowest common denominator, wouldn’t we a Christian pastors want to be part of making their relationship right? But more than that, don’t we have a call to minister to, restore, and love those who are struggling. It just seems that saying “no” because they had a child is somewhat Pharisee like. Do we take the woman and accuse her for the sin she committed in front of Jesus with a rock in our hand or do we minister, love, and challenge her to leave the sin behind like Jesus did?

If you agree with the pastors who said no, tell me why. Not so I can beat you up but so I can understand better with a view I disagree with. Maybe, like those who talked with me through the homosexuality blog we can understand each other better. However, for right now, this is one of the things we see in the church where I just feel sick to my stomach and can see why some are pushed away from us.

(Side Note: I am not saying we need to overlook sin and not address it. If this couple was doing it like bunnies and felt no remorse and wanted nothing to do with God, I see your point. However, getting to know this couple, I don’t know how anyone could have spent five minutes with them and not see this is not the case with them. If you guys ever read this, your family touched my heart and it was an honor to be part of your wedding day. May God bless all three of you.)