In Part 1 of these three blogs, I mentioned that I was reading the book entitled, ‘Fault Lines’ by Dr. Voddie Baucham. I have completed reading that book. I recommend that book to you for your consideration. While I was reading this book, Christine was reading a book entitled, ‘The Secular Creeds’, by Rebecca McLaughlin. I have completed reading that book, too. The subtitle of this book is ‘Engaging Five Contemporary Claims’. I recommend this book to you for your consideration.
Both books provided me with back round and contemporary insights into the world in which I am living in 2021. As informative as these two books were to me, there is a singular emphasis that was strongly presented by each author. This emphasis must be embraced by the Church if it is going to be relevant during this time of unrest in our nation. In fact, their admonition is the foundation for the relevance of Church throughout the history of mankind.
That singular emphasis is the word ‘repent’. Both author’s charge the Church with the need to repent. The obvious question is, repent of what? So, we must ask, Father, what does your Ecclesia need to repent of? When we hear or use the word repent, we automatically think of sin, and rightly so. Father, what is the sin of the Church regarding what is being laid at the feet of the people of this nation by those who are proponents of a man’s way of radical reconciliation? This nation has been declared guilty of misdeeds throughout its history. White people have been pronounced guilty of misuse of their ‘whiteness’ taking advantage of other human beings, especially those who are black. And many in our society have been declared ‘too wealthy’ and need to ‘give up’ their wealth; I assume this means, willingly or unwillingly, whatever works for the system to redistribute the wealth from the ‘haves’ to the ‘have nots’. I believe these are the major ‘sins’ that are the driving force behind the agenda of those saying there needs to be ‘Radical Reconciliation’ done man’s way. [ I am aware that many others have been proposed.]
In her book, ‘The Secular Creeds’, Rebecca McLaughlin addresses five cultural issues. Those issues are entitled: “Black Lives Matter”, “Love is Love”, “The Gay-Rights Movement Is the New Civil Rights Movement”, “Women’s Rights are Human Rights”, and “Transgender Women are Women”. For each of these topics she shares back round, opinion, and concern; however, she does not throw Biblical truth ‘under the bus’. She challenges the Church to respond to its error, as she understands it, through repentance which can bring about change. I want to share some of Rebecca McLaughlin thoughts regarding each of these topics.
1. Regarding our response to BLM, “…white Christians like me must recognize the ways in which our tribe has been complicit in the pain of black Americans: from slavery to segregation to racial inequality today.” Please understand, she is not buying into the mission statement of the BLM. What she is saying is that “…what if the failure truly to listen to the voices of black brothers and sisters and to reckon with this history of sin is holding our evangelism back…”. She comments, “to show where progressives are wrong, we must also freely acknowledge where they are right.”
My Question: Does my sin, our sin, the sin of the Church block the testimony of the Gospel?
2. In the chapter, “Love is Love”, she writes, “Whatever our racial back round, we Christians must also repent of the ways we’ve allowed actual homophobia-fear, hatred, and mistrust of gay and lesbian people-to infect our churches…Too often, we left our same-sex-attracted siblings within the church shivering in the dark, believing, they’re unwanted and unloved.”
My Question: Is our failure to reach out to these oppressed, sin, in the Church?
3. Regarding “Women’s Rights are Human Rights”, she would have us look at how we, as the Ecclesia, have treated women. “We must also acknowledge the ways in which we have failed to follow Jesus in His treatment of women.” She says that the Church needs to repent of its failures toward women. “Rather than sidelining women, we must celebrate women’s gospel ministry, cultivate women’s theological growth, and encourage as they serve the Lord, whether in the home or in the workplace. Father, forgive us for marginalizing women.”
My Question: What barriers have we built that marginalize women in the Church?
4. Another area of concern is “Transgender Women are Women”. In this chapter, we are confronted with the reality that we live “In a world where transitioning to the opposite sex or rejecting the gender binary has come to seem for some like salvation, we must affirm the goodness of male and female bodies with clinging to unbiblical gender stereotypes…Christians must repent of the ways in which our embrace of cultural stereotypes has made some people feel as if they don’t belong in their own skin. We must take those who experience gender dysphoria seriously…sit with them in their discomfort…not offering a gender identity that goes against their sex, but listening to each person’s story and seeking to support them however we can.” I have experienced this ‘learning to listen’ working with students in the public school system. It was difficult for me because it was new for me; but the Lord taught me how to listen and love as I worked with them.
My Question: Are we, the Church, willing to embrace those that are struggling with who they are?
5. Finally, she addresses the complex issue of questioning whether or not “The Gay Rights Movement Is the New Civil Rights Movement”? That’s a mouthful. Her contention is that, “But if white Christian had stood against race-based, chattel slavery in the first place, there would have been no need for the abolitionist movement. Christian sin has allowed the gay rights movement to trade on the moral capital of the civil-rights movement.” I will leave this observation to your reading of her book [or your personal study elsewhere ].
I don’t have a question, I have a recommendation: I recommend a lengthy treatise on the slavery issue, its global history, and its history in the United States. It is a book written by Albert Barnes, a New England theologian. His book was written in 1857. It is entitled, The Church and Slavery. I highly recommend it for a detailed understanding of the history of slavery in the world, the Biblical study of slavery, and the affects of slavery on our nation. What is interesting is that he wrote this treatise prior to the actual start of the Civil War; his writing was penned when the dialogues were flourishing in politics and in the Church. [A great read.]
What does all of this mean to the Ecclesia today?
This is my observation. The Church has a lot to learn about relating to social issues without presenting a social gospel. The Church needs to present itself before the populous of this nation without political strings attached but with a political relevance that voices the truth of God’s Word regarding the issues that the people of this nation face in their daily lives. Christians need to voice their objections lawfully, yet forcibly not allowing those in political office to ignore them. Yes, there is a place, when the Church in its disagreement, may need to take a stand saying ‘no’ to those in government because what is being done, or what they are requiring the Church to do because it is directly against the written Word of God. Are we there yet? I do not believe we are there yet; but we are close. In one major area, abortion, I believe, it is correct to say that the Church has significantly failed in voicing its opposition. Yes, opposition has been voiced, but it needs to increase. May the Lord give us wisdom to persevere in our opposition.
What does this mean for me as a child of God, a citizen of the Kingdom of God, a member of the Bride of Christ, a member of the Holy people of God? We need to repent of our sin and ask God to help us to love those who oppose themselves; not condemning them; but coming along side of them, listening to them, and sharing God’s love with them and for them. Remember, Christ died for them, too. We need to ‘live’ the Gospel.
As I was completing the reading of The Secular Creeds, it dawned upon me, and it was confirmed by the author’s of the two books that when humanity sets aside the God of their Creation, erases God out of their thinking, ignores God’s world of Absolutes, banishes His Person , and rejects His Reality, they create an atmosphere of their own chaos and confusion which results in dissatisfaction, irrationality, and unreality. That is the fruit of man’s way following their own Radical Reconciliation. When we reject God, we leave the realm of Absolute Truth, and humanity becomes its own ‘unknown’ trying to identify itself. That is not new news. That began with the advent of original sin in the Garden of Eden. Humanity, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God’s instruction, sinned and broke their relationship with God. It was God who spoke the words of reconciliation that would reach out to bring His humanity back to Himself.. It was God’s grace that began the process of reconciliation and return to Him. Unfortunately, humanity has always sought to do it, its own way, and consistently failed. Humanity’s wisdom and natural rationality cannot accomplish what it seeks to do. It is futile.
Father, now what? What are You doing in my life, now? Lord, what are You doing in Your Church to take us forward, now? Holy Spirit what are you saying to the Church today? Give us ears to hear!
Please consider these thoughts, the Lord is:
- making the church more compassionate
- removing our religious cataracts/astigmatisms
- disciplining us to listen more, and talk less
- reminding us that doctrine doesn’t save, it is important, but it only informs; only Jesus saves, listen to another’s story, share your story, share Christ crucified.
- learn to embrace differences/diversity in the people you meet.
- Be real, not religious.
- Keep the need to repent constantly before you. We are not perfect. We are sinners saved by grace.
My final thought; it all begins with repentance; then re-setting; then re-awakening to live as Christ lived (love as Christ loved); and then comes reconciliation with our neighbors and loving them as we love ourselves.
Matthew 22:34-40
May the Lord richly bless you, Let us Go Forth, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 