On the boundary

Will be discussing theology and culture (music, film, TV, books)from a classic Reformed Christian persprective, with some charismatic and pacifist stuff thrown in too.

Name:
Location: Hobart, Indiana, United States

Grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, went to college at Whitworth College, Spokane, then attended Fuller Seminary. Married in 1979 and have 8 children. I have been a pastor since 1984

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Who's judging who?

Well, imagine my surprise when I discovered today that, because I believe the bible teaches that homosexual behavior is sinful, I am a Klansman. I am indebted to Re. Jim Rigby of St. Andrews Presbyterian Chruch in Austin, TX for pointing this out to me at this "progressive" website. here. First of all, I know of no self-respecting fundamentalist oganization that would have me as a member, so unless anything to the right of Bishop Spong is Fundamentalist I think you need to be more careful with your teminology. Second, unless any kind of challenge is, necessarliy, an attack, I haven't attacked anyone's family, or tried to take away anyone's kids, and I'm not sure what bsic civil rights Rigby is saying I am constantly working to take away.
Rigby also claims that the story of the woman caught in adultery teaches that "real Christians don't use the Bible to condemn other people." First of all, he is using the Bible to condemn me throughout his little essay, but lets forget that for now. Any serious look at the text shows that this is an incredibly superficial reading. When Jesus says "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" He is not just making that up. He is simply reiterating the requirements of the Mosiac Law (Deuteronomy 13:9, 17:7 and elsewhere) that the witnesses of the crime must be the first to throw the stones and that they must not be prticipants in the crime itself. Jesus is not attacking the Law or those who really do take it seriously. He is attacking the double standard that still is prevalent today. The law requires that both the parties be brought. Where's the guy? This was doubtless a set up, and Jesus is pointing out that these very men were doubtless guilty of having a little fun on the side themselves. So its the double standard of a male dominated society that is under attack, not the Law.
Rigby talks about putting the shoe on the other foot. OK, lets try it with the question of abortion. Rigby points out the Jesus was not silent about those who abused the bulnerable. Who is nore vulnerable than an unborn child? We get angry when torture is called enhanced interrogation techniques, or killing enemy troops is pacification or killing civilians is collateral damage. Why? Because it downplays the violence involved and dehumanizes the vicitms. What about referring to an abortion as terminating a preganancy or, my favorite, evacuating the uterine contents? What could be more sterile? What could be more dehumanizing?
So maybe while Rev. Rigby is condmening those he says are condmning others and calling them , calling me names (hateful, a bully, a vicious predator, harassing, slandering) he should remember that Jesus said something about taking the log out of your own eye before you take the speck out of your brother or sister's.

2 Comments:

Blogger Jody Harrington said...

Consider the source, pastorjeff. Rigby is a self-confessed heretic itching for publicity. His presbytery ought to revoke his ordination--but instead they dither about it. Which you know if you've followed the tale of his acceptance of an avowed atheist to church membership at St Andrews.

3:24 PM  
Blogger Pastorjeff said...

Thanks for the comment quotidian grace. I agree on considering the source. One thing I forgot to mention was that I found this article on the Witherspoon Society website. I know they are pretty liberal, but they also talk quite a bit about being a welcoming, inclusive denomination, so I thought this was somewhat inconsistent

8:20 PM  

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