The reality of life within the denomination is that for the
last two or three decades a vast divide has developed that is unlikely to be
resolved any time soon. The divide formed from very different understandings of
important matters in the Christian life: the nature of God, the person and work
of Jesus, the nature and function of the Bible, the expectation of the
Christian life in response to the nature and work of God, and the function of
the denominational structure. The chasm is so deep that it is not inaccurate to
speak of each side as representing two different cultures or religions.
Few in the denominational hierarchy or its loyalists will
admit that the divide exists or that reasons for our dissatisfaction are
legitimate. I expect that when the presbytery addresses the congregation they
will follow suit. I expect them to say that FPC’s reasons for discontent are
really not accurate. I expect to them to assert that they too consider the
Bible authoritative and that our differences are really just a matter of
holding different interpretations. I expect them to cite official statements to
show that the PC(USA) is clear in its belief that Jesus is the exclusive Lord
and Savior, but offer no explanation why there is such a difference between
stated beliefs and practices.
Occasionally, you will hear from the “insiders” that a long,
deep divide does exist in the PC(USA). One example is in a report from a
national commission to the General Assembly in 2012 that was elected to propose
a restructuring of the PC(USA). An excerpt from the report reads:
“Two realities of
this 20-year period of conflict and constitutional maneuvering need to be
reckoned with. First, while faithful Presbyterians were engaged in meaningful
mission and ministry to a broken and hurting world, the success of these
endeavors was often overshadowed by persistent denominational controversies.
Second, as our denomination experienced significant declines in membership, it
has been difficult to address new ways of approaching ministry in a rapidly
changing world while being continually engaged in internal theological
conflict. As a result, polarized factions within the church are now
ill-equipped to work together as an effective church for the 21st century.” (“A
Report to the 220th General Assembly from the General Assembly Commission on
Mid Councils”, p. 22.)
The divide is real. The concerns are legitimate. The reasons
are numerous. I provide an overview in an earlier post. To say otherwise is
dismissive and generally unhelpful in seeking meaningful resolution.
It surprises me, then, when I occasionally hear someone allege
that the reason we are seeking dismissal is because of the “gay issue”. I think
that charge can be an attempt to shut down discussion rather than address the merits
of our decision. I think others say that innocently. Our society is consumed,
as usual, with sex and particularly the “gay issue”. I can see how someone who
does not know our denominational history would evaluate our decision using what
he or she does know, which is the secular battle over gay rights. Either way, to
make such a rebuttal reflects an inability to hear what we are saying.
To be frank, we are not unclear on what we understand to be
the biblical boundaries for sexual practice. We have made that plain over the
last two decades. Even then, our focus is sexual purity without prejudice
towards any particular type of sexual expression that crosses those boundaries.
We are also clear that overstepping the boundary of biblically defined sexual
practice is treated no differently than any other transgression, which the
Bible calls sin. Sin does not keep people from membership in the church and enjoying
all its privileges. Our church would lack members and pastors if that were the
case. However, a willful intent to continue to practice sin of any type can bar
someone from ordination.
Do we err in this concern for sexual purity? I don’t think
so. I bristle when I hear the charge from non-Christian and Christian writers
that the church is “too preoccupied with sex.” Ironically, it is not the church
that is preoccupied. It is our society. Sexual messages saturate our lives
through commercials, movies, TV shows, books, music and magazines. The
collective message of society on sex degrades and objectifies human beings and makes
false claims about how unbounded sexual practice can lead to happiness.
If the church shuts up about sex, then society has won and
people will suffer. If the choice is between shutting up and abandoning boys
and girls, men and women, to the siren song of our world’s lies about sex or
bearing the brunt of ridicule and rejection from our friends and neighbors
because we teach the Bible’s truth on sexuality, I’ll take rejection any day. I
care too much about people to abandon them to the dangerous message of secular
philosophy on sex or any other topic.
With that said, does this mean that the decision to seek
dismissal is really just about the “gay issue”? Of course not.
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