I'm not feeling like Mr. Creative today so I thought I'd just point you to some interesting stuff I've bumped into lately:
- Two new Lutheran blogs on my blogroll. Incarnatus Est by Pr. Greg Alms. He's new so not lots there yet, but he is posting some pretty insightful theology. And CyberStones by the meek, soft-spoken, ever winsome rose petal, Pr. David Petersen. He'd be alright if he'd ever stop beating around the bush and just say what's on his mind, geesh!
- In honor of yesterday being Trinity Sunday, here is a nice essay by Dr. David Webber on the filioque clause of the Nicene Creed. He offers a Lutheran perspective on the controversy.
- As the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) moves toward ordaining practicing homosexuals and blessing homosexual unions this summer, you'll be reading a lot more stories like this one. Pastors, congregations and individual laypeople are gonna bail out. And if it doesn't happen this summer, it will soon enough. With the ELCA's low view of the authority of Scripture, there's really nothing to prevent it. They'll just keep "studying" the issue until they come up with the answer they want.
- Dr. Gene Veith's review of Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith. You should subscribe to WORLD magazine, if for no other reason, to read Dr. Veith's culture reviews and columns each week.
- Roman Catholic priest denies communion to supporters of homosexuality. He did the right thing. According to St. Paul, if an unrepentant person communes, he is eating and drinking God's judgment onto himself.
1 comment:
Hi Craig,
Thank you for your kind words.
You ask: "May gay people be repentant?"
First, since I don't know you, I don't know if you are gay or someone you care about is gay, so keep in mind that any response I give in this forum is necessarily brief. My intent is not to offend, though my words may, in fact, be offensive to some.
Yes, of course, gay people may be repentant. As a pastor, that would be my prayer for them (and everyone).
The New Testament teaches that homosexual desire and behavior is sinful. It is not MORE sinful that heterosexual lust, fornication or adultery or any other sin. Certainly, the issue of whether or not homosexuality is genetically ingrained will arise and I touched upon that in an earlier post.
But repentance requires that one acknowledge that one is sinning. It includes contrition, sorrow, the desire for forgiveness and the intent to do better.
My understanding of the story I linked to about the Roman Catholic priest and the people with the rainbow sashes is that those folks are part of a group that is lobbying for acceptance and approval - not just of themselves as sinners - but of homosexual desire and behavior. That is not repentance.
Any gay person (or any person period) who would come to communion in repentance, turning from his sins, trusting in Christ for forgiveness, with a right understanding of the Gospel (in all its articles) would be welcome.
Does that makes sense?
Post a Comment