Linkathon!
SBC numbers down to 1978 level…
Ebay buyer returns Charles Stanley’s personal items to family…
Christian Twitter debates modesty…
Eve’s legacy is both sin and redemption…
Russell Moore on Tucker Carlson…
John Ankerberg Show in trouble…
The evangelical church is breaking apart…
Mainline Protestantism vs. Christian nationalism…
Modernity is making you sterile…
There’s a difference between taking a stand and causing division…
Reactions to national prayer study…
Can a Christian be “defender of the faiths”?
Your own personal Christian nationalism…
Habitat For Humanity’s theology of the hammer…
Noah article — a surprising gift. Driving me again to the Table.
Alan,
It was an interesting piece…
“Life After Detransition” should be on the required reading for all educators. I will give my school credit for taking things more slowly, but we are still told not to be surprised when a student (even a first grader) announces that they are no longer Tommy or Susie and will now be known as whoever with their preferred pronouns. We’re told to avoid “gendered” language (what else do you call a group of boys at a table or on a team?) in case someone feels left out. Unfortunately, we may need to wait 20 years to find out how much harm our insanity as done to these kids.
https://youtu.be/c3NF349aEHM
Unfortunately, some truth in this.
However, I am grateful for the faithful witnesses (always a remnant) who refuse to bow the knee to mammon.
“ Unfortunately, we may need to wait 20 years to find out how much harm our insanity as done to these kids.”
I think you’re right Linn
It would seem that we would learn something from the European avant-garde who have already begun to recoil at the damage done to lives in the name of gender equity. Instead the entire governmental apparatus of the US is being marshaled in support of these “gender-affirming” care policies.
So is this a moral issue that can be raised without beings shouted down as politically motivated? I would think that believers could care about immigrants and our children at the same time. Can we?
Frankly, I welcome the immigrants who are pursuing honest work, personal safety, religious freedom, and opportunity to live peacefully without tyrannical governments choking them. (and I know the present volume forbids such vetting) Get the churches organized to help them.
“So is this a moral issue that can be raised without beings shouted down as politically motivated? ”
I’m glad you asked that question.
Yes, we can.
We should.
I have.
I will again.
The very expression “gender affirming” is deception and delusion.
We should call it what it is.
This is a biblical issue…my contention is that we need to be clear about it, but without bringing partisan politics in as a solution.
The only gender affirmation should be the one god assigned at birth—in my opinion
We have to be cautious about “God assigned” language in a fallen world…lest He be blamed for birth defects and other maladies that befall infants and mothers.
It is usually medically obvious what gender a person is…
being cautious about the truth of God’s is largely the problem
word**
Greg,
Is God the assigner of birth defects?
I’m real tempted to engage that question and the fact that it doesn’t quite match up. Male and female made he them… yeah — no I won’t post that 😵💫🤷🏻♂️😎
If we say that God personally knits each person together in the womb, then we must say that in those rare cases where someone is born with the genitalia of both genders that He did that as well.
That opens up a can of worms that would result in the current confusion.
We can say that “He made them male and female” is the creation intent and acknowledge that the Fall has broken many of His good intentions…
No one here is arguing that the Bible doesn’t teach early and often about sexual immorality.
I’m simply stating the fact that it teaches early and often about welcoming the stranger and loving your neighbor as well.
Anyone assigning tragedies to God denies Satan! IMHO
“ Is God the assigner of birth defects? ”
That’s a question that must drive Calvinists nuts. If he is in control of all things and determines all things then the logical answer to that question (if god is a Calvinist) is obvious
Officerhoppy,
As a former Calvinist, I can tell you it does not drive them nuts.
They simply accept that every evil thing somehow redounds to our good and His glory.
I just couldn’t stomach that anymore…
The Calvinist response you alluded to creates a butt-load of questions and issues. They can’t blame God but neither can they exonerate him (at least not to my satisfaction). It’s complicated issue that needs to be worked thru but to give quick easy answers to a question like this just means one is too lazy or afraid to wrestle with it.
My opinion
They have a doctrine around secondary causation that they believe exonerates God.
I bought it until I couldn’t…but many brilliant teachers believe it.
Officerhoppy,
“They can’t blame God but neither can they exonerate him (at least not to my satisfaction)”
Is the created invited to judge the creator? Do we possess the knowledge and wisdom to judge the actions of God?
There are also a plethora of problems with the notion that creation and satan are running on their own steam independent of the Creator.
The problem of pain and suffering yields no easy or even reasonable answers.
During my time among the Reformed, I found this doctrine of total sovereignty to be comforting…it no longer serves me well…
Total sovereignty can make god out to be a monster.
In Calvinist theology he saves some and not others.
In Calvinism He is the first cause of everything.
How can he hold someone responsible when they aren’t elect?
If one is not elect, they have no chance to repent. So how can he hold them responsible?
I take comfort in some aspects of his sovereignty but I have many “off putting” questions that are disturbing.
I’m not a Calvinist nor an Arminian. I think I am an antinomist. What matters is that I came to Christ. Whether I was elected, regenerated and confessed Christ or I made the choice. ALL i know is I Didn’t do it without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Officerhoppy,
All theodicy will eventually end up making God a monster.
There is little difference in allowing something you could have stopped and decreeing something.
This is a mystery…one I cannot penetrate.
I simply trust that He is good.
Be cautious…any Calvinist can marshal strong biblical arguments for their beliefs…very strong.
Redeemed Quartet – I am amazed as I play their CDs as I drive out of the mountains
While some of their theology is off base, I am blessed by this “hill billy” music
https://churchleaders.com/news/450934-beth-moore-fathom-choice-leaders-america-amoral.html?utm_source=CL-meta&utm_medium=email&utm_content=title&utm_campaign=CL-meta-&maropost_id=745323410&mpweb=256-9996555-745323410