Current Events

J. Gresham Machen’s “Christianity and Liberalism”–Continued Relevance for a Continued Liberalism

Kirk E. Miller 2 Comments

As contemporary Christian continues its debate over homosexuality and (so-called) same sex marriage, my mind keeps drifting back to one of my favorite books of all time, Christianity and Liberalism (originally published in 1923) by J. Gresham Machen, one of my favorite authors of all time. (See my review of this book here.) This ‘Christian’ position in support of same-sex marriage as Christian is merely one manifestation of an ever present liberalism to which Machen’s words are as relevant as the day he originally wrote them.

If you haven’t yet read this book, please do yourself a favor and do so immediately. But in the meantime, allow me to share with you some snippets that I think exemplify this current relevance.

Machen

On standing for and proclaiming the truth.

The type of religion which … shrinks from “controversial” matters, will never stand amid the shocks of life. In the sphere of religion, as in other spheres, the things which men are agreed are apt to be the things that are least worth holding; the really important things are the things about which men will fight. (1-2)

The things that are sometimes thought to be hardest to defend are also the things that are most worth defending. (8)

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“We Will Have to Change”

Kirk E. Miller 1 Comment

Recent events have caused us to rethink our society.[1] It has been said that “we [our nation] will have to change.” Many solutions have been proposed.

Before the Genesis-flood, God described humanity as such: “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Gen 6:5). “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways” (11, 12). One might find some parallels between this description and they way many individuals currently feel about our society.

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The Christian’s Proper Response to the Homosexuality Movement–Part 4

Kirk E. Miller 7 Comments

Vote Against “Gay Marriage”

In America, we have the amazing privilege of actually being a small portion of our government. But with this privilege comes the question of what we will do with the political movement that seeks to make homosexual marriage legal. Most conservative Christians would probably impulsively respond to this question by voting against laws to pass “gay marriage.” But let’s think through this, considering it is no light matter.

If homosexuality isn’t primarily a political issue but a spiritual one (see next point below), why should we be concerned with homosexuality on a political level at all? Isn’t it irrelevant whether homosexual marriage passes? If homosexuals already have the political right to practice homosexuality and live together with their homosexual partner, why should we disallow them from being seen as married in the government’s eyes? Are the said “government’s eyes” that important to us? There are several Christian moral standards that are not regulated by law for which Christians are not trying to push legislation (i.e., sex outside of marriage, lust, greed, using the Lord’s name as a curse word, homosexual practice, etc.) Is it the Christian’s duty to try to impose Christian ethics on others through the political realm? And if so, how do we determine which of our views we should seek to put into law as legal requirements? All of these questions are extremely good reasons not to immediately assume that we should vote against “gay marriage.”

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The Christian’s Proper Response to the Homosexuality Movement–Part 3

Kirk E. Miller 5 Comments

Be Tasteful

We must be extremely, purposefully, and intentionally sensitive, cautious, loving, and merciful as we deal with homosexuality. But we must also speak the truth without reservation. Although Paul was speaking directly to believers, I believe his instruction in Ephesians 4:15 is invaluable in this situation—”speak the truth in love.” Speak the truth—yes. But do so tastefully; don’t be cruel, rude, or a jerk about it. And more so, genuinely love the individual; seek their repentance and let that desire affect the way you converse with them.

This point is so important in our culture and at this point in our nation’s history. Eventually, once “gay rights” legislation passes and the history books are being written, they will write about the “gay rights movement.” And my personal belief is that these sections in our future textbooks will look a lot like the sections currently written on the civil rights movement. What’s my point? What I’m saying is that “homosexual intolerance” will be viewed at par with racism. But more so, I believe many people already view “homosexual intolerance” as equivalent to a sexual orientation version of racism. In other words, this matter demands absolute care and precision in our choice of words and actions.

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