I would like to recommend to you a lecture I was privileged to hear at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School via the Carl F.H. Henry Center. The lecture was presented by Dr. Paul Metzger and was entitled Downward Mobility and Trickle-Up Economics: A Trinitarian Reflection on Money and Power. In this lecture Metzger presented a critique and examination of the typical American evangelical-fundamentalist view of economics, namely capitalism, and calls for a “capitalism of a higher order.” For example, he states, “While evangelicals are engaging increasingly [in] enterprises towards the poor, they’re not advocating for political policies that would fight against the structures that make and keep people poor.” And he points out what he sees as an inconsistency between the Fundamentalist-Evangelical rejection of evolution and its survival of the fittest but acceptance of capitalism and its survival of the economic fittest.”But would it not be difficult to challenge genetic determinism and natural selection if the [evangelical-fundamentalist] movement is conflicted, promoting an equally deterministic and naturalistic [economic] system.” “Evangelicals as a movement could not be an outspoken opponent because it often assumes the free and unregulated market economic narratives as gospel truth and embraces it with blind faith. . . . Evangelicals don’t simply assume the the market’s gospel-truthfulness, they champion it.”
Politics
6 Ways to Effectively Lose Your Gospel Witness (A Satire)
The Christian’s Gospel witness is his or her call to spread the good news that Christ died to save sinners and that all who turn from their evil ways to faith in Christ will be made right with God and saved from His wrath.
Now, many Christians throughout America are currently practicing various techniques that improve their ability to effectively lose their Gospel witness. But in order to help more Christians in this endeavor, I have decided to promote the awareness of these impeccable methods so that more and more Christians might begin employing them into their own lives. The following is a helpful list of various ways in which you too can successfully lose your Gospel witness.
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The Christian’s Proper Response to the Homosexuality Movement–Part 4
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.”
The Christian’s Proper Response to the Homosexuality Movement–Part 3
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.
The Christian’s Proper Response to the Homosexuality Movement–Part 2
Expect Sinners to Sin
Straight up Christian, you shouldn’t be shocked by the fact that gay marriage is becoming legal. What grounds do you have to for being puzzled by this “spectacle”? Here’s a little secret–sinners sin. Therefore, don’t be blown away by the fact that the unregenerate/unsaved/ungodly world around us is living up to it’s name. Now, I’m certainly not saying that we excuse homosexuality. But my point is that if we would wake up from our amazed stupor, instead of spending our energy being stunned, we could be better able to actually deal with the issue, and deal with it Biblically.
Remember that Homosexuality Isn’t the Only Sin
Is homosexuality a sin? Yes. But is it the only sin? Certainly not. It’s not even the only sexual sin. Sex outside of marriage, looking at porn, and even lusting after someone else are all sexual sins right alongside homosexuality.
Kirk E. Miller 