OK, I admit it. Sometimes I don’t keep up with all the current events. The past 7 days, though, I have a good, a very good excuse. But then, don’t we all? Well, I feel like mine has some merit. Last Wednesday I had a heart ablation from which I am recovering very well. Then there’s this thing called HARVEY. As our tribe’s (some call them denominations) Disaster Response & Recovery Coordinator there is much work I have to do in this role as a Bond Servant of Jesus.
This morning I checked my Twitter feed and was seeing all this stuff about The Nashville Statement. It was a diatribe of hate, so I decided to read it for myself rather than read what others said about. I know, how dumb can I be! Wanting to read it for myself rather than trust all those progressive voices telling me what it means. I saw some tweets comparing the writers and signers as supporters of the American Nazi movement. Well, I read it and was left scratching my head wondering, “Where is the hate? Did Google lead me to the wrong site?”
So I went back to those Tweets. Aren’t they always reliable and truthful? I found this link to an article written by John Pavlovitz titled The Nashville Statement (A Plain Language Translation). Well I thought, “OK! I love plain language translations. Here I can get to the heart of the real NASHVILLE STATEMENT, not the wrong one Google gave me.” Well, there I go thinking again. And thus why I am writing this morning.
His alleged “plain language translation” was simply a rehash of all the hate speech I had seen on Twitter. After careful review and reflection of John’s comments and other similar reviews, I have reached an assessment, call it conclusion, not only about many progressives, but our culture in general. And here it is: “If you do not agree with me and my views then you automatically hate me and others like me.”
Really, John, et.al.? I realize that in the arena of discussion about human sexuality that there is some hate speech going on, especially in the name of the Body of Christ. And to those who express hate speech and identify yourself as (an alleged) Christian, I say to you, “SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON YOU! REPENT IMMEDIATELY AND TURN TO GOD!”
I realize a lot of morons, excuse me, “well-meaning people” have taken biblical texts out of context to justify their position and made the Bible say things it doesn’t say. But if one will take the time to see the whole picture of the Bible, there are only 2 stories. The first story is God’s creation and His Intended Design. It was perfect in every way. And in the realm of sexuality it is very clear: God created them biologically male and female, both equally revealing His image. And marriage was defined as 1 husband (a man) and 1 wife (a woman). Together they were to live in perfect relationship with God and together explore God’s creation. Story #1!
The second story begins with the Fall, which introduces into God’s Creation a totally different purpose. The rest of the Bible is the story of God attempting to restore fallen humanity back in His Original Intent and Design and away from this “Fallen” purpose. Now anyone like me, who believes that God is busy setting back right all that we humans have messed up, is simply filled with hate, well John, you are all wrong about that!
Our culture has gone into a moral and spiritual wasteland when anyone with a different view or belief, is labeled HATEFUL! Quite frankly, I’m getting sick of it! But then I remember those words of Jesus: (Matthew 5:44 NLT) “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” I hear a lot of people like John, who label themselves as progressives, pray AGAINST their perceived enemy and all the while calling for love above all. Is it just me that sees the hypocracy of progressives? They rant, rail and pray against their “enemy” while insisting that love should rule the day.
Yes, we are called to love but not at the sacrifice of the Truth. I’ve heard the argument, “What did Jesus say about homosexuality? Nothing, so we shouldn’t.” Well, He didn’t say anything against using meth or cheating on your tax return, or keeping that extra change that the cashier gave you, or a lot of other every day “stuff”. But Peter made the connection in 1 Peter 1:15-16–“15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” And Holy is to be who and what God designed us to be. If that is hate, then maybe you need a new definition of hate.
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you, and make sure all the glory goes to Him!
Kingdom Pastor 
Interesting. I read that post. For a post condemning hatred, it sure had a lot of hate.
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I did not interpret anyone who agreed with the Nashville Statement as hateful. It was their opinion according to their First Amendment Rights as well as their religious beliefs about homosexuality,
No one has ever proved 100 percent conclusive that homosexuality is a result of nature and not nurture.
If the progressives don’t agree with Nashville, then let them prove homosexuality is 100 percent nature, If they cannot, then they will have to view all comments that they cannot approve as opinions, same as their opinions.
Regards and goodwill blogging..
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I find myself wishing Tom and his readers in here some sympathy given they seem conflicted on two fronts.. the political in having to constantly defend the President and all his shenanigans, and your spiritual structure as it relates to your beliefs being challenged by those abandoning the cause.
Sorry, folks.
I’d like to submit, stick with what you believe in… or compromise, adapt, and move on to be better people..
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Reblogged this on Citizen Tom and commented:
In his post, Pastor Randy provides his views on the Nashville Statement and some (not all) of the criticism of it. Specifically, he comments on a post written by John Pavlovitz. Pastor Randy’s complaint is that some people, like Pavlovitz, are too ready to call the people who disagree with them haters.
Over a year ago I wrote a post commenting on Pavlovitz’s views on the Bible (=> https://citizentom.com/2016/01/24/observations-on-a-liberal-christian/). I think Pavlovitz’s views on the Bible are terribly confused. Drama? That he is good at. Logic? I wish I had seen more evidence of it.
Anyway, in my post on the Nashville Statement (=> https://citizentom.com/2017/09/03/of-friendly-fire-and-misplaced-sympathy/), I responded to the views of some Christians who don’t affirm the LGBTQ “lifestyle”, but they still see the Nashville Statement as judgemental. These people fear the Nashville Statement is some kind of unprovoked assault on the LGBTQ community. I think their concerns illustrate the power of the mass media to caricature any group it opposes. The ministers who endorsed the Nashville Statement generally have better things to do than hate people who are seriously confused about their sexual identity, but that does not fit the news media’s narrative. Unfortunately, it is easy to take the news media too seriously.
In his post, Pastor Randy criticizes the diatribes of hatred coming from some Christians who oppose the Nashville Statement. Some of these, like Pavlovitz, have seen fit to affirm the LGBTQ “lifestyle”, a lifestyle choice the Bible obviously condemns.
With the people Pastor Randy is talking about, dialogue will be very difficult. When people start calling you hateful and putting their own words in your mouth, they are not listening, and they have no real interest in doing so.
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Your thoughts, “When people start calling you hateful and putting their own words in your mouth, they are not listening, and they have no real interest in doing so.” are the best words I’ve heard yet on this issue. Thank you for putting it together in truthful and powerful words!
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You are most welcome, and thank you for your post.
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There is a lot of back story to the Nashville declaration. I haven’t done a great job of covering it,but here is some of the opposition. In it’s literal context it is nothing more than affirming what Christians have believed for thousands of years,but there are things behind the scenes that give many of us pause.
https://insanitybytes2.wordpress.com/2017/08/30/could-i-be-anymore-vague/
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With an organizational name like that, I do have some, call it, suspicions about their agenda. However, the continued view that others hate only because they have a different view or belief, incredible!
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The greatest obstacle to truth is the belief that we already have it. It prevents hearing any other explanation and justifies hating those who do not agree. In the end, God’s truth and love will prevail!
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