All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us
realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and
teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
I did it
again! I got baited into one of those ‘go
nowhere’ conversations with a troll about same-gender
relationships.
I consider
it important to stay informed about the controversial tug-of-war in the United
Methodist Church concerning same-gender relationships. Without coming down on either side for the
moment, this issue has been dividing the United Methodist Church for decades. I got drawn into the discussion online
because I read several clergy sites to monitor the discussion surrounding new
developments.
I actually
despise controversy, but I’m studying the battle lines which have been drawn in
order to preach/teach on it in our church (coming soon!); sometimes
the vitriolic acidity of the conversation helps my blood boil!
The
conversation went something like:
She: We need
to follow the Gospels, and not someone like Paul.
Me: Pardon
me?
She: Paul
hated women.
Me: Paul
wrote a huge portion of the New Testament.
Paul wrote to Timothy that ALL
Scripture is inspired by God. I think I
would re-think that part about throwing out directions to a pastor about
pastoral responsibilities, written by God’s inspiration.
She: Paul
didn’t write the Gospels. That’s all we
should be following.
Me: Uhhhh……What?
I don’t know
what school taught this pastor to “pick and choose” verses of Scripture, rather
than apply the whole counsel of God to her ministry. But she obviously brought her prejudice to the
Scripture, rather than allowing the Scripture to correct her prejudice. She opted for what she knew and felt
rather than what God said.
And that is
the point. We all have many choices
facing us every day. Some are of the “what
do I have for breakfast” variety; some much more weighty – decisions about spiritual
life and death, family, sex, community and vocation.
It has been
said that all of life is an illustration of Scripture’s wisdom, and all of
Scripture illustrates and should inform life.
That’s not a circular argument; it’s perspective. And that perspective is gained when we accept
the truth of God’s statement through the apostle Paul, that ALL
Scripture is inspired.
And IF
we accept that, then the only sane pathway through life’s decisions is to make
them in light of Scripture and eternity.
In other
words, if you believe the Bible, you will behave according
to the Bible’s standards. It’s called
integrity…being whole…saying what we really mean, meaning what we really
say. And being at peace inside, and with
others, whatever comes – because the
outcome is truth.
Poet James
Russell Lowell wrote about being satisfied with truth, no matter what everyone
else will believe and do:
Truth forever on the scaffold,
Wrong forever on the throne,
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and,
behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow,
keeping watch above his own.
For You Today
You will
have choices today. Whatever choices you
make, you will also live-with; so choose wisely. God is standing by, keeping watch above his own.
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