Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Christianity Today Asks and Answers Unhelpful Questions

Just came across a promo from Christianity Today to read (partially) this article:  How 1,000 Women Who Aborted Feel About the Local Church.

One surmises* that the gist of the article is that most women don't consult their local church about getting an abortion because they expect a negative response.  Duh.

How many who divorce, smoke pot or cigarettes, don't give much to charity, gossip, overeat or swear consult their local church about the practice or expect a positive response from their local church?

Should the church show a more caring face for all bad habits/sins? Probably Christianity Today would say no. One thinks rape, murder, child molestation and on the lighter side probably cigarette smoking, anti-vaccination, littering and causing global warming would receive a clear negative response.

But, there are some habits/sins that are viewed as culturally difficult by Christianity Today so they get a pass, or at least some writers Christianity Today publishes believe leeway should be given.

The real issue is how to separate one's response to the sin from one's response to the sinner. That's always an important question. Response to one particular sin as opposed to all sins says more about personal or cultural preference rather than about what is eternally true, right and good.

This is another reason why we stopped subscribing to Christianity Today decades ago.
____

*I say "surmises" because the article is behind a pay wall and not worth paying for to resolve doubts.

4 comments:

OregonGuy said...

Dude.

Happy Thanksgiving. Started writing a response, and after twenty minutes decided to move it over to my place---cause it was a post, not a response---but, as long as one man values honesty over life, we can all live honestly.
.

T. D. said...

OG, you make a thoughtful point in your post, and I agree in part.

MAX Redline said...

The real issue is how to separate one's response to the sin from one's response to the sinner. That's always an important question. Response to one particular sin as opposed to all sins says more about personal or cultural preference rather than about what is eternally true, right and good.

Well put. It is the sin that is the issue, and the ability to forgive that defines what it means to be human.

T. D. said...

We're on the same page, Max. I would paraphrase Alexander Pope:

To error is human, and to forgive is to mirror the mercy of a loving God.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 107:1