I've mentioned a new book written by Matthew Vines called, God And The Gay Christian. My heart honestly goes out to this young man, and any who've come from the loud mouthed, Bible thumping, "do nothing" evangelicals of my day and before my day. I've also written about "Revangelical" the blog sight of Brandan Robertson. He's another of the new evangelicals I call "feely" post-evangelicals.
Robertson, has a recent post up about being called a heretic by fellow Christians, and frankly it's just disgusting, but what can we expect? Brandan doesn't fit the mold of the evangelicals who came before him. I take issue with Brandan, but the issues with him are different, because I understand what post-evangelicals have been handed by us evangelicals.
You can find Brandan Robertsons blog post here : http://www.patheos.com/blogs/revangelical/2014/07/23/2013724i-have-been-crucified-with-christ-reflections-on-being-a-her-html.html
The first two bullet points Brandan gives, to explain why he's vilified as a heretic, would have brought me to the same conclusion about Robertson, just 5 short years ago. Robertson says:
- The Bible is not clear on the issue of homosexuality and those who affirm and are gay Christians are still none the less Christians (even if they turn out to be wrong)
- No one has a fully reliable interpretation of the Bible.
I had to bite my tongue, top lip, and bottom lip to keep from expressing my "knee-jerk thoughts, which were something like: "Well, DUH kid!" "Of course, dipstick, if you say heretical things then you're going to get pasted with the epithet." I held my peace, and thought about it for a little while, (something I would not have done, just 5 short years ago,) and this is what I came up with:
Brandan isn't operating from a long experience with obeying Jesus Christ, and that realization opened a new can of worms for me. Robertson doesn't have any experience with evangelicals that have the cure for homosexuality. The only thing conservative Christians, of the evangelical flavor, have been offering in the past is harsh condemnation. Condemnation hasn't set anyone free from homosexuality. So if condemnation doesn't heal, and evangelicals won't approach it some other way, then honestly, what do we expect from people like Brandon Robertson??!! Everyone can call Robertson and his crowed heretics, but when the only other option is condemnation then Robertson is already dealing with heretics. God has given the answer through Jesus Christ and since Jesus states clearly, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him," then too many traditional evangelicals started the heretical ball rolling by offering condemnation instead of sticking to what Jesus CLEARLY teaches! Those disagreeing with him can call Robertson a heretic all they want, but what current evangelicals need to do is own responsibility for our own heresy, disobedience, and hypocrisy! Jesus can and does overcome every sin, and that includes the sin of homosexuality. The trouble with old line evangelicals is it's easier to condemn than it is to listen, engage, and reach relationally to relationally/sexually broken people.
Those of us who come before the post-evangelicals have proved what G.K. Chesterton famously said: "Christianity has not been tried and found lacking. Christianity has been found difficult and left untried."
Evangelical heal thy self: We must repent of misrepresenting Christ, misusing his name for selfish ends which have not served or promoted God's eternal kingdom, and set out to learn how God overcomes homosexuality through Jesus Christ.
There I've said it, and I'm sticking to it!!
