Unfortunately, the case of Misty and Lee Irons in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church shows that “Radical Two Kingdoms” theology has given birth to bitter fruit.
I'm prepared to listen to an argument that this is an extreme view — “R2K” instead of “Escondido 2K.” I'm quite aware that many of the more mainstream Escondido 2K people have developed a “natural law” argument for why homosexual marriage and homosexual adoption violate natural law and general revelation, essentially coming to the same position as standard Christian conservatives using a different route to get there.
The problem is that Lee and Misty Irons are not the only people saying such things, and I remain seriously concerned about the entire movement. Time will tell whether the Irons are being consistent with the fundamental principles of the “Two Kingdoms” theology.
This year, Misty spoke to the GCN (Gay Christian Network) conference. I've posted two of her videos below.
By God's grace, the OPC did the right thing by driving the Irons out of their denomination. A clearer rejection of the theology of the "Radical Two Kingdoms" movement might have been more helpful, but the end result was that the Irons were pushed out of the OPC. In 2002 and 2003, I'm not sure a stronger statement would have been possible since many people still thought that "Two Kingdoms" theology was a modern version of the old Southern Presbyterian "Spirituality of the Church" concept and wanted to protect its legitimacy under "Old School" Presbyterian principles. I'm not convinced the outcome would have been the same in every NAPARC denomination, especially if this happened in one of the less conservative presbyteries of those denominations.
http://www.upper-register.com/irons_trial/musingson/chronology_musingson.html
Key quote from Lee Irons: "The documents relating to my trial in the Presbytery and my subsequent appeal to the General Assembly in 2003 have been posted on this site for some time. But the controversy over my view of the Law was only half of our struggle in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. My wife’s struggle to be allowed to keep up her website on homosexuality is the other half. From March 7, 2002 to April 22, 2003 she was under the threat of being formally charged and brought to trial if she did not shut down the website. In the end, charges never were filed against her and she never did shut down her website (www.musingson.com)."
Here's Misty Irons' website, entitled "Musings on Christianity: Homosexuality and the Bible": http://www.musingson.com/
Here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oFZsF1LxmU
Here's another video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LCT5EdsiOc&feature=related
Two comments say it all: "Thank God and to the praise of His glory that people like Misty is being raised up in the mainline churches to testify that Christians can be gay just like" them" and that we gays have a standing in grace that no one and nothing can take it away. Romans 5 : 1,2." Again, "I praise the Lord for Misty's testimony to the gospel of grace in Jesus. More than through her words, her testimony shines forth in her loving actions."
Here's one of many pro-gay bloggers who like Misty Irons:
http://joemoderate.blogspot.com/2008/02/misty-irons-on-gay-lust.html
Key quote: "Remember ridiculously cool Christian blogger Misty Irons? She recently posted a thoughtful entry on her blog analyzing why mainstream Christians are unable or unwilling to consider that gay couples may actually be bound by love. Misty chastises those Christians who dismiss gay affection as nothing more than 'lust' ... Another excellent example of how Mrs. Irons really 'gets it.' She gives me hope that understanding and reconciliation between gays and Christians is a possibility."
This is not just a problem of "other people out there." It's here inside our own conservative Reformed churches, and we need to deal with it.