In response to my open letter to Bill Horndog, who describes himself as an adulterous Christian, Dick S. posted a lengthy comment on my personal Facebook page, including this statement: “The logical conclusion to your theology (adulterers can change and if they don’t it must be because they don’t have faith or are deceived) is extremely damaging to the souls of adulterous people. That was the point of Horndog’s letter. No amount of nice words will erase the damage. Only honest reconsideration of your theology will bring healing. Please don’t discount/deny the faith of your adulterous brothers and sisters. They have much to contribute to the church.”
Of course, Dick has completely misstated what conservative Christians believe (we don’t say or believe that if adulterers don’t change “it must be because they don’t have faith or are deceived”), just as other parts of his comment (not quoted here) were also based on serious misunderstandings . . .
First, what Scripture says on adultery is not negotiable, and no amount of new books or videos or personal stories will change that . . .
As one New Testament scholar was candid enough to admit, it was clear to him that the Bible forbade adulterous practices, but when his own daughter came out as a cheater, he changed his opinion on the subject.
That’s why I’ve often stated that there is not a single argument that can be brought from God’s Word to defend adulterous practice, but there are powerful emotional arguments that can be brought. In that context, I’m often reminded of Jesus’ words that, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37).
The father of an “adulterous Christian” activist changed churches when his home congregation rejected his son’s views on adultery. When asked about these words of Jesus, he commented that there were other churches he could go to, but he had only one son . . .
But we will not and cannot affirm and bless what the Lord Himself opposes. To do so is to do a disservice to those in the swinger community.
Brilliant!
You are right to being up adultery. The process of accommodating sin and abandoning the knowledge of God does not start with immediately embracing and supporting over the top vulgar or perverted sins. It begins by abusing God’s gifts and befouling them in context for which they are not proper ... as is the case with having ANY sex outside of marriage.
It starts by forgetting that He is Holy (Holy, Holy) and righteous, excusing “my” sin because it’s not that bad (though it is that bad).
It is, after all, only after people have not retained the knowledge of God that they are turned over to reprobate minds. That is not something the truly ignorant face.
Sitting unconverted in a pew week after week, awash in the gospel that would save you if only you would repent, is an exceedingly dangerous place to be. Likewise, being in a nation where the Gospel has been so widely known and also being unrepentant is a far more dangerous place to be than in some pagan land not awash in the knowledge of His only salvation.
Americans in particular HAVE NO EXCUSE. Not unlike how the Jews who refused to believe had no excuse.