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| By Linda Harvey “Evangelical” left say they’re Christians, act like Pagans So homosexuality, bisexuality and cross-dressing are okay with our Lord? That would mean there’s no difference between such an “enlightened” approach and the behavior of pagans in the Old Testament...hmmm... “This one...keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.” So said a homosexual gang member to Lot in the city of If you listen to some prominent religious leaders today, the same attitudes prevail. It’s all been a big misunderstanding, because it's traditional Christians who are at fault. They are simply primitives enslaved by their own “fear” and even “hate.” We are not to take Scripture too seriously because there are newer messages, newer insights revealed to those who can be entrusted with such things. The superstars of the “evangelical” left who take this view have strong credibility with youth and students in today’s high schools and even some Christian colleges. This isn’t too surprising, when some of these colleges increasingly permit behavior that violates core biblical principles. (Example: Secular academia is of course enamored with these wolves in sheep’s clothing, because they work hard to distance themselves from the “religious right.” Their spin on “faith” makes it possible to define for today’s youth what constitutes real freedom, faith, and dignity: going to homosexual bars and bathhouses, or women having breasts amputated to “become” men. This can all take place before and after one’s mystical prayers to a New Age “Jesus.” What do the “evangelical” left offer our kids? A little research reveals glaring problems with the following folks: 1. Jim Wallis and Sojourners magazine. Wallis, author of God’s Politics, has been misleading youth for two decades now. We don’t have space to go into all the problems with the Sojourners approach, except to say that if you scratch the surface, you’ll find their care for the poor and the environment cloaks theology which denies Christ’s divinity, His miracles, the sin of homosexuality, the standard of male-female marriage, and Christianity’s exclusion of false faith. Over the years, Sojourners has regularly featured radical feminists, followers of New Age/occult faiths and proponents of homosexuality. Wallis along with Tony Campolo has launched a movement of what they call the “Red Letter Christians.” This approach claims to focus solely on the words of Jesus (the “red letters” in some Bibles) and not on the rest of Scripture. What they actually do is discuss only some of Christ’s messages, like the Sermon on the Mount and loving our enemies. This props up the left-wing agenda of easy compassion, i.e., poverty, anti-war activism and race relations, while the much more challenging issues surrounding homosexuality, gender integrity and salvation through Christ alone, are studiously avoided or worse, as unbiblical solutions are validated. Yet these are also Christ’s words. The “Red Letter Christians” avoid passages revealing Jesus as Messiah Christ (like John 4:26) and as our sole path to salvation (like John 14:6), as well as Matthew 19:4-6 or Mark 10:5-9, where Christ says that “from the beginning” humans were created “male and female” and that the two become one in marriage. Homosexual behaviors or “same sex marriage,” changing genders and polygamy all violate Christ’s teaching. 2. Tony and Peggy Campolo. Tony Campolo is professor emeritus at The Campolos do “good cop/bad cop” presentations with Peggy favoring “same sex marriage” and claiming this is compatible with Christianity, while Tony says he’s in opposition. Yet he maintains one can be a Christian and claim a homosexual identity as long as one is celibate. He also bemoans the supposedly horrible treatment the “religious right” has given homosexuals over the years, parroting the standard victim posture of the Left. Tony’s writings are a confusing mish-mash of double-speak, where he seems to affirm Scripture in one sentence only to undermine it a few pages later. Like Wallis, he’s popular with those who want to do “whatever” and call it Christian. Those who have little doctrinal knowledge — unfortunately, many of our kids — are easily duped by this approach. 3. Mel White and Soulfource. Mel White was a speech-writer for such Christian leaders as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson in the 1970s and ‘80s. He suddenly revealed he was a homosexual, and after leaving his wife and kids, White formed an organization in the late 1990s called Soulforce. He now travels to mostly Christian college campuses demanding acceptance of homosexuality. His approach is like that of many homosexuals in Christian settings: pushing for “dialogue” and doing it all in the name of “social justice.” Some colleges like 4. Homosexual “Christian” Groups. Most major denominations now have spin-off groups of practicing homosexuals, claiming people can be proudly “in the lifestyle” and still be Christians. Among these are Dignity 5. “Emerging” church leaders: Philip Yancey, Brian McLaren, Rick Warren ,Rob Bell. The “emerging” church concept is very popular among Philip Yancey speaks very sympathetically about homosexuality and was interviewed by the homosexual site “Whosoever” which is pro- homosexual. On that site, Yancey talks about his friendship with Mel White (discussed above). He also calls homosexuality sin in one paragraph, only to basically deny it in this passage: As I've attended gay and lesbian churches, I'm also saddened that the evangelical church by and large finds no place for homosexuals. I've met wonderful, committed Christians who attend MCC churches.1 MCC are Metropolitan Community Churches, which are openly homosexual. It is an unbiblical position to believe that open, unrepentant homosexuals can also be truly following Christ. Brian McLaren flirts with mysticism and New Age sympathies, even as he claims to be a Christian pastor. (See www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com for much excellent material on McLaren). On homosexuality, he’s very compromised. McLaren wrote recently concerning pastors: Frankly, many of us don't know what we should think about homosexuality. We've heard all sides, but no position has yet won our confidence so that we can say "it seems good to the Holy Spirit and us." That alienates us from both the liberals and conservatives who seem to know exactly what we should think. Even if we are convinced that all homosexual behavior is always sinful, we still want to treat gay and lesbian people with more dignity, gentleness, and respect than our colleagues do. If we think that there may actually be a legitimate context for some homosexual relationships, we know that the biblical arguments are nuanced and multilayered, and the pastoral ramifications are staggeringly complex. 2 He’s wrong. It’s not complex. Homosexual behavior is always wrong. Would it be “complex” to him to talk to an adulterer? How about a pedophile? Rick Warren is a sad case of what seems to be power going to a good pastor’s head. Since the worldwide success of The Purpose-Driven Life, Rob Bell, pastor of a church in Ben Witherington writes an insightful blog and recently interviewed Witherington goes into more detail about Our kids need leaders who teach God’s word faithfully, not those who may be lining up for their millstones when the Lord returns. Let’s monitor our kids’ role models and make sure the teaching is sound. Notes: 1. http://www.whosoever.org/v8i6/yancey.shtml 3. http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/791771591.html 4. See our rebuttal to this common statement at http://www.missionamerica.com/homosexual.php?articlenum=15 |
Source: http://www.missionamerica.com/
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