I saw a post today on Twitter/X that caught my attention. It was concerning the recent decision by the United Methodist Church to allow LGBTQ+ clergy to pastor as well as the UMC's stance on becoming fully affirming. The post is posted here:
In a quote tweet I replied, "Expect to see a lot more people using this argument. The "but I affirm all other areas of the faith" line is becoming more common.
To be clear I think extreme grace should be given to new believers or believers coming out of churches that have taught them bad doctrine. That being said there are times and issues by which one cuts ties with others on. We see this most notably when Paul writes to the church at Corinth and Rome.
In Corinth we see Paul telling them to judge those within the Church that claim the name of Christ yet continue in unrepentant sins (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with the sexually immoral people, not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler, not even to east with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purdge the evil person from among you."
He tells them to go through the steps of Church discipline and if that doesn’t work turn them over to Satan with the hope that they will come back to Christ.
In Rome we see words directed specifically at false teachers (Romans 1:28-32).
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Paul saying that not only do these people know what God has said about sin they actively ignore it and encourage other people to continue in sin.
In both churches, as well as countless examples within early church writings, we see people saying the same thing the man in the tweet says. They will contend that they hold to the core doctrines of the faith yet only deviate on one or two. Using this a “evidence” for their solid footing they act as if believers that condemn them for the divination are religious bigots or pharisees.
To that I say this, the Gospel are not simply something you affirm they are something you submit too. It’s not a game of pick and choose my own adventure. It’s a life lived in submission to the resurrected Christ that sits at the right hand of God the Father. The One who defeated sin and death and is coming again to judge the living and the dead.
I don’t get to deviate on one or two points. If I believe what God has said I live in light of that truth. Praying that I have the wisdom from the Spirit to discern the scriptures, to grow in grace through sanctification, and to pray that God changes the hearts of those far from Him as he did mine.
Be careful when listening the what people say. Often times words that seem wise are cloaked in half truths that sound Godly but lead to death.
What are your thoughts: Should the church divide over issues of sexual sin?