Earlier today I highlighted a sermon that was very important to my life in a positive way. Now I'd like to highlight one that I have seen have a dramatic negative effect.
A pastor preached a sermon a few years ago regarding the divorce epidemic that is crippling the church. (Maybe he deserves tremendous credit for even going near the topic.) His construct was that divorce could only be addressed by "Grace" and "Truth".
"Truth" in that the Bible does forbid divorce. "Grace" in that divorce is just another sin paid-in-full at the cross.
Okay, we're agreed, as far as that goes...
Then I have listened to "mature" christians counselling others and justifying future divorce and future adulterous remarriage using this construct. This in spite of the fact that modern American divorce almost invariably results in adultery.
Our only counsel for the future conduct of believers must be "Obey God's Word!"
Given the high number of divorced members in modern churches, our pulpits are virtually handcuffed from preaching the hard truths about divorce, remarriage and adultery. Sadly, many leaders (very reasonably) fear the backlash that would cost them their ministry if they address the issue head-on. Worse yet, how can you address a person's adulterous remarriage when you performed the wedding ceremony?
At the lowest end of this problem live the "Family Values" ministries that won't touch the topic because of the potential impact on donations and public support that would result. Could there be a greater negative impact on families and children than America's 60%+ divorce rate? What other issue could conceivably come close in terms of importance to "family" values? Yet there is only silence...
Yes, we all live in total dependence on God's mercy and grace. But Christ did come as the embodiment of "Grace and Truth". When we accept, (and, sadly, even encourage,) rampant adultery in the church as we do today, we relinquish any claim to having the "Truth" and cheapen the "Grace" we receive.
A pastor preached a sermon a few years ago regarding the divorce epidemic that is crippling the church. (Maybe he deserves tremendous credit for even going near the topic.) His construct was that divorce could only be addressed by "Grace" and "Truth".
Okay, we're agreed, as far as that goes...
Then I have listened to "mature" christians counselling others and justifying future divorce and future adulterous remarriage using this construct. This in spite of the fact that modern American divorce almost invariably results in adultery.
Our only counsel for the future conduct of believers must be "Obey God's Word!"
Given the high number of divorced members in modern churches, our pulpits are virtually handcuffed from preaching the hard truths about divorce, remarriage and adultery. Sadly, many leaders (very reasonably) fear the backlash that would cost them their ministry if they address the issue head-on. Worse yet, how can you address a person's adulterous remarriage when you performed the wedding ceremony?
At the lowest end of this problem live the "Family Values" ministries that won't touch the topic because of the potential impact on donations and public support that would result. Could there be a greater negative impact on families and children than America's 60%+ divorce rate? What other issue could conceivably come close in terms of importance to "family" values? Yet there is only silence...
Yes, we all live in total dependence on God's mercy and grace. But Christ did come as the embodiment of "Grace and Truth". When we accept, (and, sadly, even encourage,) rampant adultery in the church as we do today, we relinquish any claim to having the "Truth" and cheapen the "Grace" we receive.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are."- Matthew 23:15
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