In a recent issue of Newsweek magazine, Lisa Miller's article Our Mutual Joy makes the case that Scripture, instead of arguing against homosexuality and gay marriage, actually argues drastically for it. For the article, here is the link http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653 . Now, while Miller does make some very pointed arguments in this article, upon further examination, most of her points come from either the misinterpretation of Scripture to fit her own particular agenda she is bringing to the text, or she is quoting a part of the Bible completely out of context. Therefore, in this post, I will atttempt to address some of her points and demonstrate how they are unashamedly flawed.
Speaking about the biblical model of marriage in a negative light, Miller states "The New Testament model of marriage is hardly better. Jesus himself was single and preached an indifference to earthly attachments - especially family." Clearly, Miller has missed the biblical Jesus I know. Jesus preached an indifference to material wealth, not an indifference to the people that make up the children of God. For example, in Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus does not preach an indifference to family but an expansion of the common model. According to Jesus himself, family can be defined as someone who does the will of His Father in heaven. Therefore, Christ was very much interested in family. In fact, he died for the children of God. For Miller to say that Jesus preached an indifference to people is the height of folly and bad hermeneutics.
Demonstrating the modern understanding of marriage, Miller also relates that "...no sensible modern person wants marriage - theirs or anyone else's - to look in its particulars anything like what the Bible describes." Now, you may be shocked, but for the most part, I agree with what Miller is saying. Our current culture does not want to be confronted with the facts that marriage requires fidelity, committment, and it might actually take some work. However, if we were not such selfish beings, Ephesians 5 or even the Trinity itself give beautiful frameworks for how marriage should function. The Bible teaches that marriage is a covenant, a promise before God between two people. Yes, women should submit, but if you look at the text in Ephesians, the burden of proof for a good marriage rests upon the men. We are to love our wives like Christ. What a huge standard!!!!! This teaches that we should value the people in this world. To contemplate anything else, is just not biblical. If you guys want me to respond to more, let me know.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
He Was Despised - Christmas Time and Poo
Isaiah 53:1-6
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
During this Christmas season, I must admit that I am humbled by the stark reality of this text. Isaiah, speaking prophetically of Christ, clearly relates that Christ was not some beautiful thing that people desired. In fact, he was born in a manger smelling of cow and sheep crap, learned a simple trade from his father, and was despised by the popular culture of today. Now I know it seems sort of drastic to say this, but I am not sure that anything has changed since the time of Christ's birth. Christmas has become a holiday celebrating mass consumerism, not a baby born in a feeding trough next to animals that was the incarnate son of God that would one day restore the broken relationship of humanity to God. During this Christmas season, I find myself more and more considering how the importance of Christmas is not consumerism, is not Santa, is not pretty decorations, its a nasty poo-filled stable where Christ would start a journey that would ultimately lead to salvation. Yet during this wonderful time of the year, we miss this. We still, being the good sheep we are (simply following the sheep-butt in front of us) just do like everyone else at Christmas. I think this is wrong, not just wrong, it is down right disappointing. Christ bore the ultimate torture for those whom he loved, and we would rather pray for snow that pray for salvation for others. This Christmas season, remember that the only real reason that we celebrate Christmas is because a little baby was born, grew up, and was torn up into a piece of raw meat that you and I might live eternally. Merry Christmas!
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
During this Christmas season, I must admit that I am humbled by the stark reality of this text. Isaiah, speaking prophetically of Christ, clearly relates that Christ was not some beautiful thing that people desired. In fact, he was born in a manger smelling of cow and sheep crap, learned a simple trade from his father, and was despised by the popular culture of today. Now I know it seems sort of drastic to say this, but I am not sure that anything has changed since the time of Christ's birth. Christmas has become a holiday celebrating mass consumerism, not a baby born in a feeding trough next to animals that was the incarnate son of God that would one day restore the broken relationship of humanity to God. During this Christmas season, I find myself more and more considering how the importance of Christmas is not consumerism, is not Santa, is not pretty decorations, its a nasty poo-filled stable where Christ would start a journey that would ultimately lead to salvation. Yet during this wonderful time of the year, we miss this. We still, being the good sheep we are (simply following the sheep-butt in front of us) just do like everyone else at Christmas. I think this is wrong, not just wrong, it is down right disappointing. Christ bore the ultimate torture for those whom he loved, and we would rather pray for snow that pray for salvation for others. This Christmas season, remember that the only real reason that we celebrate Christmas is because a little baby was born, grew up, and was torn up into a piece of raw meat that you and I might live eternally. Merry Christmas!
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