This week I learned that a prominent group of mainstream, American, Evangelical, Christian leaders, have decided I have made “an essential departure from Christian faith and witness.” This is in regards to a point that they say is not “a matter of moral indifference about which otherwise faithful Christians can agree to disagree.” In the explanation of their statement, they are specific about a line being drawn in the sand, They say “To get these questions wrong is to walk away from Jesus” and “Anyone who persistently rejects God’s revelation about sexual holiness and virtue is rejecting Christianity altogether, even if they claim otherwise.”
That last might give a clue about the issue at hand, and those of you (if anyone is reading this) who follow almost any American Christian and probably many British ones as well on social media, will be aware that I am talking about The Nashville Statement. For those who don’t yet know, this is a statement about sexuality issued by Southern Baptists and the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. The main focus is LGBTQIA sexuality, although statements about heterosexual marriage are also included. The quotes above are from article ten, which is about Christians saying this is a matter we can agree to disagree on, or Christians being affirming of LGBTQIA relationships. Basically, it says if you are, then you can’t call yourself Christian. This was confirmed in their explanation and response to some of the comeback about the statement, which I also quoted.
Now, I could write a post about all the reasons I disagree with the statement. (I may do this at some point.) I could write about equal marriage; I could argue the points and scriptures; I could write about the hurt that many have expressed; I could write about the many wonderful posts I have seen in the last few days that do all those things. I am not doing because I don’t feel the need to do what other people have done far better than me. As usual, my response is to ask questions.
I’m not asking complicated questions about Hebrew and Greek language in clobber texts.
I’m not asking difficult questions about the difference if there is one between legal, civil, and religious marriage, or even what constitutes a marriage.
I’m not asking about the chromosomal, biological, sociological, terminological, historical, issues around gender constructs.
I’m asking much more basic questions.
I’m asking how we define Christian?
I’m asking what we mean by ‘saved’?
I’m asking if grace is a free gift, or if we can only receive it if we conform to certain patterns of behaviour afterward and who gets to choose what those behaviours are?
I’m asking if I am not considered a Christian (by some) now, does that mean I never was, or does it mean it is possible to lose salvation?
I’m asking who gets to decide what interpretation of the Bible is ‘the correct’ one and if there is a correct interpretation?
I’m asking why, when the answer to ‘What must I do to be saved?’ was given in Acts as ‘Believe and be baptised.’ then the mode of baptism is seen as something we can agree to disagree on, but our theology around sexuality and gender isn’t?
I’m asking why sexuality is seen as a moral issue where there can be no disagreement allowed, but warfare is seen as a grey area, or even not a moral question at all?
What makes a Christian?
Is it right belief?
Is it right behaviour?
Is it following Jesus?…but then what defines ‘following’?
Something to continue to think about – and about which I am sure I will be posting more.