Letters from Paul

It has been a while since I posted.  All I can say is that I have been extremely busy.  Fall is just one of those times a year where school kicks in, my kids get back involved in their sports, and people who have moved into new neighborhoods visit the church.  It has been great to meet new people and see new faces in our congregation.

Many times, I simply blog about social or theological issues that seem to make the news.  These days, the only issues that seem to make the news are political ones, but recently the subject of religion came up in the political discourse.  The issue of Mormonism was bound to come up at some point.  I am not sure why so many are  shocked and outraged that a pastor would proclaim that not only is Mormonism not Christian, but that it is a cult.  I am not going to address the term “cult,” but I will ask “Why is anyone who is a Christian surprised that Mormonism does not line up with Biblical Christianity?”  Rather than blog about this issue again, I am simply leaving a link where I clearly point out why Mormonism IS NOT Christian.  It is illogical to make such a claim from a historical standpoint, from a Biblical standpoint, and from a reality standpoint. 

http://www.paullyle.com/2010/10/19/210/#more-210

Recently, I even had a Mormon invite our church to participate with them in dedicating a facility in which Mormonism would be promoted.  The Mormon elder was shocked that I would not participate.  After explaining my position, I simply asked him (remember, this is an elder in the Mormon Church) “Did you not know the differences in our faiths or did you simply think that I did not know the differences?”  Unfortunately, there are many in the church that would have to affirm that they “do not know the differences.”

BUT, LET’S MOVE ON
Over the past two months, those who read my blog have suggested that I stop allowing comments.  One can easily see from the comments that there are those who agree and those who disagree.  I have attempted to keep comments that are simply name calling and insults from being published, but even with that a mass of misinformation resides in the comments whhich is unfortunate.  For instance, when I blogged about “Atheists and their Billboards,” I made the statement,

“We have yet to discover a cure for even one virus.” 

Afterward, many atheists commented that I was ignorant and uninformed because we had cured polio and small pox.  The reality was that I was correct in my statement, but what was even more telling was that not one single atheist took the time to simply correct the misinformation.  You see, the issue was not truth, but simply “Let’s oppose the Christian.”

The issue that is even more frustrating and time consuming is not correcting misinformation concerning science or history, but misinformation concerning Biblical truth.  Don’t get me wrong.  I love to help people grow in their knowledge of scripture and in turn, grow in their faith.  What is incredibly time consuming though, is addressing the misinformation that atheists put on the blog, not for growth, but simply to attack.  The amount of misinformation that is thrown around by those who have no desire to study scripture, but rather destroy the Christian faith is mind-numbing.  Let me give you an example.  This is a partial comment left by Russell Henderson in regard to the blog, “It gets better . . . again.” 

I am fully in support of your right to be Christian; I am glad that you have faith in something you see as special. That is good, but you simply CANNOT punish people for what you see as sin. That is not your job, that is not your creed. Luke 6:37, says that you should not judge or condemn others- yet that is what you are doing. That passage is in the book of YOUR GOD, yet you blatantly ignore it. Why?

Am I ignoring what the Bible says?  Was Russell Henderson right because he found a verse that said, “Judge not?”  According to this comment, evidently just saying something is “wrong” is punishing someone, but let’s get right to the heart of the issue.  Does Luke 6:37 mean that we cannot form an opinion and express that opinion?

Mr. Henderson does not, in any way shape or form, attempt to understand or expose the truth contained in the totality of scripture when it comes to “judging.”  Perhaps Mr. Henderson did a word search, found this verse many love to quote in order to silence Christians, and ended his search at that point.  According to Mr. Henderson’s conclusion, I could not judge murder, lying, stealing, or anything wrong because the Bible says, “Judge not.”  But he failed to read just 5 more verses (Luke 6:42) where Jesus tells us HOW to judge.  We are not to judge with a self-righteousness, but with humility.  Why didn’t Mr. Henderson bring up the verse in the gospel of John where Jesus said,

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” 

So, we are to judge, but we are to judge rightly.  Lastly, Mr. Henderson was commenting on the blog in which I addressed the sinfulness of homosexuality.  Let me address Mr. Henderson’s objection with an even greater reality.  I did not judge homosexuality wrong . . . God did.  My moral compass is not set by my passions, likes, and dislikes.  It is set by the Creator of all that is.  

I dare say that Mr. Henderson doesn’t really believe that people (even Christians) don’t have the ability to judge right from wrong.  He doesn’t want to know about what scripture says concerning homosexuality.  Mr. Henderson doesn’t even want to know what the passage he quoted means.  It would really take just a little effort to research what Christ was talking about when he said, “Judge not” if you wanted to know what Jesus meant.  Mr. Henderson is simply repeating a platitude that he has heard before because he doesn’t agree with what Christians proclaim concerning this issue.  It is at this point that perhaps, I am wasting my time.  If a person is insterested in what Christ meant by making this statement, it would be worth the endeavor to explain it, but that is not what is happening here.  The problem is that without correcting the misuse of the quote, it sits in the comments section as if it is “truth” for all to read.  Perhaps I am “casting pearls before swine” in taking the time to correct such statements and if that is true . . . then I need to change.

I believe that many who have commented have brought up great issues and I believe those issues ought to be addressed, but I don’t believe it is beneficial for me to argue scripture with people who have no desire to know what scripture means.  I don’t believe I need to continue arguing with people who reject the Bible as God’s Holy Word, and yet; believe they have the authority and ability to tell us, Christians, what it means.  So, I am asking you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to please hold me accountable.  I would like to continue to address social and theological issues, but I cannot continue to argue, for argument’s sake.  It is not fair to my wife, my children, or my church, but I know it is such an easy trap to fall into.  Thank you to all who have spoken to me concerning this issue.

If there is an issue brought up by someone and I believe it would be beneficial in helping us investigate scripture and answering philosophical questions, I will certainly address it and we will grow together, but I simply have no time to waste.

I look forward to continuing the conversation . . .