Statement For Overture 20 – We Need To Delay So More Studying Can Be Done
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Statement: The Fruit of the Spirit in LGBT People Requires Careful Consideration
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The fourth item which the overture lists is quoted below:
4. The report insufficiently addresses the potential for a new movement of the Holy Spirit or the abundant evidence of the fruit of the Spirit present in the lives of faithful LGBTQIA+ Christians. (Ibid. page 399)
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Response
The flip side of this position was presented by Dr. Mark Achtemeier. His position is that the toxic fruit or results of the traditional position is proof that it is wrong. An examination of that position can be found here. When previously examined, the response claimed that Achtemeier had made an error in his interpretation. That claim had not been shown to be in error. So Achtemeier’s position was ultimately considered not biblical. That page is open to further comments and can be discussed further.
There are many aspects that the committee which produced the report could have delved into. Members of the committee also had their full-time jobs and families etc. etc. during the time in which this report was produced. Now we have an opportunity to show how this point is pertinent. There is not a reason at this point to talk of delaying discussion of this report because, there is now a full year to develop this point further. Concerning the second point, whether this is reason for synod to not adopt this report, not adopting the report would require showing there is an error made by the report in this respect. That brings us to the same concern: now is the time to carefully examine whether or not the report has made an error in this regard. Since synod’s handling of this report has been postponed it is now premature to advocate delaying treatment or not accepting it altogether.
Perhaps considering a passage from I Samuel will help with getting thoughts going on this. When God sent Samuel to choose and anoint a new king of Israel the scriptural account may contain some helpful insights. Samuel went to see which of the sons of Jesse the Lord would make the next king. Initially considering Eliab Samuel thought surely, this man would be the Lord’s anointed. We read in I Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’”
When we observe the appearance of a person’s actions are we able to see the person’s heart? Can we as humans discern whether or not peoples’ actions are pure and upright?
There was once a man who fell head over heals for a certain woman. And, as it turned out, she was already married. This man was so captivated by her that he just had to have her. His desire was so strong that he found himself pursuing a course of action that resulted in no less than the death of her husband. It was just what this man wanted, because the death of her husband freed her up for him. For those familiar with the film Ghost starring Patrick Swayze, a similar thing happened and it didn’t end well for the man who had Patrick killed and who pursued Patrick’s girlfriend. Anyone observing such a matter play out would certainly be justified in concluding that such terrible fruit is sufficient indication that the person is one of the most wretched of all humans.
Can we as humans fully understand all the matters of the heart? The man who committed the above horrible crime, was the man who Scripture identifies as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). None less than King David.
For the entire time span of the Judeo-Christian understanding it has been the conviction of God’s people that God’s Special Revelation specifically prohibited same-sex erotic acts. Are we as humans better able to discern in the acts of others what is right and what is good than the Word of God is capable of revealing to us? To say that the fruit of those engaging in same-sex erotic acts is good, isn’t that in fact placing our human discernment over and above the Bible as the only rule for faith and practice?
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Conclusion
The Statement is taking a position that has probably never before been advocated in Reformed circles. If anyone knows of an instance where the fruit of peoples’ lives was claimed to be proof that a certain act is righteous, please bring that to our attention.
In order for the Statement to support its position that more studying is needed in order to get a better grasp on the fruit of lives engaged in the LGBTQ lifestyle, it needs to develop that claim further. The church could very easily spend many, many years studying every possibility. People need good, solid biblical answers in their lives right now. If the CRC should delay, it will need a good reason for doing so.
Please share your thoughts and insights into this matter in the following blog. Thank you.
3 replies on “Overture 20: Fruit of the Spirit in LGBTQ People”
As to the closing statement re same sex acts being regarded as over and above Biblical truth I ad a great AMEN. ” The Bible as the only rule of faith and practice ” is where we must stand if the Church is to be the Church under Christ.
I’m curious as to how ‘common grace’ might also serve as a cautious pushback. The overture seems to presume that the fruit is an indicator of the Spirit’s approval. They are bearing fruit so they get a nod. However my neighbor for example, who is a declared atheist, is a great neighbor – more so than some Christians I know. I see evidence of spiritual fruit in his life as well. But his heart and rejection of faith in Christ is also evident. In terms of the overture, I don’t doubt that an lgbtq+ couple can display evidence of the Spirit’s fruits within the realm of common grace – like my neighbor. But this doesn’t mean that rejecting the word and displaying fruitbearing can be interpreted to mean that now what was not okay is now acceptable. I would like to hear back from those who may be more familiar with the potential to link common grace and fruit bearing to further my argument. Or if my reflection is hogwash, the same.
Brother Johnston is absolutely correct in supporting the truth that “The Bible is the only rule of faith and practice.” What we see happening with all the discussions concerning e.g. the issue of homosexuality is that especially those rallying for the rights of those who are active homosexuals to be full members of the church are doing so though they have already lost the discussion on the basis of Scripture and on the Confessions. That’s why they follow the invention of what is called the ‘circular approach.’ They are bringing up all sorts of ideas that create the impression, ideas, including feelings and emotions, that sound acceptable and thus right. Also, in this case, we see the influence of the world we live in at work also in our churches. That was already the case when the apostle Paul began to share the Gospel during his missionary travels. That’s why he and other contributors to the New Testament warned the churches about the negative influence of the surrounding world. We are today in a similar situation as we live in a world that wants to get away with the influence of Judeo-Christian values. That influence has a great convincing power affecting the church and often young people.