Last week I ran across a blog post article entitled, Max Lucado, Apologizes for Same-Sex Marriage Sermon He Gave in 2004, written by Jesse T. Jackson on ChurchLeaders.com. To give you a little of the back story, the article explains that Pastor Lucado preached at the Washington National Cathedral on February 7, 2021, and urged listeners to “just say yes and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit into your life.” Later in the week, Dean Hollerith issued an apology for inviting Pastor Lucado. After that, apologies were issued—one even penned by Lucado himself. In the letter, the guest preacher apologized for a sermon he preached in 2004 that revolved around the topic of same-sex marriage.
First of all, this is NOT a political post. I avoid making divisive social media posts and do not plan on writing about polarizing topics. It is my goal to be authentic, positive, and practical. As I read the New Testament, one of the refrains that resonate repeatedly is the Apostles' call to unity. James rebukes the congregation for their internal disputes (James 4:1), Paul preaches against racial divides (Galatians 2) and tribal tendencies (1 Corinthians 3:4), Peter urges his audience to embrace “likemindedness” (1 Peter 3:8), and John is at the end of his life beckoning the people of God to live out the ethic of love (1 John 3:11-24). This blog post is not about same-sex marriage, it is about our excessive need to be acknowledged, recognized, and accepted by an immoral, iniquitous, antireligious horde.
We Can Not Allow the Secular to Control the Sacred
Truthfully, I’m not sorry! In this cancel-culture (which is a modern form of social shunning, in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – either online on social media, in the real world, or both) we are allowing the secular to crowd-control the sacred.
We betray a lack of faith in God’s power to bring redemption and restoration when we don’t allow people’s past words to be something in their past. Thank God I did not have a Twitter account when I was a teenager, I had a Ph.D. in inappropriateness. I have preached a host of messages that I am sorry for, my attitude, my lack of preparedness, my loveless delivery, and it would go back long before 2004. But what I am not sorry for is a biblical viewpoint that flies in the face of post-Christian culture. I am deeply sorry if, as an imperfect individual, I mess up and offend. Still, I am not sorry for the scriptures' authenticity and offensiveness to an immoral lifestyle or worldview.
What we are doing is counter-cultural and will never be met with universal approval. No matter your theological position, all your views as a Christian are counter-cultural and should be. If your beliefs are cultural, you’re probably going with the preverbal flow.
When it is all said and done, we should walk in love, and live to attain to this scripture:
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27
I'm Not Sorry!
Last week I ran across a blog post article entitled, Max Lucado, Apologizes for Same-Sex Marriage Sermon He Gave in 2004, written by Jesse T. Jackson on ChurchLeaders.com. To give you a little of the back story, the article explains that Pastor Lucado preached at the Washington National Cathedral on February 7, 2021, and urged listeners to “just say yes and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit into your life.” Later in the week, Dean Hollerith issued an apology for inviting Pastor Lucado. After that, apologies were issued—one even penned by Lucado himself. In the letter, the guest preacher apologized for a sermon he preached in 2004 that revolved around the topic of same-sex marriage.
First of all, this is NOT a political post. I avoid making divisive social media posts and do not plan on writing about polarizing topics. It is my goal to be authentic, positive, and practical. As I read the New Testament, one of the refrains that resonate repeatedly is the Apostles' call to unity. James rebukes the congregation for their internal disputes (James 4:1), Paul preaches against racial divides (Galatians 2) and tribal tendencies (1 Corinthians 3:4), Peter urges his audience to embrace “likemindedness” (1 Peter 3:8), and John is at the end of his life beckoning the people of God to live out the ethic of love (1 John 3:11-24). This blog post is not about same-sex marriage, it is about our excessive need to be acknowledged, recognized, and accepted by an immoral, iniquitous, antireligious horde.
We Can Not Allow the Secular to Control the Sacred
Truthfully, I’m not sorry! In this cancel-culture (which is a modern form of social shunning, in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles – either online on social media, in the real world, or both) we are allowing the secular to crowd-control the sacred.
We betray a lack of faith in God’s power to bring redemption and restoration when we don’t allow people’s past words to be something in their past. Thank God I did not have a Twitter account when I was a teenager, I had a Ph.D. in inappropriateness. I have preached a host of messages that I am sorry for, my attitude, my lack of preparedness, my loveless delivery, and it would go back long before 2004. But what I am not sorry for is a biblical viewpoint that flies in the face of post-Christian culture. I am deeply sorry if, as an imperfect individual, I mess up and offend. Still, I am not sorry for the scriptures' authenticity and offensiveness to an immoral lifestyle or worldview.
What we are doing is counter-cultural and will never be met with universal approval. No matter your theological position, all your views as a Christian are counter-cultural and should be. If your beliefs are cultural, you’re probably going with the preverbal flow.
When it is all said and done, we should walk in love, and live to attain to this scripture:
“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27