"What the Bible Means" is the Most Used Phrase in Christianity

I read with amusement an argument going on within the Southern Baptist Convention. This argument is somewhat important because the SBC is the largest Protestant denomination. It has churches across the U.S. and in many other countries.

To those who might not follow the marketing and politics of Christianity, the SBC stood squarely against integration during our period of segregation. Interracial marriage was the biggest sin going on back then.

It dropped resistance against integration when it became obvious that was stupid and recently had a black SBC President. Homosexuality and gay marriage moved up as the leading sin. Now it is becoming obvious that is also a stupid position so some movement is underway to change the denomination's approach to the issue.

A year of so ago a new President, JD Greear, was elected in the SBC. I noticed immediately he did not appear in the mandatory suit and tie that all SBC officials wear. He appeared wearing an open collar. Something must be up, I thought.

Sure enough, a few days ago he published an article explaining the Apostle Paul listed homosexuality among a list of sins and did not designate it as the worst sin. Liberals have been pointing this out for years and have had no success until now in getting the likes of the SBC to notice.

Predictably, there was an immediate response from the more conservative wing. This commentator launched into a "what the Bible means" sermon. He admitted Paul included homosexuality (there are questions even about what Paul was referring to) in a list of other sins but Paul meant, he writes, for readers to pick out the most destructive of that list and treat it as the most serious. Of course, in the writers opinion (not shared by Paul), homosexuality is the most destructive in the list and thus should not be blown off like the others.

"What the Bible means" remains as it always has been, a moving target. The conservative Christianity needle follows public opinion and it is coming around into alignment once again.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make som
Read more

The Religious Capitol Invaders May Yet Win

Image
So much about U.S. society and religion can be learned from the Civil War and what happened afterwards. After its defeat, the South started a myth about the unethical soldiers from the North. The South fought for principles of God and states rights. The North did not. It was the South, this propaganda told the country, that had the high moral ground.  The Capitol invaders, encouraged by Trump, swallowed the myth that Biden's election was stolen. Thus, they think they held and still hold the high moral ground. This was reinforced by the cross and prayers during the invasion. Even with Trump is gone, we will see political opportunists like Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley stroking crowds and feeding the same lies as Trump. Like "the South will rise again" these gullible followers will talk of victory over the unclean. After the Civil War the South rallied around the phrase, Lost Cause. For decades, and maybe to this day, there are ceremonies remembering fallen martyrs, Re
Read more

Father Frank Pavone, the Ultimate Crook

Image
Recently, the Vatican defrocked Frank Pavone. His diehard fans are outraged. This is because he cleverly manipulated his fans and the press all the while living well from donations and, apparently, abusing some women. By making abortion the "sin" of the century, and himself the main opposition to this one sin, he himself could get away with any sin he pleased.  As the link points out, Pavone was the perfect priest for the Trump era. Trump is so self-important laws have no role in his life. He felt accountable to no one. Women were there to be had. Pavone and Trump are interchangeable.  Pavone was very successful raising money. In his mind, abortion was so important in Catholic beliefs and he was so important in anti-abortion the money he raised opposing it was his to do with what he liked. The Catholic Church, the brand name he used to raise this money, thought the money belonged to it. When he gave the Vatican the bird, it gave him walking papers. With polls showing the majo
Read more