I just ran across this item about two curious decisions in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Court system. In two separate instances, pastors were accused officiating or blessing same-sex marriages. They were charged and tried, and both acquitted.  I wasn’t even a little surprised.  What surprised me were these quotes - one from on of the judges explaining their decisions:

“Since church and state define marriage as between a man and a woman, she cannot have done what she was accused of, the court ruled yesterday.

‘It can’t be an offense to the constitution to attempt to do the impossible,’ said the decision, read by the Rev. Stewart Pollock, chairman of the Permanent Judicial Commission of Pittsburgh Presbytery.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

“That court refused to find California minister Janie Spahr guilty of performing same-sex marriages on the grounds that the church constitution defines marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman. Thus, Spahr couldn’t have performed same-sex marriages because there is no such legal thing, even though she called the ceremonies marriages.

‘One cannot characterize same- sex ceremonies as marriages for the purpose of disciplining a minister of the Word and Sacrament and at the same time declare that such ceremonies are not marriages for legal or ecclesiastical purposes,’ the top court said in a complex and mixed ruling.” (Louisville Courier-Journal)

That is the type of argument people use when they know they’re guilty. That’s the kind of argument Jim Carrey used in Liar Liar. It’s not how Christians ought to conduct themselves.

I don’t believe in denominational courts and constitutions, anyway. Baptist Faith and Message is about as strict as I’m comfortable with. But if a denomination does have these systems in place, they should use them to honor God and honor the commitments they’ve made. Not weasel out on technicalities.

In the middle of a seemingly strong sermon about shunning an attitude of victimhood in suffering, Rob Bells says,

“What kind of God needs someone to die so that he can lave? … God didn’t will Jesus’ death…[He] willed Jesus’ obedience, which has consequences.”

“Jesus chose to do the right thing, and then do the right thing, and then do the right thing; and it led to his death.”

I go back to Bell once in a while hoping that I’ve misunderstood him. I hope that I’m wrong. But every time I do, I come across something like this. Sometimes it’s a throwaway, only loosely related to the main theme, as it is here. Sometimes it is the main theme. But either way it’s serious business.

This implies that the cross was simply the inevitable result of event set into motion by Jesus’ ministry. If that’s true, then it empties the cross of its power, because it is no longer the historical turning point Paul said it was, it was simply a demonstration of Jesus’ willingness to accept the consequences of his actions.

Where does Gethsemane fall into this equation? What was Jesus talking about when he asked for another way, then submitted to God’s will, if his death wasn’t part of God’s will?

This line of reasoning hits some early logical and theological roadblocks, and I don’t think it recovers well.

This is my #3 for last night.

3. Minatures are cool.  Like G.I. Joe or scale models.  But miniature animals don’t seem like good stewardship of the “beasts of the field.” It seems like playing God.  And it’s creepy, like stuffing your pets and displaying them at home.

Since my injury things - particularly typing - have taken a bit longer. That’s why I’ve been slacking. So I’ll try to catch up with 3 Things.

1. JT has some interesting bytes about a move from some prominent leaders to jettison the term “emerging church”. I don’t know that it’s a necessary thing, but I certainly understand being upset when a term you used to describe yourself becomes a superficial label for people you completely differ with on everything important (think “evangelical”, or “graphic designer“). (continue reading…)

Yes, that is my hand. Yes, my cast is pink and blue. Yes, I did design this with three fingers on my mouse hand.  As Ali G. would say, “Respeck.”

Get the story here, and the followup here.

Oh, I forgot! Yes, I can still hold a controller.