An Empowered Gospel: Day 27
Author: Andrew Comiskey
November 09, 2020
‘Along with most
Christians, I have come to the conviction that
the gospel message exists in
its purest form in the Bible (particularly in the Gospels and in the
authentic Paul), for all its warts and problems. For me, the Bible is the
normative “playing field” for grappling with matters of faith and practice.
Experience is also important, but
no experience is self-interpreting or
self-validating. I know of no better interpretive lens than the gospel
as proclaimed in the New Testament. My own view is that the burden of proof
is on those who would reject a biblical position, particularly a strong and
consistently held New Testament position on a moral issue with strong support
from the Old Testament and subsequent church tradition. I believe this to be
the case with respect to homosexuality.
To overturn such a clear
biblical mandate requires strong and unambiguous counter-arguments.
Furthermore, one must demonstrate that the new information being brought to
bear addresses directly the reason for the Bible’s position…
In addition, a strong case
for homosexual conduct needs to be made, one that goes beyond misleading
platitudes such as “God loves all people” or “Jesus embraced everyone” or “God
made me this way.” God loves all people and Jesus did embrace outcasts but both
call people to repentance and to a transformed life. Many, if not most, innate
feelings (including a plethora of sexual desires) stand in direct opposition to
God’s will for redeemed humanity and are to be brought under the control of the
Spirit’s power.’ (The Bible and Homosexual Practice, p. 346)
Here Gagnon give us a
glimpse of his hermeneutic, the interpretive key that guides his
decision-making regarding the ethics of homosexuality. It is of course Scripture
but particularly the Gospel. I love that.
Gagnon loves Jesus and took His
invitation to ‘hand over’ his life to the Savior. Look what He raised up!
Though bearing no trace of
homosexual confusion, Gagnon can trace the ways that he died and still dies to
a host of sins. I recall a meal with Gagnon and the newly configured ‘design’
team that Anne Paulk assembled for the Restored Hope Network. I discovered how
costly it has been for him to be the standard-bearer amid a culture that,
unable to refute the standard, still demonized him for it. I also learned
something of his roots; if I recall correctly, Gagnon rode a wave of
evangelical renewal at Dartmouth College and intersected with several same-sex
strugglers there. He grasped their conflict, as well as the one raging in his
own Presbyterian denomination.
Having joined his fine
mind with a merciful heart, Jesus invited Gagnon to examine what Scripture says
and does not say about homosexuality. His work is anchored in the good news--'whosoever
will’--as well as an immunity to platitudes and the hermeneutic of ‘Jim is a
nice “gay” dude thus Scripture must be wrong on the topic.’ Gagnon would
respond: ‘Jim can repent like we all must; come to the water.’ He is a hard
thinking, soft-hearted guy. Glorious.
‘No experience is
self-validating.’ We need to distinguish between a host of sexual feelings and
histories and the truth that that directs our feelings constructively and leads
to happiness. I love how Gagnon places the onus on the opposition, who, usually
through ‘gay-affirming’ experiences seeks to nullify biblical views. Gagnon
insists that one cannot just decry what the Bible says. They must also show us
how an LGBTQ+ agenda is actually apparent in the Bible.
Impossible. To those
conflicted by disordered desires, Gagnon invites them to discover this merciful
Jesus.
He does us a profound service by showing us how fallen love and its
limits points beyond itself to the Source of unfailing love.
‘Jesus, remind us that
Your statutes preserve our dignity. Love us into Your ways; make Yourself known
as the trustworthy guide for any who doubt life beyond familiar sins. Thank You
that Your ways are not ours, yet You reveal both Yourself and Your statutes to
us. You are good, You are God, and we surrender afresh.’
‘Jesus, show us Your way
through the uneven, deeply divided ground of our nation. Please compose and restrain explosive
hearts. Use us as instruments of Your
peace. “O blood and water which gushed
forth from the heart of Savior Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us, we trust in
You.”’
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