Recently social media has been ablaze with comments, posts, and blogs about clergy who have been disciplined and lost their credentials (along with those still in the process). Their loss of credentials is in relation to their push for the Church of the Nazarene to be LGBTQIA+ affirming. In other words they want homosexual practice to be acceptable. Their defense is that they simply want a "conversation" and, when disciplined, an insistence that the proper protocols and Manual requirements were not followed. The definition of "teaching" is debated, the definition of "doctrines" is debated, and a pharisaical "straining out the gnat" is evidenced in supporters' debate; all the while "the camel" of refuting the clear teachings of Scripture about the practice of homosexuality is ignored.
It would be easy to fall into the confusion as some educated people (at least with degrees) seem to be suddenly confused about a sexual ethic that has been around since the beginning of time and is among the clearest prohibitions in Scripture. All they really desire is for the church to capitulate truth in favor of current cultural trends of sexual immorality. They do not want conversation (that has been happening for some time), they want compromise.
A few observations in light of things taking place.
1. The baseline of the issue is a rejection of Biblical truth as the primary authority for doctrine and lifestyle. There are some who escape into denominational infrastructure and ivory towers that forget that Christianity is not a philosophy to be toyed with, but a relationship with the Creator. The goal is not development of culturally compatible social circles, but knowing the King of kings. Consistently through the history of the church, revival and reform have not taken the church farther away from biblical revelation, but called the church back to it. Those who seek to reinvent a culturally palatable religion, are actually making an idol in the image of humanism.
2. They are advocating for the blessing of behavior that the Bible clearly says will keep people out of Heaven. In other words, these teachings have a damning impact on the individuals who would listen and follow them. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Those insisting on gay marriage or homosexual practice are seeking to convince the lost that they are not lost. This is dangerous, antithetical to all that we should be doing, and the reason the Bible speaks so strongly against false teachers. They are not new attenders or visitors in the church. They are most often part of a multi-generational family in the life of the church. They are typically an ordained elder serving the denomination in various capacities (including Nazarene Universities and denominational infrastructure). In other words, they are not first time guests who are unaware of the teachings of Jesus on this issue. They should know better, but insists on persisting in false teachings without regard to the eternal impact it has on those who embrace homosexual practice.
3. If anyone should be clamoring for justice it is the hundreds of people who have had to leave their churches under the failed leadership of false teachers. Approving of sin, or creating a culture in the local church that will lead to approval of sin, chokes out spiritual vitality. The wages of sin is death. And those who propagate the approval of sin create a culture of death. Theology is not abstract philosophy, but our understanding of God and ultimately His plan of salvation. The practice of homosexuality needs more than a denial of its approval. Those struggling with this temptation need authentic, biblical love from their church family and the discipleship of clarity about homosexual practice. If anyone should be outraged it is the loved ones of people who have wrecked their faith on his teachings.
4. Church discipline is a real thing. It is necessary to implement church discipline when moral practices are violated or covenants broken. Church discipline is necessary to maintain the integrity and witness of the church. For the same reason a child molester or one advocating for the demeaning of another person based on their skin color is subject to church discipline, so one who would advocate for the sinful action of homosexual practice is also subject to discipline. While there will always be things up for debate, those things clearly defined in Scripture as sin are not up for debate. How to minister to those in the LGBTQIA+ community is worthy of rigorous discussion and debate. Whether the practice of homosexuality is sin is not open for debate. Those claiming that no one can discuss these issues because their credentials will be taken are disingenuous in their communication; spinning the issue.
5. They malign faithful leaders, pastors, and laity in the church. Those in support of homosexual practice and biblical compromise form an online rabble that seek to intimidate, malign, and coerce leadership into adherence to their agenda. Touting their devotion to "love", they spew the worst kind of vitriol via social media. Some pastors are bullied into the corner and beg for us to "agree to disagree" while seeking to remain out of the crosshairs of the mob mentality. Other leaders are named and then maligned by half truths and skewed realities that involve a questioning of their character, integrity, and faithfulness to Biblical truth. This is gaslighting to an extreme.
So what should be done?
1. Discipline of clergy and leadership who seek to promote or advocate homosexual practice.
2. Professors from the theology departments of our Nazarene Institutions need to articulate clearly, gracefully, and publicly our Scriptural stance on human sexuality.
3. Credentialing processes on every district need to hold accountable those seeking ordination to our beliefs and covenants.
4. Leadership needs to be supported as they take action to limit the harmful damage caused by these false teachers.
5. Spiritual renewal. Let's pray for the Spirit to fill us with a fresh infilling. Some things will only change when minds are renewed and hearts are cleansed.
A way forward Part 1 and Part 2 are previous articles that highlight action for moving in the right direction.
Here are a few articles for some context. (Each of these articles comes from a source that is obviously not biblical in perspective.)
Nazarene elder has his ordination in the Church of the Nazarene revoked and is removed as pastor of his church on Aug 14, 2023.
A first appeal on the ruling is rejected.
Did he forfeit his privilege to a final appeal by speaking again at his church on November 26, 2023 after having been removed and loss of credentials. The audio of his message can be found on the site under the date 11-26-23.
The final appeal is filed and more spin.
See these other articles:
The Africa Region of the Church of the Nazarene speaks to the issue of LGBTQIA+ Affirmation
Some Cautions for the Church of the Nazarene (Part 1)
A Way Forward for the Church of the Nazarene (Part 1)
A Letter of Accusation Against a False Teacher
Why I Love the Church of the Nazarene
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