Bored by Wartburg - Update

I admit it; after 10 years, it's pretty much the same old, same old.  Now weeks go by when I don't even glance at the headlines; which appear to be the same with slightly different wordings.
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I do think Dee has accomplished changes in the church when it comes to sexual sinners.

THE NEW RULES FOR CHURCHES;
1)  Offer heartfelt condolences for the victims first, whether you believe it or not.
2)  Lawyer up - she has encouraged lawsuits against churches. Sadly, if they get a lawyer, you're going to need one too.
3)  Find a sacrificial lamb if necessary and boot them off the team.
4)  Get rid of sexual sinners in your church - they'll only cause you headline heartache. 

[Actually, triage the sinners in your church from worst to least and start ridding the church of the worst of sinners.  dryly]

Personally I still think Christ built his church to change the hearts and minds of the WORST of sinners - particularly those who are sexually broken.  Your mileage may vary.

[  Psst, thanks B*****j for reading my blog ]

Joshua Harris - from a commenter

There seem to be two streams of thought regarding Harris. One, possibly mainly from women sees him as something of a victim of his upbringing, of fame and fortune through his book written probably before he had the maturity to cope with it. This stream is sympathetic to his plight.

The other stream, predominantly male, sees him as committing apostacy, and especially those of a strong Calvinist persuasion see him as never having been a genuine Christian at all. (He has 'gone out from among us'.) I think this judgement is somewhat premature.

I'm not sure either side is simply right or wrong, but I couldn't but help see Harris' collapse in the face of the LGBT assault on the faith does speak of a real loss of faith. 

My own sympathy for him is somewhat blunted by the fact that many Christians throughout history and today suffer for their faith and don't give it up in the face of such adversity. Giving up the faith is an act of moral wickedness, and this aspect does not deserve sympathy. 

That said, I have appreciated the very few commenters who still hold out hope for a reconciliation and restoration of the marriage and a firm faith in Christ.

I don't like the speculation indulged by some but there may well be more that will come to light in the future.

Ken B 

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Well written Sir.  If history is any judge, a downward trajectory may ensue.

Kris, I deeply apologize; I misjudged you

"Kris" is the blog queen of SGMsurvivors.  I have believed that she has, inadvertently, been enabling the continuing victim status of people who feel they were victimized by Sovereign Grace Ministries.

Well the impending divorce of  Josh and Shannon Harris triggered a truly moving, Biblical post by Kris.

You should read it all but I'll give you the last few paragraphs:
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God hates divorce.

And God’s opinion is the only one that matters.

I don’t really want to make this post–the first in such a long time–about me, but for those of you who have asked, I need to share my heart. There’s a reason I haven’t posted here much.

You see, a few years ago, maybe five or six years ago, I found myself growing frustrated with what I was seeing, both on this site and on other “watchblogger” sites. It seemed to me like more and more of the people who figured out the truth about their Sovereign Grace churches didn’t just reject the Sovereign Grace craziness. Instead, they felt the need to reject Bible-based Christianity in a much broader, more profound way.

And this filled me with fear.

Someday very soon, we all are going to stand in front of the God of the universe, the perfectly holy, perfectly righteous God as He is portrayed in scripture. If we have not accepted what He did for us through the atoning work of Christ on the cross, if we have not repented of our sins (as sin is defined in the Bible) and accepted this great gift of salvation, then that day in front of the Lord is going to be extremely frightening, a day of pain and regret and weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It’s not going to matter if we found ourselves, lived our dreams, did what made us happy on earth. It’s not going to matter if we were the wokest woke person who ever woked.

On that day, the ONLY thing that will matter is whether we are right with God. And if you somehow have ended up rejecting the Jesus of scripture when you rejected your Sovereign Grace church, then you are in deep trouble.

Don’t let disillusionment with a particular church system lead you to turn away from Christ. He is all that matters, and His work on your behalf is the only thing that will stand between you and eternity in hell. No matter what our pagan culture may be telling us, God is still God, sin is still sin, and we all need a Savior.

Go back to the Bible. Read the scriptures. Let the Holy Spirit illuminate them. Allow yourself to be convicted and transformed by God’s Word.

Love and blessings,

Kris

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Kudos Kris for your very Biblical post  - like Paul   you're heart is that no one would turn away from the only Salvation available to man

JOHN HARRIS AND WIFE SHANNON SEPARATE - UPDATE

I FULLY expect this sad headline to provide an excuse to attack and villify the hated conservative Evangelical on various and sundry "discernment" blogs.

I'll update - possibly - if I feel so moved - if someone comments.
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The apparent trajectory of the marriage.

Shannon [ and perhaps Josh ] abandons the Evangelical ethos

Josh [ and perhaps Shannon ] abandon the purity culture.

THEN marital dissolution appears.

That appears to be the trajectory

Sexual Victimization by Women Is More Common Than Previously

Confusing the T.W.W. narrative of chaste feminism.

Scripture can help you here.  ALL PEOPLE, women included, are sinners desperately in need of a Savior.  It's not just the men.

"Will the role of women wars eclipse the sex abuse issue? Yes."

One of Dee's points with which I agree.
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Here's the deal; those who wanted to highlight abuse at Birmingham had as part of their unspoken agenda, the feminist agenda.  They were questioned about that.  Dee considers that to be grossly unfair.

Dee wishes to be the judge of the SBC

Interesting interchange over on SBCvoices - where Dee is NOT the moderator.

https://sbcvoices.com/malevolence-incompetence-and-ignorance-in-the-sbc-concerning-abuse/#comments

Dee Parsons

People mouthing things from the stage is one thing. When I see normal people who are living it out, I know it has taken.

Dave Miller

Those people on stage have, I believe, given every indication that they are living it out.

To say they are simply “mouthing things” is unkind and unwarranted. JD has shown commitment and passion on this issue, as have many others.

DEE has become acclimated to being all powerful on her blog.  [  I am all powerful on mine. ]

Dee works hard to control the narrative on TWW.  She is very much like the senior SBC leaders she attacks who are tasked to lead and protect the SBC and their church.

I doubt Dee sees the similarities