“It’s possible I misunderstood the GCC elders’ statement. I’m happy to be corrected.”
“Aside from what the authors of this [Grace Community Church] statement may or may not believe, the statement itself makes no provision for the possibility that a Christian might choose another path and still be counted as faithful.” - 9 Marks
Jonathan Leeman apparently got quite a bit of pushback for making the case a few days ago that Grace Community Church might have other options than disobeying the law. So this is his followup. I tend to think he’s far to deferential. Not only has GCC taken the wrong path, in my view, but they have definitely communicated that everyone else should feel obligated to do the same. Maybe they didn’t mean to… This is what Leeman seems to hope.
But it seems to me he was on the right track pointing out that there are ways to obey Christ and also obey the law even under California’s current requirements. So if someone was going to make a case that “this path is the right path for all churches,” it would not be the one GCC has chosen. It would be the one Leeman’s church has continued to pursue. He should say that, I think. But he clearly is a peace loving man and doesn’t want a fight.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
JMac has almost always operated in the black and white on the issues. Gray is the compromise zone. JMac then sends out his bulldogs (Phil Johnson, et al) to attack (probably too strong a word, but I can’t think of an alternative) those who disagree. Leeman suggested gray. Leeman is the enemy.
Not only has GCC taken the wrong path, in my view, but they have definitely communicated that everyone else should feel obligated to do the same.
Assuming you are correct here, how would you distinguish this from your view on the election where it seems that you “have definitely communicated that everyone else should feel obligated to do the same” as you, namely, not vote from Trump? Is it unfair or inaccurate to think that you are doing the same thing you think MacArthur is doing?
I have no problem thinking that someone else should feel obligated sometimes and sometimes should be given latitude to believe or act differently. I am just curious as to how you would flesh that out.
Discussion