July 31, 2013

Not the Judge

I’m surprised by some candid remarks from Pope Francis. The Associated Press slants their report to say that the Pope is referring not just to gays, but to priests, “Who am I to judge when it comes to the sexual orientation of priests…We shouldn’t marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society…If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Good grief. How does the Pope get around 1 Timothy 3, which tells us an overseer (elder, deacon, priest) must be above reproach, husband of one wife, and have a good reputation with outsiders?

Integrating gays into society is one thing, integrating gays into the position of church leadership is quite another.

The Pope is right in one respect, he is not to judge the salvation of someone who is gay, seeks the Lord and has good will – the position of Judge is already filled.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Ro 12:2 NIV)

1 comment:

Steve Corey said...

Gail;

-----One of the most fundamental psychological processes is rarely talked about although it involves the overwhelming majority of every last person’s conscious activity. It is not an obscure involvement either. It is an involvement which constantly effects the shape of who you are.
-----That it’s rarely talked about in no way means it is little known. Most people are aware of it, or they have at least been shown it. Some marvel when they see it. Most everyone goes on about their business without pondering it more than half a moment. But a few make it their business. They know culture is made of it because each human mind is made with accord to it.
-----Your own mind sorts new experiences according to the meanings it perceives of them. The perception of those meanings is highly dependent upon the rest of the perceptions which are the mind. Therefore, the grass is green and the sky is blue, as stated like this out of the blue, has brought two colors to your mind. But when differently framed by the idea that God’s creation has been flooded with the disgusting behavior of man, and so staggers in vile disease while lamenting ages of miserable sickness might now attune your mind more towards seeing sick grass and a sad sky. I think everyone has seen the drawing of the beautiful woman in a fur coat looking away which is a bedraggled old woman with a wart on her nose if you saw it while discussing such old beauties. Or the drawing that can be a rabbit or a duck, depending on your frame of mind. I stopped watching sitcoms because their canned laughter frames the mind to laugh at vile things being offered for social reconsideration, gayness now being the one after they’ve successfully freed fornication from its closet.
-----We are to judge. “The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” (I Cor 2:15) “Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” (I Cor 5:12b) “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life!” (I Cor 6:2-3)
-----You demonstrated caution towards framing in pointing out the Pope is right in not judging salvation. But then, our minds are misframed by that very concept to trick us into not making the judgments God does expect of us. “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Drive out the wicked person from among you.’” (I Cor 5:9-13).
-----If these gay wannabe priests, preachers, and members of the body are not confessing the sin of their gayness, then they judge God to be a liar. Either it is sin as God says, or it is not as they say. Confession is where victory begins. Repentance is through which it leads to the Lord, albeit repentance is an ongoing process. But more so is confession. Confession melts mind frames of fallacy while it reframes the mind for godliness. I judge people by their confessions and repentances, not by their sins.

Love you all,
Steve Corey