The Worst Progressive Argument Ever?

Last updated on: March 19, 2015 at 12:36 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

The Worst Progressive Argument Ever? 2015-03-19T12:36:02-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I think the worst arguments are the ones where the response of the critic is so obvious that only willful ignorance allows the argument to be made.* Whenever I discuss sexual morality in American, I often hear:

Does your church contain sinners? If so, why pick on this particular community?

Some members get it now.

Generally I read or hear this dreadful argument in the context of those who want to have sex outside Christian until-death-do-you-part-marriage between a man and a woman. Before making the obvious retort, it is worth saying that my particular sin becomes no less sinful because my critic is worse than I am. If I rob banks, think robbing banks is justified by the evils of capitalism, and defend robbing banks, my thievery would not be any better if many of the critics of thievery were robber barons of capitalism. The evils of capitalism might explain my wickedness but could not justifiy it.

My church does contain sinners. In fact, all living members of my church are (almost surely) presently sinning in some manner or another. It contains no members in good standing who think their sin is not sinful. In fact, from the New Testament forward, it was not doctrine that was the fastest way out of fellowship. The church is reasonable and takes time to determine right beliefs and then will take time to argue with the errant reasoner. We draw broad lines and dialog within those lines about many ideas. The fastest way out of the church (see Paul) is to sin and intend to keep on sinning.

Pick a sin: such were some of us. Such are some of us, but we repent. If a sinner comes and says: “My immorality is necessary to human flourishing” then they have ceased to be a Christian. There are no good Christians who justify sin.

The message is not “just as I am now accept me” but “just as I am without one plea.” Far from having no plea modernity cries: just as I am you must dialog with me.

The obvious retort to this obvious rejoinder to a very bad argument (!) is that many of us sinners simply kid ourselves: we do not see our sin. Surely this is true. Jesus shows me new areas of improvement (sanctification) yearly. He is gracious not to dump it all on me at one time. Thank God for His mercy! Sometimes when he shows me my sin, I take time to see the sinfulness of my sin. What I do not do is form a lobbying group in my church to get rid of the intolerance of my actions.

The church does not welcome sinners as sinners. We welcome humans caught in sin to be redeemed from sin. We come as we are to become different than we are. We come as racists to be purged of our racism. We come greedy to be purged of our greed. Greater still, love, holiness, justice, righteousness replaces our sin over time. If we are not becoming better, our “right beliefs” are a lie . . . we will become what we truly believe.

If I believe I cannot be happy without my deep longings being fulfilled, I will never be happy. I have deep longings that will never be made good because the world is disordered, I am disordered, or the desire is made for eternity. No Christian lives to be fully happy now. The placated consumer gaming his way through life is slowly becoming less human. My job isn’t to judge your progress . . . God may be working on you in ways I cannot say.

I can, however, judge sin. Sin is sinful. See! It is easy!

Of course, this entire discussion of the members in my church ignores most of the membership of my church: the great cloud of witnesses. Those saints who have died and gone to be with the Lord are not at present struggling with their sins and they represent the vast majority of the membership. They rest in peace in Christ and are done with all their labors. My sin is an offense to them and I am glad they tolerate my presence at worship. I must recognize not one great hero of the faith recognized in any church (Roman, Protestant, or Orthodox) would justify the sinful deeds some are designing liturgies to celebrate.

The majority of the members of the church are not changing their mind on sexual ethics. They cannot.

Perhaps all the saints to write on sexuality were totally wrong on divorce, fornication, sodomy, lust, and other sexual sins, but their voices should be heard. Not all the members of the church are in a state of sin. Say what you will about Wesleyanism and its quest for perfection in this life: John Wesley is now perfect having seen Jesus.

*This is not an argument against homosexual actions, but is against one argument often used in the discussion about them.

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

March 18, 2015

Beware the GG! (The Blacklist Gets it Right)

Next Post

March 20, 2015 Happy Birthday: On Friendship

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Jacob’s only daughter?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rachel Tamar Leah Dinah

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »