I agree that our doctrine of God heavily influences how we interpret this argument about God’s expanding grace, but my stumbling block with the affirming church lies elsewhere. I’ve articulated this repeatedly to those who inquire:
If you are convinced that God affirms and includes what some call sexual minorities, then provide an updated sexual ethic that doesn’t reduce every biblical author to a classical antiquity bumpkin. Surely, it cannot be distilled to simply avoiding the sexual exploitation of children. Without engaging in constructive deconstruction of the Scriptures and their context, the argument is a non-starter for me.
I really liked the way you presented the argument and the represented the opposing view point. I was excited to see how your answer or solution to resolve the progressive doctrine of God. I feel you may have left the conclusion too open ended. I would love to hear your direct response, and even your doctrine of God.
In any case, thank you for this great article, can't wait to see more.
To me a God who has an imperfect worldview, hoping humans will improve the world for Him, is not a perfect holy God. So yes, sexual ethics are determined by one’s theology/Christology.
My first introduction to the Scriptures being a primer to a better divinely intended destination was Bill Webb’s “redemptive movement hermeneutic” in his book Women, Slaves, and Homosexuals”. There seems to be no end of attempts to produce so-called “Bible-sourced” applications of a future more sanctified God made in the image of man’s better grace imagination.
I had the same thought. The difference being that Webb charted the "movement" in precisely the opposite direction as Hays with regard to homosexuality (according to someone who knew the book well; I haven't read it).
I think it was Thomas Oden who said that once you take this kind of approach to the Bible, it's like staring down a deep well and you'll inevitably see your own reflection back; in other words you'll come away with God saying what you want to say.
Yes. The authors use trajectory language that reminds me of Webb. That said, I haven't read Webb's book so I cannot confirm! But there is a similarity from my understanding.
I agree that our doctrine of God heavily influences how we interpret this argument about God’s expanding grace, but my stumbling block with the affirming church lies elsewhere. I’ve articulated this repeatedly to those who inquire:
If you are convinced that God affirms and includes what some call sexual minorities, then provide an updated sexual ethic that doesn’t reduce every biblical author to a classical antiquity bumpkin. Surely, it cannot be distilled to simply avoiding the sexual exploitation of children. Without engaging in constructive deconstruction of the Scriptures and their context, the argument is a non-starter for me.
I really liked the way you presented the argument and the represented the opposing view point. I was excited to see how your answer or solution to resolve the progressive doctrine of God. I feel you may have left the conclusion too open ended. I would love to hear your direct response, and even your doctrine of God.
In any case, thank you for this great article, can't wait to see more.
To me a God who has an imperfect worldview, hoping humans will improve the world for Him, is not a perfect holy God. So yes, sexual ethics are determined by one’s theology/Christology.
My first introduction to the Scriptures being a primer to a better divinely intended destination was Bill Webb’s “redemptive movement hermeneutic” in his book Women, Slaves, and Homosexuals”. There seems to be no end of attempts to produce so-called “Bible-sourced” applications of a future more sanctified God made in the image of man’s better grace imagination.
I had the same thought. The difference being that Webb charted the "movement" in precisely the opposite direction as Hays with regard to homosexuality (according to someone who knew the book well; I haven't read it).
I think it was Thomas Oden who said that once you take this kind of approach to the Bible, it's like staring down a deep well and you'll inevitably see your own reflection back; in other words you'll come away with God saying what you want to say.
Thomas Oden has those one-liners, doesn't he?
Yes. The authors use trajectory language that reminds me of Webb. That said, I haven't read Webb's book so I cannot confirm! But there is a similarity from my understanding.