Thank you for this clearly articulated article of biblical truth.
TRIC4023
Words have meaning. Key words from the Fuller statement as listed in this article are “theological” and “Christians”. To what theology does Fuller adhere ? The adjective “historical” is listed, but what theology? What is Fuller’s definition of Christian? They call them faithful in prayer and spiritual discernment- to whom are they praying and what spirit is offering discernment? There are other spirits than The HolySpirit of the Trinity. There are no other true gods in Judeo- Christian belief / doctrine.
pjp
The "Fuller Way" seems to be full of something...
Allen Johnson
This statement in the article struck me. "...:the Bible’s teaching regarding marriage and human sexuality."
We best stick with the New Testament on marriage and human sexuality, okay? The Old Testament too often winks at prostitution, concubinage, polygamy. A raped unmarried woman can be forced to marry her rapist. Solomon was chastised not for his hundreds of wives and concubines, but because they lured him into idolatry.
Let's stick with marriage as taught by Jesus and the apostles.
bobguthahr, I value the Old Testament. But I believe we need to read it through the prism of Jesus. On the Mount of Transfiguration, disciple see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. Jesus is with the key figures of the law and the prophets. Then a cloud envelops, and the Voice says, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am pleased. Hear Him." I underscore, the Voice (God the Father) does not say hear them, but hear Him.
The New Testament sexual ethic is firmly grounded in the Old Testament, in the first chapters of Genesis. Far from “winking “at sexual immorality, the Old Testament portrays the behavior of people who do not follow the ethics given to them, along with the consequences of their sinful behavior that was heavily influenced by the sinful culture they lived in.. Solomon‘s wives led him into idolatry,and that is exactly the point. If he had followed the Old Testament sexual ethic, none of this would’ve happened. As you continue reading in the Old Testament, you will see that judgment and exile followed for the entire nation of Israel.
We can’t make the mistake of separating Jesus from the Old Testament. Everything he taught was rooted and grounded in the Old Testament. Jesus quoted from the Old Testament when he talked about marriage. Whatever Jesus and the apostles taught about marriage was not new. It was as ancient as the first chapters of Genesis.
Those who wrote the Fuller statement know all of this. They’re willing to make concessions to the culture, just as happened in the Old Testament accounts and continues to happen today.
gndgrl, I agree with you. Jesus quotes the Genesis scripture you mention, which is that God's intent is one man and one woman in marriage.
I suppose I came off as poking at the Old Testament, which is so important for our faith but does need to be interpreted in the light of Jesus. As I mentioned in another comment, the Mount of Transfiguration shows Jesus is communication with the law and prophets (Moses and Elijah persons), but the final word is "Hear and follow Jesus." Jesus does upend some of the law, or if you prefer, reinterprets it.
Jesus only upends manmade laws and traditions. But of the law of God, he came not to abolish but fulfill. (Matt 5:17). The OT was written in anticipation of Jesus — indeed it is all his word. It is not faithful to merely respect the NT but both the OT and NT as Jesus himself did.
RCRE8109
It appears the board has found it more important to trust outside input for maintaining the existence of the institution rather than trust in God and following the way clearly delineated in God’s Word.
Ed Walkwitz
Thank you. Well said. We need to offer love and help to those struggling with homosexuality. Affirming their sinful and harmful lifestyle is not help, anymore than affirming an alcoholic in his lifestyle.
Thank you for this clearly articulated article of biblical truth.
Words have meaning. Key words from the Fuller statement as listed in this article are “theological” and “Christians”. To what theology does Fuller adhere ? The adjective “historical” is listed, but what theology? What is Fuller’s definition of Christian? They call them faithful in prayer and spiritual discernment- to whom are they praying and what spirit is offering discernment? There are other spirits than The HolySpirit of the Trinity. There are no other true gods in Judeo- Christian belief / doctrine.
The "Fuller Way" seems to be full of something...
This statement in the article struck me. "...:the Bible’s teaching regarding marriage and human sexuality."
We best stick with the New Testament on marriage and human sexuality, okay? The Old Testament too often winks at prostitution, concubinage, polygamy. A raped unmarried woman can be forced to marry her rapist. Solomon was chastised not for his hundreds of wives and concubines, but because they lured him into idolatry.
Let's stick with marriage as taught by Jesus and the apostles.
Sounds positively Marcionite.
bobguthahr, I value the Old Testament. But I believe we need to read it through the prism of Jesus. On the Mount of Transfiguration, disciple see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. Jesus is with the key figures of the law and the prophets. Then a cloud envelops, and the Voice says, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am pleased. Hear Him." I underscore, the Voice (God the Father) does not say hear them, but hear Him.
The New Testament sexual ethic is firmly grounded in the Old Testament, in the first chapters of Genesis. Far from “winking “at sexual immorality, the Old Testament portrays the behavior of people who do not follow the ethics given to them, along with the consequences of their sinful behavior that was heavily influenced by the sinful culture they lived in.. Solomon‘s wives led him into idolatry,and that is exactly the point. If he had followed the Old Testament sexual ethic, none of this would’ve happened. As you continue reading in the Old Testament, you will see that judgment and exile followed for the entire nation of Israel.
We can’t make the mistake of separating Jesus from the Old Testament. Everything he taught was rooted and grounded in the Old Testament. Jesus quoted from the Old Testament when he talked about marriage. Whatever Jesus and the apostles taught about marriage was not new. It was as ancient as the first chapters of Genesis.
Those who wrote the Fuller statement know all of this. They’re willing to make concessions to the culture, just as happened in the Old Testament accounts and continues to happen today.
gndgrl, I agree with you. Jesus quotes the Genesis scripture you mention, which is that God's intent is one man and one woman in marriage.
I suppose I came off as poking at the Old Testament, which is so important for our faith but does need to be interpreted in the light of Jesus. As I mentioned in another comment, the Mount of Transfiguration shows Jesus is communication with the law and prophets (Moses and Elijah persons), but the final word is "Hear and follow Jesus." Jesus does upend some of the law, or if you prefer, reinterprets it.
Jesus only upends manmade laws and traditions. But of the law of God, he came not to abolish but fulfill. (Matt 5:17). The OT was written in anticipation of Jesus — indeed it is all his word. It is not faithful to merely respect the NT but both the OT and NT as Jesus himself did.
It appears the board has found it more important to trust outside input for maintaining the existence of the institution rather than trust in God and following the way clearly delineated in God’s Word.
Thank you. Well said. We need to offer love and help to those struggling with homosexuality. Affirming their sinful and harmful lifestyle is not help, anymore than affirming an alcoholic in his lifestyle.
A sad report…a little leaven