How long can our president of Southern Baptists' flagship seminary, Dr. Al Mohler, hold out before addressing the confusion he created at last week's Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, AZ by publicly aligning himself with Jonathan Merritt, a decidedly gay-lifestyle sympathizer who believes strongly that his generation will not stand for traditional sexual mores but will be more neutral toward homosexual unions? >>>
Many Mohler advocates praised Dr. Mohler's speech as brilliant, timely, and, literally, a "well deserved beatdown" toward the duly elected Southern Baptist Convention messenger1 who asked Dr. Mohler to clarify the alleged2 words quoted by Jonathan Merritt. In an article by Merritt originally published but subsequently pulled from The Christian Science Monitor, Jonathan Merritt solicited views from Dr. Mohler to build his case that Southern Baptists particularly and evangelicals broadly were wrongly employing "clobber scriptures" to wail away at the homosexual community but instead needed to count homosexual behavior--including militant homosexual lobbyists who presently attempt to legally redefine the institution of marriage--on a moral flat-line with gossip and other "respectable sins" of evangelicals themselves.
In Merritt's article entitled, "Evangelical shift on gays: Why 'clobber scriptures' are losing ground,” Dr. Mohler was quoted:
“We’ve lied about the nature of homosexuality and have practiced what can only be described as a form of homophobia,” Mohler says. “We’ve used the ‘choice’ language when it is clear that sexual orientation is a deep inner struggle and not merely a matter of choice” (//link)
From what I understood Mohler to have written over the last decade or so on homosexuality3 I perceived the Merritt quotes nothing less than bleeding out the heart of what I considered a fairly clear portrayal of homosexuality in Mohler's works (I held caveats on Mohler's view but caveats I viewed as minor). Hence, I consistently maintained skepticism toward Merritt's use of Mohler. Nor did I charge him with either lying or dishonesty as some falsely maintain4. Rather I presumed either mistaken concept or context on Merritt's part.
Even so, when I received no satisfactory clarification on the quotes from either Mohler or Merritt, I determined the best place to assure an answer was at The Southern Baptist Convention. But I didn't expect the answer I received. Imagine my surprise, after weeks of defending what I perceived to be Mohler's view on homosexuality, when, in response to my question, Dr. Mohler unequivocally stated in the clearest terms: "I'm thankful for the question, my brother, and I am glad to tell you, that I was asked that question, and I made those statements. They're not alleged statements; they are actual statements" (//link).
Nor can it reasonably be maintained that I was the only one either surprised or even shocked. Many in the evangelical world and news media immediately responded and/or logged the news that one of America's most popular cultural warriors appeared to be going soft on the homosexual issue: American Family Association 5, Associated Baptist Press, Word & Way, among others.
Additionally, more problematic for Dr. Mohler's apparent misunderstanding that he's been crystal clear on homosexuality, and that there's "no way" anyone could mistake his understanding since he'd written "over 200 articles on the subject," is the perception of reputable theologians--albeit left-wing theologians but reputable theologians nonetheless--that Mohler's language on homosexuality at the Southern Baptist Convention clearly marked a "step in the right direction" toward a more amenable, acceptable view of homosexuality. For example, open theist and radical left-wing evangelical theologian, Brian McLaren, offered Mohler a note of appreciation and encouragement to "please not back down" from what he believed was Mohler's definitive "step in the right direction" concerning Mohler's words on homosexuality at the Southern Baptist Convention (//link //link //link).
Indeed McLaren demonstrates the concern grassroots Southern Baptists voiced was not simply the concern of the uneducated masses. To the contrary, we heard what appeared to be the identical shift as did McLaren. The difference is, while McLaren celebrated it, we questioned it. McLaren is overjoyed by the moral position he perceives Mohler to have publicly embraced. On the other hand, if McLaren is correct, Southern Baptists have reason to lament it.
Social media celebrities are climbing aboard and joining McLaren's parade in what they perceive as Mohler's new-found liberty about gayness. For example, "Christian" lesbian singing artist, Jennifer Knapp, appeared in jubilation over Mohler's words. She wrote on her twitter page:
Sadly still, Dr. Mohler's hometown paper is now on the pursuit. The Courier-Journal just released an article by religion editor, Peter Smith entitled, "Mohler: Gays, homophobes should repent." Just another example that his words were much more significant--not to mention being a bomb-shell--than he apparently realized.
We regret the difficulty Dr. Mohler faces. He has respectably served Southern Baptists well as a culture warrior for several years. Mohler's appearances on Fox News, Larry King Live, CNN, among many other venues have been just shy of flawless. Mohler is brilliantly suited for mass media being a quick thinker and popular scholar. Furthermore, he so often brings the cultural issue back to ones relationship to Jesus Christ.
Nevertheless, Dr. Mohler's words about the nature of homosexuality; our deceiving the public about homosexuality; the explicit homophobia allegedly practiced by Southern Baptists; and a public call for us to repent of our lies and homophobia have rightly created an environment which demands Dr. Mohler speak directly to this subject. He must clarify his words carefully; nor may he smooth over them through sophisticated jargon. We call for clear answers to legitimate questions.
Finally, may we be candid for Dr. Mohler's sake: we remain entirely uninterested in knowing about gay bishops in the Church of England when we've got mass confusion here in the states. And, Dr. Mohler's words unfortunately are the direct source of the confusion. We call for Southern Baptists to pray for Dr. Mohler to be straight-forward and candid about his controversial words and to remain stedfastly the champion for Christian ethics representing Southern Baptists in the extraordinary way he has done so in the past.
In the meantime, we really need to hear from Dr. Mohler.
Soon.
Very soon.
Preferably now.
With that, I am...
Peter
1 I was the messenger, of course
2 at the time the question was asked, the quoted words were still alleged words. It was during his answer that Dr. Mohler unequivocally stated: "I made those statements. They're not alleged statements; they are actual statements" (//link).
3 Dr. Mohler estimates he's written over 200 articles on homosexuality. Presumably the sections he's addressed the issue in his books add a hefty addendum to this impressive literary catalog
4 unlike some others, Bob Allen of the Associated Baptist Press correctly quoted me as specifically indicating Merritt's quotes attributed to Mohler were either "misquoted or taken out of context" (//link)
5 in fairness, another AFA affiliate was much more sympathic to Mohler (//link)
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