Christian leader supports homosexual sin - Eugene H. Peterson
In a recent interview with Religion News Service’s Jonathan Merritt, pastor, theologian, and author Eugene Peterson affirmed same-sex marriage and the spirituality of Christians who identify as gay or lesbian.
“I think that kind of debate about lesbians and gays might be over. People who disapprove of it, they’ll probably just go to another church. So we’re in a transition and I think it’s a transition for the best, for the good. I would perform a homosexual marriage."
Peterson has tried to retract these statements claiming he usually responds to question in writing. But his initial responses betray sadly his drifting heart away from Biblical doctrine. His answers were clear and precise. To say otherwise, is to seek to protect his reputation rather than the gospel, hence he now says there will be no more interviews at all. Did his literary agents order him to issue his retraction? Yes, on the basis of his new book. Is it too late? Sadly, yes.
Denny Burk, President of the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and Professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, responded to Peterson’s affirmations by noting his lack of appeal to Scripture. “To say that Peterson’s justification for same-sex relationships is really thin would be an understatement. His is not an argument based on scripture. Rather, it’s an argument based on sentiment. He says that he’s known some nice gay people, therefore he now discards the moral consensus of the entire 2,000-year history of the Christian church. This is not pastoral wisdom. It’s folly of the first order.”
Owen Strachan, Associate Professor of Christian Theology and Director of the Center for Public Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, began his response to Peterson with an affirmation of the things he has learned from Peterson. Then he registered his disappointment with Peterson’s statements and addressed the division in evangelical circles caused by disagreement of homosexual practice within the church.
“The division this trend is causing is awful. We lament it deeply, particularly when we have learned so much from leaders like Peterson. But we must know this: division is not caused by the truth. Division is caused by departure from the truth. Nothing is more loving, therefore, than to rescue those who are pulled away by unbiblical teaching.”
