Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 5

Thoughts on the Asbury Phenomena, Part 5
Friday, March 3, 2023 by Dr. James W. Walraven

Categories: Apologetics / Contemporary issues / Encouraging words / Spiritual warfare / The church / Thought for Today

What about some of the specific issues critics have raised? One in particular needs addressing.

I’ve seen numerous posts on social media stating that Asbury cannot be genuine, as it involves members of the LGBT community. The focal point has been statements by one admittedly leftist gay student. My following comments are based on what I believe to be the case—though it is possible that my understanding is not correct, given conflicting reports, in which case I’d need to modify what follows.

To me, from what I understand is that yes, the student in question is gay, and yes, a leftist. But here is the key: that student is celibate, freely admitting that homosexual sex falls outside biblical requirements.

Why call that student out? The student’s response is exactly what God requires when facing those circumstances. Indeed, given that, the student is to be applauded, supported, and encouraged. For example, how is that different from my own situation as an unmarried pastor? To be blunt, I’d very much prefer to have a wife, but that isn’t where God has placed me. God’s requirement for me is the same: no sex. I could go on a long rabbit-trail about how the denomination our church is part of more or less rejects the concept of an unmarried pastor, and offers zero support for those in that situation. That position, regarding all pastors as, by definition, married, is often based on “church culture”. God, through the Scriptures, has much to say about marriage vs. singleness, although this isn’t the blog series to go into it.

As for being a leftist, where in Scripture is being politically “left” forbidden, assuming Scripture is being followed? I’ve known some very dedicated Christians who were politically left based on Acts 2:42–47. Granted, we’re talking about a form of socialism within a redeemed community, not government enforced mandates. Nor are we talking about communism, various Marxist offshoots or common forms of socialism, all based on naturalism, with the corresponding denial of anything supernatural, including God’s existence.

In years gone by I’ve heard sermons that sought to explain the text away, as it falls outside the common paradigm, or otherwise misuse the text. It is also worth remembering that God owns everything, biblically speaking, we own nothing. Note that I am not a member of any political party, as only God through Christ can solve our nation’s—and the world’s—underlying sin issue. I’m also not politically left, but if we elevate any form of politics or economic system over or equal to Jesus Christ, we’ve created an idol.

Even more to the point, look at Jesus’s choices regarding the 12 disciples. Simon the Zealot: who were the Zealots? They were the ones seeking to overthrow Rome via insurrection, etc. Think politically “left” in that day. What about Matthew: the tax collector? He was in service to the hated Romans, as opposite politically as one could get from Simon the Zealot. Yet, what was Jesus’s command? Simon and Matthew were commanded to love each other. Within our own politically charged churches, that doesn’t fly on either side does it? Yet that is precisely, as Christians, what Jesus commands us to do.

Beyond that, suppose LBGT students did experience something of the genuine love of God. Might not God use that to begin to change their lives? Time will tell. A sobering question: how often in our churches have LBGT people heard that God really does love them? Or have they been generally lovelessly condemned? What does Scripture say? ALL have sinned. There are no exceptions, ALL of us, apart from Christ, are destined for eternal separation from Him. Any sin brings us to that result, regardless of whether it is a sin we consider terrible, or minor, or even good: as when we tell a white lie to supposedly not hurt someone else’s feelings. That too, will land a person in hell.

As mentioned, it is possible that critics might be proven correct on key issues. But, for the most part, to me, so far the critics have often come across as noisy gongs and clanging cymbals, lacking grace and mercy. Note: this does not refer to those who are asking honest questions. Someone who is asking honest questions is in a very different place from a critic.

That leads us to our concluding question: how should we regard the Asbury phenomena? We’ll seek to answer that question in the next post.

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