An Exercise in Denial

Back on Friday Dec 3, 2010 a comment from R. Sherman on one of my posts noted that people

"...are trying to do what they want to do and flail around later trying to come up with a justification" 

This came to roost with the recent decision by the Episcopal church to approve of same-sex marriage, a decision that (as my earlier post points out) cannot be supported by Scripture.

I think we may have reached the point where people no longer feel the need to justify these actions, but in case you run across a revisionist priest or layperson who does, please keep in mind the following exercise.

First, remember that the Bible teaches us that we are always going to be prone to the problem of being misled into believing that our sins are justified.

Isaiah 3:8-12

For Jerusalem has stumbled
and Judah has fallen,
because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord,
defying his glorious presence.

The look on their faces bears witness against them;
they proclaim their sin like Sodom,
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
For they have brought evil on themselves.

Tell the innocent how fortunate they are,
for they shall eat the fruit of their labours.

Woe to the guilty! How unfortunate they are,
for what their hands have done shall be done to them.

 My people—children are their oppressors,
and women rule over them.
O my people, your leaders mislead you,
and confuse the course of your paths.

The parallels between the modern world and the world of Isaiah are all too clear.

When clergy and lay people ignore these warnings, they tend to use one or more of the following excuses,

1.) Isaiah's prophecy was meant for the people of that age.

2.) Since this was obviously written by a man for a traditionally male dominated society as evidenced by the "women rule over them" comment, the whole must be rejected.

3.) The whole idea of punishment that is built into the prophecy is not compatible with the current view of God.

4.) Sin is relative; back then sin was different than today. Today nobody thinks that sodomy is sinful.

5.) There are no universal truths, so there is no point in looking for them in the scriptures.

Also in the same day's readings as Isaiah 3 I came across,

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (N.A.B.)

Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God--and as you are conducting yourselves--you do so even more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
This is the will of God, your holiness: that you refrain from immorality,
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor,
not in lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God;
not to take advantage of or exploit a brother in this matter, for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly affirmed.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who (also) gives his holy Spirit to you.

Applying the same reasoning to the epistle that I used for the Psalm, here again are a few thoughts as to why this teaching might be denied by moderns.

1.) Isaiah's prophecy 1 Thessalonians' exhortation was meant for the people of that age.

2.) Since this was obviously written by a man for a traditionally male dominated society as evidenced by the "women rule over them" "brothers," and "how to acquire a wife" comments, the whole must be rejected.

3.) The whole idea of punishment that is built into the prophecy exhortation is not compatible with the current view of God.

4.) Sin Immorality is relative; back then sin immorality was different than today. Today we know that lust is good, and that it is harmful to keep it in or to not act upon one's sexual identity.

5.) There are no universal truths, so there is no point in looking for them in the scriptures.

While readers of this particular blog may have difficulty seeing things from the perspective of the doubter, I can assure them that I have heard these comments in one fashion or another from within the walls of the church. This particular exercise can serve as a handy reminder of what the Word is up against in this age. I suspect that the Word was up against similar thoughts in the minds of those who heard it for the very first time way back when.

The Lord knows that we are prone to the sin of denial. Remember his prophecy to Peter (Luke 22:61) before we pass judgment on modern day people who deny Him.

"And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, 'Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.'"

The justifications listed above came to mind all too easily. I have to pray for help against the problem of my own denial as well as how I should handle the denial of the world.

"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24