Variously Offended

 From our leaders, members and regular attendees there are various attitudes held regarding various moral, political, and doctrinal questions. Some do not have the slightest interests in the moral, political or doctrinal questions, while some have deep interests in all three, still others have a deep interest in one or two of the three.

The Politically Offended: Some are offended by our political statements. They read a policy statement on the US economy or “Green” issues and their blood pressure rises. They may object to a General Assembly policy statement about the State of Israel or a criticism concerning how a particular war is being prosecuted by the United States government. They are outraged by our selective pacifism - those who fight oppression in Central America are valiantly struggling against capitalistic oppressors. Many are perplexed by a default political position that desires the increase of a welfare state to the place where a handful of income earners supports those who choose never to seek gainful employment.

The Morally Offended: Some are deeply offended by statement regarding moral issues. The General Assembly’s uncritical support of the ecumenical “reproductive rights” lobbying organization makes it difficult to substantiate any claim to neutrality. Its persistent Pro-Choice stance is thereby regarded as pro-abortion, even when it is nuanced as the defense of “a woman’s reproductive rights.” Very few of the folks I have served over the years agree with the position of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s General Assemblies regarding the abortion issue. Some, however, have simply “gotten over” their offense in this regard. After all, in such statements the General Assemblies are speaking to us and not claiming to speak for us. There are, admittedly, more than a few who share the views of the General Assembly staff.

The most divisive moral question turns on the question of homosexuality. (I doubt this observation surprises anyone reading this blog.) Even here, those who are deeply offended do not agree on how best to respond. After so many decades of resistance, there are very few who want to fight against these revisionists forever. Many more choose to withdraw their identity with the national church. They say, “This doesn’t concern our local church.” Not all agree. “Presbyterian?” they are embarrassed when they hear their friends and colleagues exclaim – “Aren’t they the ones who want to have homosexual ministers?”

The Confessionally Offended: Theological doctrine is least important to the discontented. Few even notice that we have become modalistic in our view of the Godhead. We have become Unitarian. God is, for most of us, a nebulous spirit who looks and thinks a lot like we do. Godde is a strong willed, independent woman who encourages her children to pursue their own passions. This godde only wants what we want. We want a one world government, the end of all national conflicts, “and no religion too,” a sustainable ecosystem produced by a non-industrial economy, a vegetarian diet, absolute egalitarianism, and a democracy based on the natural goodness found in every heart. We want a world where flesh touching flesh knows no gender discrimination; where who you love and how you choose to express that love ought to be unbounded by cultural norms. (It is claimed that the Bible is filled with such male-dominated, oppressive strictures.) This godde evokes no fear and damns no-one. This godde believes she is lucky to have us as her children. Our mission is not to convert the lost, but to congregate the innocent.

For those who remain engaged in an effort to renew the Presbyterian Church (USA), this is, I believe our future. It is time to become offended by those who unfold this unfaithful pathway before us and invite us to walk it with them.