Piper is playing it safe

So Piper and some other conservative evangelical pastors are staying out of the marriage fight according to StarTribune. From the article:

"Don't press the organization of the church or her pastors into political activism," Piper said during his sermon, posted on Bethlehem Baptist Church's website. "Expect from your shepherds not that they would rally you behind political candidates or legislative mandates, but they would point you over and over again to God and to his word."

Piper had been under pressure from conservative groups to weigh in on the amendment, according to his spokesman David Mathis, adding that Piper did not hold back over concerns the church could lose its tax-exempt status.

"Basically our position is, we're not taking one as a church," Mathis said. "And by addressing this in June rather than October or early November, there's no effort here for political expediency, trying to get certain votes out of people."

"He [Piper] wants to avoid the political realm as much as possible. The Christian Gospel is not left, it's not right. It is what it is."

As a pastor, this is a safe position. I won't lie. It is a safe position. Piper and the other guys not commenting politically on the issue can hold up their hands and say, "Hey, we're outta this fight. We have no comment." They can't catch heat for saying there should be a federal law banning homosexual marriages or even state laws banning homosexual marriage. They also can't catch heat for saying homosexual marriage is "cool" and "alright with me and my flock" because they didn't endorse homosexual marriage either. While they are staying "safe" on the issue I think they also messed up in some ways.

Piper didn't condone homosexual sex. He said that such a thing is sinful and the only sex a Christian can have is in a heterosexual marriage. So he didn't mess up theologically, but he did mess up by just playing it safe. Why? Because the serious thinkers on both sides of the issue won't take him seriously. How can they? Playing it safe regarding issues is weak. I don't think Piper should have yelled fire and brimstone from his pulpit declaring all who have homosexual sex are going straight to hell if they don't repent and become Christians. I don't think that is the correct action to take at all. He could have said the following: "Our church isn't going to take an official position on the issue, but here's my reasoning for thinking homosexual marriage is harmful to society." Phrasing it that way leaves the church out of the fight, but keeps Piper from looking weak. If you present good reasons for having a position, then you don't have to play it safe and have no comment on public policy. However, if your reasoning is weak and totally dependent on revelation then you do have to play it safe, meaning you can't comment on issues like this.

When I hear people say, "Christianity isn't Left or Right" I cringe on the inside because that statement is a crock of crap. Really? You think Christianity isn't Left or Right? What Bible did you read? Socially Christianity is "Right" or I guess the better word would be conservative. People who say that Jesus, Paul, and the others were socially neutral or that they embraced all flavors of lifestyle choices are blinded. Christianity is right-of-center on social issues and I would even argue right-of-center on fiscal issues as well.

This might read harsh to you all, but I think it's worth thinking about. If you don't want Christianity, the full-blown one hundred percent real-deal then choose something else. Really. If you're not comfortable with Christianity being socially Right then go to something else. Don't try to lodge the pieces of the Christian worldview you like into your Leftist worldview puzzle. I think it's ridiculous to try and make Christianity something it isn't, don't you? Now we Christians don't have to stand for our positions in a harsh, rude, ignorant, and violent way; I'm not advocating conversion by the sword. What I am an advocate of is discourse on the issues in a reasoned and gracious manner. Why are we for traditional marriage? Then give reasons 1, 2, 3, and so on. Why are we for abstinence until marriage? Then give the reasons. Our reasons aren't just from the Bible, but from other sources as well. I'm not convinced that Jesus, Paul, and the early church fathers only used the OT as their reasoning for the Christian worldview. We have reason. Let's use it.

I think Piper will still catch heat from both sides of the aisle. Also, I think did a disservice to Christian theism because he essentially made the traditional marriage position look totally faith-based when in fact it isn't a faith-based position.

UPDATE
John Piper argues that same-sex marriage could threaten religious liberty


Links

Key Minnesota pastors opt out of marriage fight

Secular Case Against Same-Sex Marriage