Biweekly wrap-up 
the best news and insights from our Facebook page

October 7, 2013  
        

Dear Friends and Supporters of Transforming Congregations (TC),


Welcome to the October 7 edition of Transforming Congregation's biweekly Facebook page wrap-up.

United Methodist news takes up most of the space again as moral revisionists in the denomination continue to "push the envelope" on sexual immorality and ratchet up disobedience and disrespect.

Quick Links
If you aren't United Methodist, you might be tempted to skip that section; but I encourage you to reconsider. What's happening (or has already happened) in the Mainline churches may soon be coming to a church near you.

And make sure you take a look at our other sections because they contain links to really solid information about new studies of pornography's impact on teens, theological tugs-of-war regarding sexuality and identity, and the ongoing collision of gay rights and religious liberty.

Just don't let any of this "bad news" get you down. God delights in surprising His people, especially during culturally tumultuous times. Pray, pray, pray and then pray some more! And watch for a powerful move of the Holy Spirit in our midst.

So pay attention and be prepared to celebrate the "good news" wherever you find it. To help you with that, we've also provided links to some very inspiring and helpful resources, such as this cartoon with its touching testimony to 25 years of love-filled marriage. Here's just one example of the earthy wisdom of the wise-cracking husband: "Being married is like having a color television set; you never want to go back to black and white."

I couldn't have said it better!

As always, I hope that what we've posted will be a help to you individually and to your family, church and community. And thank you for your faithful partnership with Transforming Congregations. Your prayers and financial support are essential to our work.

Yours in Christ, 
Rev. Karen Booth, Director
 
 

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH


News and Commentary

As reported in our previous edition, Good News (GN) President Rob Renfroe was recently featured in a PBS news segment in which he opposes dissident pastors who are performing same-sex weddings and union services. A review of the program by GN staffer Walter Fenton highlights the station's "missed opportunity" to present fair and balanced reporting. Religion News Service does a better job in their article on the upcoming meeting of the Judicial Council (denominational Supreme Court), which quotes GN Vice President Tom Lambrecht.

John Lomperis of the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) exposes the blatantly immoral underbelly of the pro-gay Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), including their recent promotion of polyamory and "kink."

RMN recently announced that one of its "superstars," retired Bishop Melvin Talbert, would perform a same-sex union in Birmingham, Alabama, the historic heart of civil rights activism. Though Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, the episcopal leader for that area, asked Talbert to stay away, informing him that his actions would be distracting to the mission of making disciples and damaging to the churches and people that she shepherds, he declined to do so.  GN and IRD offer thoughtful analyses of the underlying issues (here and here), and blogger James-Michael Smith suggests Talbert and crew might be happier outside the United Methodist Church.  

Practical Ministry Resources

Perhaps some of our denominational dysfunction can be attributed to the lack of forthright discussion about sin, holiness, and mutual accountability. Check out these blogs by Shane Raynor and Tom Lambrecht for ideas on how to get the conversation started in your local church, District or Annual Conference.     
     
  
SANCTIFIED SEXUALITY

News and Commentary

The mainstreaming of pornography that started in the mid-twentieth century continues to bear some very rotten fruit.  For example, several new studies from England confirm the physically addictive characteristics of repetitive viewing, especially the dependency it can create in teen boys (here, here and here). Even Hollywood is beginning to notice; as this Christianity Today review of the new movie Don Jon notes, the film's depiction of compulsive porn use points to a deeper emotional and spiritual "lost-ness." (I'd argue that applies to ANY use of pornography.)

For more about porn's pernicious influence on education and programming in the then Methodist Church, check out my book Forgetting How to Blush: United Methodism's Compromise with the Sexual Revolution.
 

Practical Ministry Resources


In addition to the articles above about teens and porn, this commentary by Tamara Rajakariar would make a great discussion starter with parents or young people in your church. So would this story about NY Giants cornerback Prince Amukumara and his commitment to remaining a virgin until marriage.

Dr. Heath Lambert is Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at Boyce College. His new book -- Finally Free: Fighting for Purity with the Power of Grace -- identifies eight gospel-grounded strategies to help spiritually overcome the grip of porn. You can read an in depth review of Finally Free here.

 
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY

News and Commentary

The collapse of Exodus International (North America) was partially due to a major difference of opinion on whether same-sex attracted Christians should claim or repudiate a gay identity. Blogger Julie Rodgers is representative of a growing number of men and women who embrace a gay identity while committing to a celibate lifestyle. On the other hand, Andy Comiskey argues that theirs is a Pharasaic approach that inhibits full surrender and healing. The conversation is sure to continue, and I'll keep you posted.

The former head of the theology department at Azusa Pacific University was removed from her position after transitioning from female to male. Dr. Robert Gagnon counters her non-biblical self-justification here. The sad story of a female-to-male euthanasia victim in Belgium (here and here) attests to the underlying emotional and spiritual brokenness that can result in gender confusion. Yet activists continue to push the boundaries even further as this article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.  
 
Practical Ministry Resources

Two thought-provoking essays (here and here) explore the theological foundations for thinking about sexuality and Christian identity.  Both could be adapted for use in a small group or Sunday School class for older youth and adults.

This article on the Gay Christian Movement Watch website contains a list of the ministries and networks that remain (or have been newly formed) since the close-down of Exodus. You can now access all of the videos from plenary sessions of the Restored Hope Network's summer conference. And make sure to check out the Hope for Wholeness conference coming up the end of October. 

  

    
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

News and Commentary

A hard-hitting article by Robert Hutchinson reveals that our society's poor are disproportionately excluded from the benefits of traditional marriage. He points the finger of blame at cultural elites who primarily choose traditional marriage for themselves yet continue to foist "alternative" lifestyles (cohabitation and out-of-wedlock offspring) on an uninformed populace.

Rachel Lu, a philosophy professor at St. Thomas University, argues that while Millennials want all that's right about traditional marriage, they're being taught to go about it in all the wrong ways. And a new study out of Australia (referenced in this article) reaffirms the benefits of traditional marriage and fatherhood.

Practical Ministry Resources 

For a multitude of reasons, divorced and remarried people frequently find themselves disconnected from God and marginalized from the church. This article offers some practical advice on how to reach and touch them with a message of redemptive hope.

  

Sociologist Mark Regnerus recaps his research about the potential harms of gay adoption or surrogacy, and gay parenting. This is another good discussion starter for small groups or classes. 

 
 
CULTURE

News and Commentary 

Eric Metaxas and Kevin Wax predict that the clash between gay rights and religious freedom will begin to affect more and more believers in their personal lives.

For example, at a recent public forum near Chicago, politicians acknowledged that proposed "gay marriage" legislation in Illinois contained no exemptions for individual religious conscience. Laurie Higgins' commentary about the event offers some practical advice about how Christians can more effectively communicate their concerns. And Ryan Anderson of the Heritage Foundation urges the faithful to pray for the passage of national legislation that would protect religious liberty for all.

Practical Ministry Resources

One of the toughest issues facing family members of gay-identified men and women is whether or not to attend their marriage services or commitment celebrations. Though faithful believers differ on the best response, I found this commentary by Al Mohler to be thought provoking and full of wisdom. For a fuller treatment, check out Joe Dallas's book When Homosexuality Hits Home.

A LifeSite News hour-long webcast about the "culture of death" (alternative sexuality, non-traditional marriage, abortion, and euthanasia) is an enlightening discussion of how Christians can get informed and then respond effectively. I listened in to the original broadcast, and I highly recommend it.

 

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for the ministry of Transforming Congregations.
    
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speaking out in defense of biblical teachings on sexual morality.  
   
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