I found this post on Mark Driscoll’s blog talking about his meeting with J.I. Packer. Packer speaks to the current Anglican crisis and his view of gay Christianity as a heresy. I thought some of his comments were insightful.
J.I. Packer on Homosexuality
Author: Mark Driscoll
POSTED ON: 07.18.08
Sitting Down with J.I. Packer
Perhaps my favorite time in Orlando was spent in a small group with Dr. J. I. Packer. It is hard to overestimate Packer’s impact on evangelical Christianity. The graciousness he afforded me to sit on a couch and ask him questions for more than an hour was humbling and helpful. He is very clear minded at age eighty-two and he remains incredibly conversant, insightful, and witty. Impressively, his words are impeccably precise.
On Homosexuality
As we sat on the couch together, he explained that Anglicanism is patterned after the ancient Roman governmental system so that a bishop has jurisdiction over a geographic area. However, this long-established ecclesiological pattern has been breached because Anglicanism is suffering from “heretical bishops.” By “heretical bishops,” Packer was referring to those bishops who sanction homosexual activity. He explained that the “heretical bishops” won support for their position following much lobbying. This sadly required Bible-believing Anglican churches to come under the authority of other orthodox bishops outside of their geographic area rather than remain under “heretical bishops.”
Homosexuality: A Heretical Issue
When asked about calling those who support homosexuality and profess to be Christian “heretical,” Packer very carefully and insightfully explained what he meant. He began by saying that as Christians we are tempted to sin in many ways, including homosexuality. However, because God has saved us through Jesus and empowered us with the Holy Spirit, we are to practice ongoing repentance of sin and rejection of sinful desires. He explained in great detail that he perceives the approval of homosexuality to be “heretical” because it denies a fundamental aspect of the gospel-namely repentance. Packer explained how for six years he called his Anglican Diocese to repent of their sinful support of unrepentant homosexual activity, to no avail. Eventually, his own archbishop sought to pull his license (essentially his ordination or credentials) as a punitive measure. In the end, Packer, along with roughly thirty Anglican churches, came out from under their “heretical” leadership to form a new Anglican alliance.
Returning to the issue of denying a fundamental aspect of the gospel (repentance), he explained that 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Packer was clear that those who do not call Christians to repent of homosexual activity are, as Scripture says, “deceived.” He told me that the first of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses was that the whole of a Christian’s life is to be one of repentance of sin. Any Christian who does not practice and promote repentance is denying an aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I asked how the denial of repentance merited the label of “heretical,” Packer said, ” “‘Heresy’ ought to be used when an aspect of the gospel is being denied.” He further explained that because God through Paul warns the Corinthians that those who practice homosexuality unrepentantly will be damned to hell, “Souls are put at risk every time homosexuality is tolerated.”
Starting a New Religion?
In keeping with Packer’s line of reasoning, I asked him if those who are “heretical” in promoting homosexual activity while declaring themselves to be Christian are in effect promoting a new religion based upon a false gospel, like Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. He said, “You could describe it that way and it’s what they are doing.”
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Very provocative and encouraging that I am not totally off in my observations. I get real leery about questioning someone’s salvation as an individual but have no problems in calling out false gospels.
To clarify, I believe the people inside the “gay” church may truly be seeking or saved but in my opinion deceived on matters of sexuality and identity. I have lots of grace and mercy, even empathy, on that level. However, the leaders of that church will be held accountable (to God … just like all leaders) on what the true motivations are for what they are teaching and whether they have held fast to the Truth of Christ crucified and raised again for the salvation of sinners. I believe gay centered church leaders who put the affirmation of being “gay” at the center of the gospel are in serious error. Granted, they don’t have to answer to me … but I believe they will have to answer to Christ.
Again, just like all leaders do.
I love Joe Dallas’ response. He says that he does not question whether a person is truly saved but the question he does ask is along the lines of the following, “does Jesus define and guide my proclivities according to His will? … or do my proclivities shape how I view Jesus in the context of my will?” It’s a fair question for us all and I believe the best way to confront, on a personal level, any false gospel that is driven by anything other than preaching Christ crucified.
I agree. The question regarding someone’s salvation must be navigated very carefully. What I appreciated was his perspective on the gay gospel being defined as heretical based upon it’s denial of repentance. I thought that was a fresh perspective. I’ve heard Joe make that statement before and I love it. I shall take it and make it mine.
Wow. This could be applied to so many other sins. Very insightful.