Kindness with Moral Certainty

The Pope (or Vatican, not sure) finally clarifies the Catholic Church's position on marriage, saying the Church cannot bless gay unions.  It shouldn't have to be said, and marriage should be affirmed, but I think they probably needed it because of the Pope's confusing statements over time.  If we're giving the benefit of the doubt to the Pope, he may have erred in empathy, outreach, and recognition that same-sex attracted persons have an unusually difficult plight.

I've been thinking about this sense of sympathy, "empathy," perhaps the "common ground" that Christians are trying to find with the world.  Eventually, like the Vatican, we need to reaffirm moral boundaries while being truly kind (while trying not to be jerks, I suppose).  It's a hard balance.  Regardless, I think some people will be outraged today and still think (like Elton John & major news) that the Church (or Christians with traditional moral values in general) is cruel and heartless and old-fashioned moralists.

Not big on John Piper, but I was looking for what others might have thought about a concept I've been reflecting about by googling: "The Great Divorce heartless."  It's actually a really great article (not written by Piper).  Then again, The Great Divorce is a profound little book by CS Lewis.  Reflective ones can see a bit of themselves in many of the characters.  I extend the concept from the individual to the corporate: Christians succumbing to cultural liberalism in a kind of blackmail. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/dangerous-compassion#emotional-blackmail

This sense of empathy inevitably needs moral boundaries, like Jesus, who healed people but also said to one chronically ill man after healing him, "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." (from John 5)  That's not very nice, Jesus!  But there's a kind of kindness that is holier than niceness that is also kinda tough and clear while being loving.  What could be worse than being bedridden for 38 years?  Probably said to make His listeners imagine.  And what kind of sins can a bedridden man commit for 38 years??   Maybe that's not the right way to think about it.  Perhaps, this is a way of pointing out that all in some ways are touched by sin and all who are His are called to "take up our cross" and follow Jesus in holiness (a lifelong growth process).  Jesus has an advantage of being God the Son, sinless and all-knowing, but we can cautiously "be like Jesus" in our fallen, blemished ways.  I question how I approach things and not always know the loving but certain way, but God covers a multitude of sins and weaknesses. 

"O Love of God, How Strong and True" - Horatius Bonar

I love this poet's metaphorical use of "reading" in this hymn.  It reminds me of Romans 2.  Paul says that even for those without the law, the moral/natural law is innate, it is "written on our hearts."

To some degree, we can even read the law in our own hearts, even if we don't have the clarity of Christ and the reasoning power of the Holy Spirit.  Morality, at least, is somewhat innate, but our flesh fights against reason and we create all kinds of excuses for sin.

Romans 2 (12-16)

For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Poetry from CyberHymnal:

Hymn sung by a choir on YouTube

O love of God, how strong and true!

Eternal, and yet ever new;

Uncomprehended and unbought,

Beyond all knowledge and all thought.

O love of God, how deep and great!

Far deeper than man’s deepest hate;

Self fed, self kindled, like the light,

Changeless, eternal, infinite.

O heavenly love, how precious still,

In days of weariness and ill,

In nights of pain and helplessness,

To heal, to comfort, and to bless!

O wide embracing, wondrous love!

We read thee in the sky above,

We read thee in the earth below,

In seas that swell, and streams that flow.

We read thee best in Him who came

To bear for us the cross of shame;

Sent by the Father from on high,

Our life to live, our death to die.

We read thy power to bless and save,

E’en in the darkness of the grave;

Still more in resurrection light,

We read the fullness of thy might.

O love of God, our shield and stay

Through all the perils of our way!

Eternal love, in thee we rest
Forever safe, forever blest.

Horatius Bonar:

There's something special about this guy..this poet.. besides his crazy hair and his awesome sideburns.