RE: Letters: Local church autonomy; Second amendment; Inerrancy
Regards Will Thomas-Clapp’s remarks of February 28, 2018: I am not surprised by Brother Will’s high-minded tone. He is correct “that it is an exercise in moral, ethical, biblical, and theological gatekeeping.”
Jesus told us to exercise such ‘gatekeeping’ in Matthew 18, which is His model for addressing sin affecting the fellowship, aimed towards seeking redemption. The ‘sinner’ must be forthcoming in repentance when privately confronted, and more so when the Church confronts him. Or he should expect to be excluded from the fellowship. I infer this applies to Conventions, too. I referred to this a year ago [February 22, 2017] when the BGCT removed certain churches from membership for their LGBT values, policies and practices.
Brother Will should recall the Spirit’s dire warnings in Romans 1 against the depravity of the LGBT values and lifestyle. And the dire warnings of Revelation, applauding the early Church at Ephesus which exercised “moral, ethical, biblical, and theological gatekeeping” against the Nicolaitans, which some have described as sexual immorality in keeping with the pagan practices of Greek culture.
Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture presents the timeless problem of cultural pressures against the Church to conform to the mores of the times. Scripture says we must NOT! There are eternal consequences for the believer and the Church who does not exercise “moral, ethical, biblical and theological gatekeeping.”
The Berean Baptist Church in Houston’s Heights had a huge sign over the platform stating: “IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BELIEVE.” Does it ever.
Maurice Harding
La Grange, Texas
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