Denny Burk and Kristin Kobes Du Mez
Woke Hokum Exposed
A brief post to say how impressed I am with Denny Burk’s post about his exchange with Kristin Kobes Du Mez. Do go read it for yourself.
Two insights from Burk particularly stand out. First, he points out that Evangelicals who go weak on the topic of homosexual sin often go through the following progression:
(1) Oppose gay-marriage: Every evangelical starts here, or at the very least they appear to start here.
(2) Oppose taking a stand on the question: Persons in this stage are becoming aware of how offensive the traditional view is to those outside the church. Their initial remedy is to avoid that conflict by saying that this is an issue that Christians can agree to disagree about. Let’s not divide over it. Or maybe let’s not talk about the Bible’s teaching on this subject. In Brian McLaren‘s case, he urged evangelicals to observe a 5-year moratorium on talking about gay marriage. For Jen Hatmaker, she advocated going “into the basement,” where we don’t talk about these things but just love people. Choosing to avoid the question is never a final answer for anyone in this stage.
(3) Affirm gay marriage: At some point during the “Christians can agree to disagree” stage, those who used to oppose gay marriage find grounds to affirm it. Some do it by questioning the Bible’s truthfulness. Others do through revisionist interpretations of the Biblical text. Some do it by dismissing the traditional view as a homophobic power grab. In any case, proponents end up affirming what the Bible forbids.
(4) Vilify traditional marriage proponents…
I well remember McLaren calling for a 5-year moratorium. I thought then he was just posing as being above it all while already deciding the issue for himself. Events proved me right as they usually do. And I suspect that is the case for most who go through this progression. Burk doesn’t say that outright, but I will.
And I am fed up with it. One can and should certainly study and discuss the details and applications of scripture and its moral teachings. For example, in the area of sexual morality, the question of where temptation becomes sin is not a simple one. But if you say you are in “dialogue,” “listening,” and “conversation” in the mode of the serpent in the Garden asking that loaded question, “Did God really say?” about matters on which God really has clearly spoken, I’ve seen that bad play before. I already know where it is heading. And you can repent or head right on out of my church as far as I’m concerned. Yes, I said it.*
Second, Burk points out the corrosive nature of post-modern/Critical Theory deconstruction. I hesitate to add to what Burk has written. That not because I don’t know much but because I know too much. I studied Critical Theory extensively in part for a private project. Years ago I was on the periphery of the Emerging Church movement. (I hope I didn’t make anyone faint there.) So I know too well that PM/CT deconstruction is not easy to get one’s arms around. Also this is among the topics on which you really don’t want to get me started in polite conversation in case you haven’t noticed already.
But the method of deconstruction is indeed corrosive and not a helpful nor appropriate method to use in studying and interpreting Scripture. Christians (or honest students for that matter) should not come to scripture or theology with the aim of reducing everything to racism/sexism/etc. or to cultural metanarratives. (Yes, that description of PM/CT methods is slightly reductionistic as well. But turnabout is fair play. So there.) I join Burk in advising that if someone is engaging in these methods of “deconstruction,” it should raise alarm bells.
I say that as an Anglican who, as Anglicans are wont to do, love excellent scholarship. But Post-Modern and Critical Theory methods are instead academic hokum that obfuscate, corrode and attack truth and knowledge far more than reveal it. That crap used to be laughed at in the academy. It should still be laughed at in the academy.
Trust I could say more, but for now go read what Denny Burk said.
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*I refer to clergy, teachers, and other church leaders, of course, not to honest seekers or learners with questions. We were all heretics once. ;)