Screen grab of Layton E. Williams’ blog post “I love Jesus but sometimes I don’t like him.” (http://www.pcusa.org/blogs/today/2015/10/27/presbyhonest/)
By Viola Larson, Naming His Grace blog.
Presbyterians Today a Presbyterian Church (USA) magazine now has a blog. Diverse Presbyterians write there and the side bar is careful to explain that “Our opinions are ours alone; they do not represent the policies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) or Presbyterians Today.” But the blog, “One Church Many Voices” is published by a PCUSA magazine. On their home site they call it “our blog.”
There are several evangelicals who write on the blog. David R. Collins, see SWELL, and Jodi Craiglow, see SIMPLICITY ON THE FAR SIDE OF COMPLEXITY, are two and they are excellent writers. A favorite of mine is Brandon Gaide, see POKING AT ELEPHANTS.
But there is a place where a line is crossed and the person of Jesus is misconstrued in an ungodly manner, which is saying a lot since Christians believe that name should be exulted above every name. Today, October the 27th, on the blog, Layton E. Williams, a teaching elder, who writes under the title PresbyHonest, posted “I love Jesus but sometimes I don’t like him.”
Tweet from Williams announcing her new blog.
Williams believes Jesus has some flaws. Although she believes “deeply in both the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection and the world-transforming power of his teachings about justice and mercy,” Williams opines that “1st-century Jesus is not nearly as inclusive and feminist as I would like.” She sees him as not believing in the equality of women and not supporting the LGBTQ community, and insists that Jesus participated in oppressive systems.
Williams writes:
“Only by accepting this full humanity can we trust that Jesus’ full divinity has the power to enter into and transform those oppressive systems and us. Jesus’ full humanity also means that he grows and changes over the course of his life. His experience with the Syrophoenician woman, for example, challenged him to confront his own human prejudices and realign himself with the radically inclusive gospel he proclaimed (Mark 7:25–30, Matt. 15:21-28). His growth is a living testament to the transformative power of that gospel.”
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The great old hymn,”Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe” it’s the second part of that line that people like Layton Williams have problems with.
For the 15-20 living people, that still choose to read the publication I am sure that they were duly impressed. My dad died in 2006, but he still was getting the mag mailed to the address until 2012. I guess they got the hint by his lack of donations that he was not with us anymore. I am sure he is still on the roles of his old PCUSA church.
But such is PCUSA, the dead, choosing to talk to other dead folks. They just don’t know it yet.
When did Presbyterian preachers decide it was their place to sit in judgment of Jesus? Even mine recently referred to him as a “bigot” in a sermon on his encounter with the Canaanite woman. No one in the large congregation appeared to be bothered by their lord and savior being referred to as a bigot. Disheartening to say the least. Also not surprising that John Shuck jumped in to defend the blogging preacher. What else would one expect from a Presbyterian who denies the existence of God?
Three old guys coming down hard on a young girl who is being honest about her faith journey. What is wrong with this picture?
Make that four old guys.
And for the record, she is not a “girl.” She is a woman.
Furthermore, she is not young. She is an adult, and can reasonably be expected to act like one.
Additionally, her personal honesty or lack thereof is totally unknown to me or to you, no matter how she may chose to publicly present herself.
And finally, there is nothing wrong with this picture. If this woman wants to get in the ring and throw some punches, great, but she had better be prepared to take a few punches in return.
Dang. I have felt old lately. Now it is official. Look, I think anyone who blogs on a mainline protestant denomination’s website invites response. Otherwise, why would there be a comments section? If she only wants affirmation, let her post on her own Facebook page. And shouldn’t a teaching elder be offended that you called her a young girl? Not very P.C. of you.
And shouldn’t a teaching elder also be held to a higher standard (Jas. 3.1)? Calling the Lord Jesus “jerky” is contrary to regarding Him with the holiness with which teaching elders especially are called to regard Him (Lev. 10.3).
A couple of things:
1) I’m 29, so I think I qualify as both young and an adult.
2) I welcome comments and dialogue because that’s what blogging is about. In general my sense is that comments on this site aren’t looking to dialogue with me since this is a satellite post, but since I’m here I’ll bite. I also find that the attitude of a given comment implies a lot about the kind of Christian that is commenting. I am fine with disagreement and even heavy critique, but I assume that if someone is just trying to be vicious then they don’t want me to take their faith seriously.
3) I believe reducing the Savior of the world to a static, glossy image that denies the fullness of his God-given humanity is tantamount to idolatry – and I believe every Christian (clergy or otherwise) is held to a higher standard than that.
Thanks for taking the time to read and post!