I knew nothing of this till Bill Varner tweeted Scot’s post.
If you haven’t already picked up the news via the internet, let me tell you that Steve Chalke, one of the most prominent preachers in the United Kingdom, and an icon among Evangelicals in, has published a definitive statement in support of committed, faithful, same-sex relationships. It is published in the United Kingdom in next month’s edition of the magazine, Christianity. The British version of the U.S. magazine, Christianity Today, Christianity is a conservative, Evangelical publication. Steve’s statement has also received significant attention from the UK’s mainstream press and media.
I’ve never heard of Chalke and I don’t care one whippet how much his views endear him to supporters of gay marriage, his views, as an Evangelical and as a Baptist, are unacceptable and his actions are inappropriate. And yes, by heaven, I most certainly DO have the right to protest improper theology. Not only do I have the right, I’m theologically obliged to do so.
In my view Chalke is simply one in a long line of pseudo-theologians who would rather pander to culture than remain faithful to Scripture (no one has yet convinced me, from Scripture, that gay marriage is theologically appropriate though I have asked one and all to do so). He may be the darling of those who turn a blind eye and deaf ear to Scripture and Christian theology, but that won’t endear him to me- even if I am the only person on the planet left who would rather be proper theologically than popular.
Jodie Foster or Ellen Degeneres may well now embrace Chalke- but I refuse to applaud him. Instead, I call on him (and his supporters) to justify, from Scripture, his actions. And good luck with that.
Of course he can’t, because gay marriage is not an issue of the first century but an issue of the 21st century. I would ask though, does the bible teach anything else that was not (good) cultural practice when it was written?
Having said that, I don’t understand the fascination with Steve Chalke, I really don’t. He is not a theologian, not a scholar, not a church leader but simply he is a rich guy that founded a Christian organization. He is as celebrity Christian, nothing else, and no more consequential than Cliff Richard
Steve’s opinions on the Atonement win friends on the right, too.
Actually Steve is a church leader, formally a youth leader, and founder of a organisation which has helped thousands. He’s also a speaker who has led thousands to faith, and a national and international leader in the church. As far as I know, he’s not rich.
none of which changes the fact that he has turned from scripture