Are You As Bold As J.K. Rowling?

The time for evangelical leaders and institutions to speak is now. The moment to use the platforms we have to protect women and children has come. If J.K. Rowling has the courage to stand for the truth and to call for the protection of children and women, then so should we. Silence in the face of this evil is culpable and, make no mistake, will be noted by future generations. Read More»

Carl R. Trueman | “Are evangelical leaders as courageous as J.K. Rowling?” | February 23, 2023


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11 comments

  1. I totally agree with Carl Trueman but am curious about his reference to issues in the past that we were on the wrong side of? Which issues?

  2. What would Dr. Trueman have pastors do, then; Co-opt pulpit time to preach social justice, divert time from teaching the creeds and confessions to teaching political strategies, writing letters to the editors instead of visiting the sick? Why is the proper preaching of the gospel, administration of the sacraments and administration of church discipline suddenly insufficient to equip the saints to go out and be salt and light as God’s chosen people?

    Please forgive me if I am missing something here, and I am not suggesting that nothing be said or done, but evangelical pastors as a whole are not even getting the preaching of the gospel right so why would we put more burdens on their time and energy and expect them to represent God properly in social-political issues as well? I see this as my responsibility as a Christian and citizen, locally , regionally and nationally, not my pastor’s.

    • H L,

      I’ve addressed these issues repeatedly online (here, on the HB) but I’ve also spoken to them, as appropriate (i.e., as relevant to the biblical text at hand), from the pulpit. Addressing the Christian doctrine of creation (as a category) and human sexuality is not devolving into partisan politics.

      Christian teachers and pastors have always addressed these categories. Is there a creational pattern for human sexuality? Yes! Is the transgender movement an assault on the creational pattern? Certainly. Is it an assault on reason and universal sense experience? Yes. Does Paul speak to these things? Yes.

      I do not think you could possibly find any evidence on the HB of my advocating that ministers should preach “politics” from the pulpit. On this see the resource page on the twofold kingdom.

      https://heidelblog.net/2k/

      Take a look at these resources:

      Resources On LGBTQ And Revoice

    • I don’t see any difficulty with incorporating the moral attacks on our culture with the law/gospel distinctive we apply in our sermons. They don’t even have to be the specific subject of the sermon but can be referenced when appropriate. I can’t help but think too many are making only subtle references when clarity would be more beneficial. I believe RE’s and TE’s could and should be more active in speaking out at local meetings such as school board and city council.

  3. Thank you, Dr. Clark, That is helpful.

    For clarification, my questions were directed toward Dr. Trueman’s post from the link and not intended to suggest that you or the HB were advocating political activism by pastors in the pulpit. My concern was whether or not Dr. Trueman’s article was suggesting that kind of involvement and the implications of that. I didn’t assume you were adovacting his views as your own by simply posting a link.

    I think my view is in line with your response in that that pastors are charged with speaking from the pulpit to the congregation on the scriptural foundations for how we are to understand the Creator and the created order, which understanding we in our role as citizens then take out into our respective spheres of influence as representatives of the Kingdom of God. I will certainly read the resources you recommended to broaden my understanding of the issues at hand here.

    Cheers!

  4. “I’ve addressed these issues repeatedly online (here, on the HB) but I’ve also spoken to them, as appropriate (i.e., as relevant to the biblical text at hand), from the pulpit. Addressing the Christian doctrine of creation (as a category) and human sexuality is not devolving into partisan politics.

    Christian teachers and pastors have always addressed these categories. Is there a creational pattern for human sexuality? Yes! Is the transgender movement an assault on the creational pattern? Certainly. Is it an assault on reason and universal sense experience? Yes. Does Paul speak to these things? Yes.”

    May I add that, although I did not specify this in my original post (mea culpa), my question was premised on my view that these very things are the proper and sufficient work of the ministers of the Word and should already be getting done. Therefore, I was puzzled at what more was being set forth by Dr. Trueman as being necessary for ministers now. For ministers that have not been and/or are not now doing this, I understand the call to faithfulness to the duties of office, but addressing these things has always been part of the “job description”, haven’t they?

    • HL,

      I appreciate the follow up and clarifications!

      There are traditions (e.g., the Pietists) who would say that ministers should never address such issues. This is why Trueman says what he does. There are also those perhaps who, fearful of losing their place in the cultural hierarchy, fearful of scorn from the elites, are content to let Rowling speak up and take the heat for saying what we all know to be true.

  5. Thank you, again, Dr. Clark That is super helpful context for me to re-read his article. I apologize for leaving so much “unspoken” in my original post that cause it to be unclear.

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