Transformation: The Reason for the Season
December 14, 2007

I want to bring you a little different Christmas greeting on behalf of the Presbyterian Coalition.

Jesus, whose birthday we are about to celebrate, referred to the "evil one" who is always at war with God. We humans are both the battlefield and the prize. Those who truly know Jesus know the Victor. Yet, we know, too, the continual lure of the world around us and how susceptible we are.
Every age has its prevailing sins. The Westminster Larger Catechism (Book of Confessions, 7.261) speaks to what makes some sins "more heinous than others." If the sin is "against the express letter of the law," it says; if it is not only conceived in the heart, but also breaks forth in words and actions. If it is against "our prayers, purposes, promises, vows, covenants," and if it is done "deliberately."

For us in our time, a prevailing sin is sexual sin. Sexual license permeates our society and, scandalously, at least one form of that license finds approval even within the Church of Jesus Christ. There are such situations brewing in at least three of our presbyteries. Candidates for Minister of Word and Sacrament are asking that their promotion of same- sex sexual relationships, and their own same-sex relationships - past, present, or future - be declared "not essential" to their fitness for ordination.

The catechism speaks of this as "against Christ, and his grace," against "weak brethren," and against the "common good of all or many." And the Westminster Catechism teaches that such behavior is especially heinous when committed by those "whose example is likely to be followed by others."

It is the work of the Presbyterian Coalition to stand with the Church's long witness to Scripture's truth on this matter, and to resist the lure of our age to accept what is unacceptable to God. We are grateful to be standing side by side with you on this.

Ministry of Christ's grace
This may seem to be an odd message in this joyful time of year. It's not. It ought to be a source of deep joy. In this struggle of the Church to remain faithful in our age, this is one of the best examples of the "reason for the season." Jesus came and lived among us, full of grace and truth. He died to set us free from the grasp of the "evil one."
Therefore, our resistance to efforts to drag the sins of the world into the Church should be to embrace the transforming power of the Gospel for the personal lives of those held captive by sexual sin. We do believe, with Paul, that rather than becoming conformed to a broken world, we should be transformed by letting Jesus Christ renew our minds (Rom. 12:2).

Our concern about constitutional integrity should bear fruit in ministry to our brothers and sisters. This sin challenges us to believe that the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is sufficient even for this sin.

There are wonderful resources for this aspect of the church's ministry available from OneByOne, a Presbyterian renewal ministry. Click here to find out more about these resources. I encourage you to get help from OneByOne to establish such ministry in your church or presbytery.

The Coalition Board is pleased that OneByOne's executive director, Kristin Johnson, has been elected as one of their fellow directors. We value a close working relationship with this ministry.

A reason for rejoicing
Jesus' work on the cross is spiritual work that transforms the soul. And it is powerful enough to turn lives around.
Let us celebrate the coming of Jesus as one of us with a commitment to see transformation in our church, in our own lives, and in the personal lives of those among us. Let us put our faith to work on a prevailing sin of our time!

Terry Schlossberg
The Presbyterian Coalition

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