by Lisa Nolland, Christian Today
Justin Welby, former Archbishop of Canterbury, has become something of a cheerleader for ‘faithful and committed’ same-sex relationships, according to his recent speech to the Cambridge Union.
This follows Justin’s astonishing admission on the influential ‘The Rest is Politics’ podcast last year that he believed ‘commitment’ demonstrated by entering a civil partnership or being married was what mattered in relationships – gay or straight.
That increasing numbers of evangelicals now agree with Justin is of deep concern.
In plain sight
Various factors have contributed to this sexual, moral and theological revolution occurring in plain sight and observable by any who will attend. Depending on location and network, I have observed the following:
1. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
This is very common now in evangelical circles and is often in conjunction with a tacit or overt refusal by orthodox leaders to engage with the powerful but specious claims made by those like Justin who now challenge orthodoxy.
For some it is a case of: Genesis, Jesus and Romans is enough, end of story, move on!
I and many others agree that it is enough but some people need a little more unpacking on this. What about them?
2. Conflict avoidance
There is the pervasive ‘conflict averse’ nature of much British social, religious and cultural engagement – think ‘ostrich’ – in tandem with an overwhelming fear of being regarded by peers as ‘extreme’ or over the top.
Exhibiting such apparently unfortunate attributes would place one beyond the pale of the controlled, respectable, middle- to upper-middle class and mostly male, evangelical mainstream ‘herd’ of leaders and influencers: a form of reputational death. (In their defence, these men are aware and horrified by revisionism, but that is another topic.)