Penna Dexter

It’s been over two years since the Supreme Court handed down its decision, in Obergefell vs Hodges, in which it found a sweeping “right” to same-sex marriage nationwide. Right away, my pastor preached a clear and concise sermon about what to do if you’re invited to a same sex “wedding.” He had already prepared the church to remain true to the biblical definition of marriage: the union between one man and one woman. But this shepherd, like many pastors across the nation, acted responsibly to his flock to help us deal with the practical realities this momentous cultural shift would bring. Now, I’m incredulous that bestselling Christian author Eugene Peterson, known for “The Message,” a popular paraphrased version of the Bible, seems not to have thought through how he would publicly address this subject. A couple of weeks ago, two years into the Obergefell regime, Reverend Peterson was asked in an interview about his view on the morality of same-sex marriages. After winding around the issue a bit, he stated, “it’s not a right or wrong thing as far as I’m concerned.” When asked if he’d perform a same sex ceremony, he said simply, “Yes.” The evangelical world reacted swiftly and with disappointment. Shelf space for Reverend Peterson’s books seemed at risk. A few days later, he issued a retraction, stating, “I affirm a biblical view of everything.” Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Seminary and an astute commentator on culture, wrote that there are lessons to learn from what he termed “The Agonizing Ordeal of Eugene Peterson.” “First,” writes Dr. Mohler regarding same-sex marriage, “there is nowhere to hide. Every pastor, every Christian leader, every author — even every believer — will have to answer the question.” “Second,” he says, “you had better have your answer ready.” And — “Third, if you will stand for the Bible’s clear teachings on sexuality and gender, you had better be ready to answer the same way over and over and over again.” That’s how to stand on the authority of God’s Word.