Former SBC President J.D. Greear now regrets claim that God whispers about sexual sins
In an Ask Me Anything podcast, former SBC President J.D. Greear said he regretted his claim that God whispers about sexual sins like homosexuality. Greear made the claim during a sermon on Romans 1
“Would I still say that God whispers about homosexuality today? The short answer is No,” the former President of the Southern Baptist Convention said.
Greear explained that in his January 2019 sermon Romans 1:24-32 called “How the Fall Affects Us All,” that he was making a “comparison by analogy. Greear said he stands by his point that Jesus was most critical of religious hypocrites; however, he knows as a “communicator” that he has the responsibility to speak clearly.
Greear said that clips of the sermon were going viral in the past few years and “lifted a little bit out of context.”
“I regret the word choice,” Greear said. “It was a rather clumsy way to make the point.”
Greear said he was not trying to minimize the Bible’s clear teachings on sexual morality.
“At no point was I trying to imply that sexual ethics are muted in Scripture or that Scripture is unclear about them, or that they’re less important than other sins and that we should not speak clearly and boldly about them or be embarrassed by them,” Greear said.
This is a positive step in clarifying the controversial comment. However, some conservatives pointed out this is how Evangelical Elites often behave—they say one thing and years later change their tune. (For example, we recently showed how Al Mohler flip-flopped on sexual identity and Mohler is also now a Christian Nationalist after attacking nationalism.)
Nate Schlomann said, “Big Eva is a rigged game. They can be wrong about serious matters and then are celebrated for apologizing. We can be right for years and get no credit for it. But for pointing out the error at the time it happened? We get credit for being divisive and quarrelsome. It’s rigged.”
Greear talks about use of preferred pronouns
The conversation opens with use of pronouns in today’s culture.
“The conversation in our culture has shifted—it has evolved,” Greear said. “This is a rapidly changing and shifting.” Greear said. In fact, Greear said he has “matured” theologically on the issue.”
Greear advises the Christian should not use someone’s “preferred pronouns” because the Christian must speak truth and to use pronouns incorrectly based on biological sex would be untruthful. This is the calling of Christians to “stand before” rulers or culture and make it clear what the Bible says.
“I did make this point on our previous episode, talking about the necessity of being crystal clear on truth, but I think I should have been more clear and I want to do that now: there can be no ambiguity in our testimony to the world,” Greear said.
Greear explained the Christian must balance “clarity” to the truth and respect for the person. Greear said that this is a battle Christians must fight today over gender but that not every sentence requires that fight—as long as the Christian makes clear what the Bible says.
“I can show respect to them without affirming something that is false,” Greear said.
As to whether a Christian should put pronouns in a bio or email signature, Greear said this can be a difficult choice.
“On the one hand, saying that my pronouns are he/him is a true statement. I’m not telling or affirming a lie,” Greear said. “But, what obviously is being done here is an attempt to normalize the idea that pronouns are a choice.”
Greear said he would resist giving it so as not to normalize it.
And what if it becomes required for a job or on government documents?
Greear said, “If a job requires this, or the government requires it one day on our ID, should we refuse that even if it means losing our job or going to jail? I’m not sure I’d want to give one answer that would just be applicable at all times and all places.”
Greear said this would require discernment.