“You’ve changed!”
Those were the words of a man who once was a supporter of our ministry. But in his mind we had changed and went full-on apostate. He couldn’t identify the doctrine or really even any serious error—it was just different.
I feel that way today in some of the online circles I once traveled. While in one segment of the blogosphere my audience has grown, there is another segment in which I’ve almost totally lost my voice. I just don’t belong anymore. I was shocked the other day when I wanted to message someone I considered an online friend only to find that I’d been unfollowed. I guess in their mind I’ve “changed”.
It’s weird because I don’t believe I’ve changed doctrinally all that much in the past fifteen years. I was going through some old papers the other day and it was eye-opening. I affirmed everything doctrinally that I had written. I hadn’t moved much at all. But the way in which I would communicate those things has changed drastically. Almost so drastic that I’d like to kick my former self in the throat at times.
This is why I’m writing what I’m writing today.
This is not to be seen as a boycott or as some sort of attempt to grasp at power. I’m not trying to influence. I’m not trying to put somebody in their place. I’m just trying to make a wrong, right.
But first a few statements of belief:
- I believe that intersectionality and identity politics/theology are not helpful.
- I remain a complementarian in my theology of gender roles.
- I continue to hold confessionally to Reformed theology much in the same vein as Andrew Fuller or John Newton.
- I believe in regenerate church membership. I’d prefer a plurality of elders.
- I also believe that we are far too sensitive and often driven by emotionalism instead of truth. We are a culture far too easily offended. Truth matters.
Basically, as it regards their doctrinal statement I would fit pretty well within the ministry of Founders. I’ve linked to their stuff. I’ve signed on to some of their documents. I’ve recommended their books. But today I would like to publicly distance myself from Founders Ministries.
I do this not because of doctrinal shift. I do this because I think Reformed evangelicalism deserves better than hit pieces, slander, conspiracy theories, and unfounded accusations. The way in which engagement is happening on issues of social justice is unbecoming of Christ.
How we engage matters.
How the recent video put out by Founders has portrayed Rachael Denhollander is unacceptable. She is a sister in Christ who, like me, could likely sign on to Founders doctrinal statement. And yet she was portrayed as a demonic force threatening Christian orthodoxy. She wasn’t the only one misattributed and misrepresented. This video does not evidence a group that is passionate about the truth. And I thought that was what Founders was about.
So maybe I’ve changed.
Maybe I’m just a big softy now and I’ve turned into one of those liberals that you believe needs to be silenced and feared and driven away. Maybe I’m just a millennial snowflake.
Either way, please consider me as one who is no longer to be associated with Founders Ministries.
I know it’s not a big loss. And y ’all probably didn’t even know I existed. But those who know me might at times associate me as one who is in agreement with Founders. And I just don’t want that association anymore.
This pains me greatly.
