Re: [HoB/D] A Challenge to the Covenant Process

[Louie Crew <lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu>]

Jesus said that when you face rival claims of Scripture, test each part
against the first and second commandments.   All law and all prophecy hang
on those two.

For example, those proposing an Anglican Covenant purport to promote unity,
but do so  at the expense of homosexual persons and their friends. Scripture
can seem on their side:  Scripture tells us to value unity.    But not above
all else.   First you must love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Yoo-hoo.  Hi there!   Yes, us, your Queer neighbors, and with you joint
heirs of Jesus Christ.

Scripture tempted Jesus to hurl himself from a cliff to reveal his power,
because Scripture promised that he would be rescued by angels.   Given his
own struggle -- unable to be taken seriously by any but Samaritans,
tax-collectors, and drunkards -- he found that prospect very tempting. "That
would show them who I am!,"  Jesus thought, but then he rejected that use of
Scripture as satanic, and trumped it with another, "It is written, do not
put the Lord to the test."   That is, he followed the first commandment: he
loved God with all his mind.

Sola scriptura?  Yes, if you test all scripture against the first and second
commandments.   That requires reason, tradition, and experience.

But love does not come by Scripture, reason, tradition, or experience.    To
be able to love, you must be born again..   You must get a life -- a life of
the spirit.

Louie