I vowed not to write about the Scott Rennie case and yesterday before I realised it I had. Several things irritate me about this. One is the press handling and reporting which I mentioned in yesterdays post. My main gripe is why is it Evangelicals only ever get steamed up about homosexuality? Why isn’t groups within the church of Scotland such as forward together and confessing kirk not speaking out with the same vigour about poverty in both our own nation and the world. Why aren’t these groups organising petitions about the thousands of children who die around the world every day from hunger or preventable diseases?
I contacted via his blog Louis Kinsey a well know evangelical minister in Scotland about this. Whilst defending his stance on homosexuality, he agreed there might be a danger that evangelicals are increasing becoming to be seen as one trick ponies. I am appreciative of the time he has taken to enter into dialogue with me and his careful response.
In America writers such as Jim Wallis and Tony Campolohave resisted the urge to identify themselves with the single issue strand of conservatism in American Church life. Of course it is also tied up with right wing republican politics, something that is not so apparent here. In response to this they have created a movement of Red letter Christians. It’s a fairly cheesy title, but apt. Focusing on the actual words and teaching of Jesus often highlighted in red letters in bibles. I believe there is a similar need for such a movement in Scotland. The inward navel gazing over one issue has done nothing to enhance the church of Scotland or to edify its members.
