Homosexuality, Universalism, The Gospel, and the SBC

Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Justin Peters. I hope that you and your family are doing well today. I want to thank you very much for joining me for this podcast and I'm doing this in response to the latest dust up in evangelical circles and it It dusted up this past November 22nd 2021 when dr. James Merritt tweeted this he said I Don't agree with my loved son Jonathan Merritt on everything to be sure.

But I encourage you to listen to his message on mark 13. It is both brilliant and faithful to the gospel and the coming of Jesus. Okay, so for some background information Dr. James Merritt is the pastor of Cross Point Church in Duluth, Georgia.

He is a very well-known name within Southern Baptist circles in fact he served as the president of the SBC from the years between the years 2000 and 2002 and as of just a few weeks ago, he was Announced to be a visiting professor on preaching and Christian leadership at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Located in Wake Forest, North Carolina the president of which is.

Dr. Danny Aiken. Jonathan Merritt is a 39 year old author. He has written a number of books best-selling books learning to speak God from scratch among them. He has written Thousands of articles that have been published in various venues The New York Times USA Today.

He is a contributing author for the Atlantic Magazine. He is a conference speaker speaks at conferences all over the place and he has been interviewed by multiple national media outlets MSNBC Fox News as well so he's quite prolific and in his writing in his media appearances and speaking and all this and Jonathan does claim to be a Christian an evangelical Christian.

In fact, he has a Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary the same seminary, which his father. Dr. James Merritt is now a visiting professor now what has made this such news in the evangelical world is that Jonathan Merritt is also a homosexual.

Jonathan Merritt had a Encounter or whatever you want to call it with another Homosexual man a man named Azariah Southworth now Southworth was actually a host of a Christian television show back in 2006 2007 around in there apparently a pretty popular show at the time, but then then a year or so later He came out of the closet and admitted that he was a homosexual and in 2009 Southworth and Merritt began texting each other and it depends on which account you read of this whether it's Jonathan Merritt's account or Azariah Southworth's account, but as to who was More aggressive and how it started and the How to say this delicately the the extent to which their physical relationship went Jonathan has kind of a softer version of it.

Whereas Azariah's version portrays Jonathan's as the Instigator and the aggressor and went further, but at any rate I thought about putting links to these articles that you can read but They're they're hard to read.

Hard it was hard for me to read but nonetheless what is indisputable is that? Jonathan Merritt is a homosexual now. He didn't come out of the closet officially until this past August the 4th August 4th of 2021 Is when he officially came out of the closet, but it was uh, I mean it was a surprise to no one I mean it like everybody knew that Jonathan Merritt was a homosexual.

So As you might can imagine when a current pastor of a very large Southern Baptist Church former president of the Southern Baptist Convention comes out and commends to everyone publicly. On his social media a sermon preached by his son who is out of the closet a homosexual and he describes this sermon as being Faithful brilliant and faithful to the gospel.

This caused a lot of waves and understandably so so at this point dear friends Let me say that my point in doing this video is not to Not to cause anyone Any pain or discomfort and certainly it is not my desire for the Merritt family at all.

But this is in the public forum Jonathan Merritt has been public about it in James Merritt in putting this tweet out commending his Son's sermon that he says is faithful to the gospel. He publicly put it out and so in you put this out in the public arena.

It is open for public critique I have no doubt. Let me say this too that at least from what is on his church's website according to their doctrinal statement right now and Here are some screenshots from cross points doctrinal statement on their website.

They do say that homosexuality is a sin. He's clear about that even since this. In the last few days since November 22nd, and dr. Merritt put that tweet up. He has said that sodomy is a sin. So he does say that sodomy is a sin.

So I want to be clear about that is he's not saying that it's not a sin. He's saying that it is but therein lies the problem because this is emblematic of a liberal drift in the Southern Baptist Convention that all of the leaders of the SPC Have assured us that is not happening.

No, it's not having there is no liberal drift in the SPC. But something you need to know and I've done a couple of videos on on this on the social justice movement I will put links to that down below in the description.

You can watch these videos but I've done a couple of presentations on social justice and the basically the thesis the theme of these two presentations is that The social justice train is bringing a lot of cars along with it and One of those cars is the homosexual car and once the engine of social justice Gets into a church.

It's bringing those cars along with it and Dr. Merritt has he's kind of got one foot in one foot out might even say more than One and a half or whatever in the social justice movement and his son Jonathan is Fully committed to the social justice movement.

I mean he is fully woke to use that terminology. Now the Southern Baptist denomination has always been very clear that Homosexuality is sinful because that is the plain meaning of Scripture. The Bible teaches this very clearly and despite some efforts in the last 10 years or so from some Matthew Vines and others trying to Explain away the very clear meaning of the text in in multiple multiple verses in the Bible that clearly teach that homosexuality is sinful despite some of these kind of neo-orthodox efforts there's really no amount of hermeneutical gymnastics you can do to get around the very clear simple meaning of the text the Bible absolutely does condemn homosexuality as a sin and states in 1st Corinthians chapter 6 that those who those who are homosexuals those who identify as homosexuals They will not inherit the kingdom of God and there's just no way of getting around this.

So when you have one of the more prominent voices within the SBC Openly Commending to people a sermon that he described as faithful to the gospel preached by a homosexual one whom the Bible describes cannot possibly be Regenerate cannot possibly be a Christian and he commends that then Understandably, so this raises a lot of eyebrows.

And so you had some Theologically conservative pastors within the SBC theologically conservative pastors outside of the SBC to really push back on this and All of the pushback that I have seen has been firm yet Respectful has not been mean-spirited.

Now I'm not saying maybe some mean-spirit comments have not been or not out there somewhere. But from what I've seen from prominent voices within The SBC the pushback has been respectful yet firm in and rightly so and In response to the criticism that he was getting the next day November 23rd.

Dr. James Merritt put this up. He says regardless of who preaches Jesus or speaks truth I rejoice when they do because I love Jesus and truth I can approve a message. Even when I have disagreements with the messenger I agree with Paul love rejoices with the truth and that is the truth.

So dr. Merritt says he can approve a message even when he has disagreements with the messenger well Talk about an oversimplification. I can approve a and I do approve of Thousands of sermons that have been preached by men with whom I have small differences small theological differences.

I Have a different eschatology and a different view of baptism than does r .c. Sproul. But I still regard dr. R .c. Sproul the late. Dr. R .c. Sproul as One of the most faithful proclaimers of the gospel in the modern era.

But that so it's not about having 100 agreement on every little thing with anyone. But the what we're talking about here difference. These are not minor theological differences according to scripture.

Jonathan Merritt is not a Christian. Of course, he proclaims to be a Christian but as a homosexual. He is not a Christian. The Bible is very clear about that and there's a Twitter account that responded to this and said sodomy is now merely a Disagreement because that's that was his wording and dr. James Merritt responded to this.

He said sodomy is a sin. I disagree with anyone who says it's not but notice the Softening here notice the compromise. He says that not all gays are practicing. So the insinuation is is that you can be Homosexual you can be a gay Christian as long as you don't act on it.

It's only when you act on it that that becomes a problem but dear friends that is a That is a softening of biblical truth. And any softening of biblical truth, let's call it what it is. It is error and it is sinful 1st Corinthians 6 9 through 11 when you read that text.

When when Paul says for such were some of you he has this list of sins. Do not be deceived in this long list of sins neither Fornicators nor idolaters nor feminine or homosexual nor covetous reviler swindlers, and I'm doing this off at the top of my head.

Will not inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you that language there such were some of you that is strong language. And I'll also put a link to an article that will more fully flesh that out down below in the description.

But that is a clean break. If you are a Christian. That that is a clean break from your Previous identity if you are a Christian your identity is in Christ. Okay, there is no such thing as a gay Christian any more than there is such thing as a Thieving Christian or a child molesting Christian or a murdering Christian when you become a Christian you're Dear the identity that you had before Christ BC.

That's been broken. That's been done away with you are a now a new creature in Christ. So there are no adjectives when it comes to being a Christian you're either You you are either a Christian or you're not a Christian.

But there's no such thing as a gay Christian any more than there is a murdering Christian or anything like that. So this is a softening of sin that is that is part and parcel of the social justice movement.

Another lady came to dr. Merritt's defense. This is from Dana Hall McCain and she says I'm so grateful for the example of dr James Merritt and his precious wife Teresa. They are people who love the Lord and his gospel and love their family with godly faithfulness and wisdom.

Privileged to know them and notice that this was liked by Beth Moore and Ed Litton. Ed Litton is the current president of the Southern Baptist Convention who is a Serial plagiarist and liar. I've dealt with that in some previous videos and I'm gonna have another video coming up on it.

But notice Beth Moore not only liked it. She even responded. She says feel the feel the same exact way Dana. Well, he says she says that dr. Merritt loves his family with godly faithfulness and wisdom.

I Have no doubt that dr. Merritt loves his son. And this is where I want to. I want to be careful because I Know that it must grieve. Dr. Merritt that his son is a homosexual. But dear friends the reality of it is this.

Oftentimes we can see things we can see sin issues in the lives of other people outside of our family. Very clearly and if it were someone outside of our family, there would be no question. There would be no Hesitation there would be no confusion about it.

We would see see them very clearly black and white as the Bible intends. But when you bring that same sin issue inside the household inside the family and it affects one of our family members our son our daughter our mother our father our brother or sister or aunt or uncle or Grandmother grandfather, whatever when it comes and it hits inside our own home.

Then all of a sudden we lose Objectivity and we begin to make excuses. We begin to try to Create an out In our own minds. Well, it's it's. But he's not practicing but you know, we begin to make excuses.

We would see it very clearly in someone else, but not when it comes to members of our own family this is really a test of How faithful to Scripture we truly are and I know I know I know that James and his wife Teresa Love their sons and they love Jonathan.

I know that but Biblical love sometimes it's tough love right and the most loving thing to do to truly show Godly wisdom and godly love here is to tell Jonathan the truth James should tell his son son.

You're homosexual. You cannot be a Christian. You you Scripture is very clear about this and it is oftentimes that tough love when we tell our family members The truth hard though it may be it is it is that hard truth.

Oftentimes that God will use to bring them to a place of repentance the worst thing in the world to do is To affirm someone affirm a family member when we when we see that they are in habitual Unrepentant sin and yet claim to be a Christian the worst thing we can do is to affirm that person.

And you know, oh, we're you know, we we have some disagreements. We have some disagreements, but we're still you know, we're still all Christians. That's the worst thing that you could do. In fact in 1st Corinthians chapter 5 verse 11, the Apostle Paul says that if there's any so-called brother Who is in a state of habitual unrepentant sin?

Paul says do not even eat with such a one and there are no exception clauses to that verse. Unless they're a member of your family. These are hard truths. But they are truths and it is these hard truths from the Bible that serve as tests of our faith.

How much do we really love God. How much do we really believe his word? How willing are we to really stand on the truth of God's Word? Even when it costs us and it cost us dearly. Especially with members of our own family the kind of love that James is showing for his son Jonathan right now is.

Is not biblical love it is misplaced love the loving thing to do. Would be for James to tell his son that he must repent. That you think you're a Christian. But you're not Repent there is freedom to be found in Christ.

If you will truly repent of your sin and place your trust in Christ. You will pass from death to life. In fact, the text I've already mentioned 1st Corinthians 6 9 through 11 notice that Paul says for such were some of you.

Paul says you were those things but you're not anymore. You were a liar. You were a drunkard. You were a fornicator you were an idolater. You were a reviler. But you're not anymore you were a homosexual.

But you're not anymore for such were some of you and Jonathan if by some chance you're watching this video. I Do not hate you at all. I have compassion for you and Jonathan if you will truly Repent of your sin and trust Christ in his atoning work on the cross.

If you'd come to him and a true godly sorrow over your sin you can join that group of 1st Corinthians 6 9 through 11 you can join the group of the Such were some of you you can join that group. There is freedom even.

The sin doesn't matter dear friends whether it's lying where there's thieving thieving whether it's theft whether it's You know fornication sexual idolatry of any kind in homosexuality. You can be saved you can have freedom in Christ now.

I want to move to the other issue with this tweet Homosexuality and all of that and the softening and the compromise on that that is problematic enough in and of itself that is worrisome enough and that is hugely concerning it is a shame on the SPC and all those who Who came to dr. Merritt's defense, but here's the other issue is Dr. Merritt said that the sermon preached by Jonathan Was brilliant and faithful to the gospel.

Okay. Faithful to the gospel. Well, I want to show you some clips from that sermon because I've watched it. In fact, I've watched it three times now. So I have a few short clips here and in full disclosure lest anyone think I am taking anything out of context I will put the link to the entire Sermon, not only the entire sermon, but the entire service Down below in the description.

You can watch the whole thing for yourself and you'll see that I'm not being unfair I'm not taking anything out of context not twisting his words, but I want to show you I'll show you some clips from this service at Good Shepherd Church, New York City.

This is Jonathan Merritt's Church Good Shepherd Church, New York City. Here's how the service began.

All are welcome at the table of God every man woman and child.

For Christ brings peace to all now. You might have recognized that first lady. That is Savannah Guthrie. She is Hostess on the Today Show on NBC. So if she looked familiar to you, that's why. But notice this intro here notice how Universalistic it sounds.

Well, that's because it is. This is a universalist church.

So watch some more show no partiality and make no distinction. So neither race nor class gender nor sexuality.

Politics no religion. So all are welcome in the family of God. All are welcome at God's table. Doesn't even matter what sexuality you are. So this is a homosexual affirming church. Okay, never mind Romans chapter 1 what Romans 1 says about homosexual homosexuality.

Never mind What first Corinthians 6 says. Never mind? What first Timothy chapter 1 verse 10 says. No we affirm everyone of all sexual Orientations, so it's a it's a homosexual affirming church. Notice that that lady said also she said no matter religion.

Gender nor sexuality.

Politics no religion.

Okay. Religion so all are welcome at God's table no matter your religion. So Muslims Buddhists Hindus. No matter your religion all are welcome at God's table. All are welcome in the family of God. This is universalism.

Okay, this is universalism and I went to the church's website and unless they have it tucked away somewhere that I cannot find. Dear Friends, I honestly I could not even find a doctrinal statement on the website.

I Couldn't even find a doctrinal statement. So this is a universalistic Church. This is well outside well outside of the pale of Orthodox Christianity and Jonathan Merritt is not just a visiting preacher.

He wasn't a guest preacher on this particular Sunday. No Jonathan Merritt is an elder at this church. Watch this.

Good morning, Good Shepherd. Welcome to digital church. My name is Michael Rizzina, and I'm one of the pastors here today. I have the honor of sharing with you a little bit of an introduction to our guest preacher for the morning Jonathan Merritt.

Jonathan is a dear friend of mine. He is on our elder board here at Good Shepherd, and he has preached many times.

Okay, so not only is this Jonathan Merritt's home church. He is an elder quote-unquote at this quote-unquote church. Does James Merritt not know this? Of course, he does. You think James Merritt doesn't know what kind of church his son attends and is an elder of?

Of course he does. It's his son so here you have a current SBC pastor Professor at a Southern Baptist seminary former president of the SBC affirming his son's church that is Universalistic doesn't even have a doctrinal statement.

Oh, but let's affirm this and let's put it out for everyone commend it. To everyone. Folks. This is bad. I'm telling this is bad in The blowback that dr. Merritt received is well-deserved. This you have crossed a rubric here.

But I want to show you some clips from Jonathan sermon that he preached out of mark 13.

But unfortunately for the disciples Jesus was not always so tactful. In fact, Jesus could be kind of a buzzkill sometimes.

Now the context of this is mark 13 and Jesus and the disciples Were leaving the temple and the disciples said teacher behold what stones and what beautiful buildings? They were marking remarking about what a beautiful structure the temple was and Jesus says Said to them.

Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down and so that is why Jonathan says that Jesus was a buzzkill. The disciples thought the temple was beautiful and amazing and he said oh, yeah.

Not one stone will be left upon another it would be torn down. So Jesus was a buzzkill.

The next day Jesus wakes everybody up so early to head back to the city and he's in such a hurry that they all skip breakfast and Jesus he's so hungry that he grows grumpy which happens to the best of us.

Okay difference. Jonathan here said that Jesus was grumpy now. Let's carry this out to its logical conclusion. If you're grumpy then that means you're discontent. Okay, and discontentment is a sin. Complaining is a sin.

Philippians chapter 2 do everything without Grumbling or complaining. So without saying it in so many words Jonathan is here accusing Jesus of being in sin. If that's true, you've completely gutted the gospel and this is a sermon that is faithful to the gospel.

But on the walk he comes upon a fig tree that doesn't have any figs to satisfy his hunger. So Jesus curses it and then wouldn't you believe it. The thing withers and it dies. He did this even though the text says it wasn't fig season.

Anyway, talk about an overreaction.

Friends this is bad. Jonathan said that when Jesus cursed the fig tree that it was an overreaction. Again, this is an accusation of sin. If Jesus Overreacted then that means he acted improperly. That is sin.

Jonathan completely misses the point of the text. Jesus was using the fig tree as an object lesson for the for the faithlessness of Israel and won't get into all those details. But the point of the matter is is that when Jonathan says that Jesus overreacted that is a direct a front to his deity.

God does not overreact. Okay, that is that is an egg. That is an accusation against Jesus of being sinful. You've completed completely gutted the gospel and yet James Merritt current SBC pastor and SBC seminary professor says that this message is faithful to the gospel.

Unbelievable. Not one stone here will be left on another. Everyone will be thrown down talk about a buzzkill. He just extinguishes the disciples wonder right there where he stood. But buzzkill or not Jesus is reminding them and us of a god-honest truth that we need to hear whether we like it or not.

Nothing lasts forever. Everything constructed by human hands is temporary. The houses in which we live The offices in which we work even the sacred places in which we worship. They're all fleeting no matter how much you love them.

And so now we begin to see the point that Jonathan's sermon is kind of going towards. When Jesus Said of the temple that not one stone will be left upon another the real meaning here is not is not coming judgment.

No, the real meaning here is that.

Nothing lasts forever. So we have to learn to love the worlds in which we live and when the time comes to let them go.

So love the things in your world love your home and your possessions and your family and all these things. Love them appreciate them. But when the time comes Let them go. That's the meaning of Jesus proclamation of coming judgment.

Unbelievable.

One way that Christians can follow Jesus's advice to keep watch is to wait for the literal second coming of Jesus When all things will be made right at the end of time. Now before you dismiss this as silly or superstitious Let me remind you that there's a long history of Christians doing exactly this kind of watching and not just in times junkies.

This view has long sustained Christians who've been stuck living on the bottom rungs of the ladder yearning with froth and fever for a final end to all of the Injustice and oppression that keeps pushing them down down down.

And you see there that that is that's his social justice theology coming out. He he reads in a church like this a universalistic social justice kind of church. They read social justice into the text when it simply is not there.

We can simply open our lives to the truth. That just as the world is always ending Christ is always coming again. The ground beneath our feet is ever quaking and I'm sorry to tell you that's not going to change.

The world is always ending but Christ is always coming and you'll miss the second part if you become too focused on the first and.

Difference that what you just heard that is really the entire theme of this sermon. The world is always ending but Christ is always coming. I Don't even know what that means. I Mean the world is always ending but Christ is always coming.

Christ is not always coming see for for Jonathan in a church like this. The gospel is just about the here and now, you know, it's just about you know. Yes, this life is temporary and nothing lasts forever.

But but Christ is always coming the world is ending but Christ is always coming. So it's just this. This temporal Jesus is just here to kind of help you have a better life not health and wealth. It's not that this church is not that kind of a church, but But just you know to bring about renewal and justice Here for this life and Christ is always present.

He's always coming. Well, I mean Christ Christ is always Present but to say he's always coming. That's not. That's just not true that doesn't. I don't even know what that means it doesn't even make any sense Christ will come he will return on a day.

Not that he's always coming like constantly always even as I'm talking right now. He's always coming somehow in this kind of temporal Beautification of things or something like that. No, let's look at Acts chapter 17 verse 31 Because he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness through a man Jesus Whom he determined having furnished proof to all by raising him from the dead.

There is a day fixed in which Jesus will come not that he's always coming that he will come. And he will bring judgment with him this is a this is a Complete and gross Misinterpretation of the text. I mean you have to you have to work hard to come up with that kind of interpretation.

But that's what happens. I mean, that's what happens when you've got your your social justice lenses on that's how you read the Bible and That James Merritt could say that this sermon was a faithful Representation of it was faithful to the gospel that is unbelievable to me.

Watch this. You see for God the whole universe is a cosmic delivery room over which the Creator is always whispering push push.

Push, I don't even I'm not even gonna hazard a guess as to what that means. That's just weird weird. Now let's get to the coup de gram this last clip this is Jonathan Merritt's understanding of what the gospel is.

He's about to present the gospel. Here it is.

So if you're facing the end of your relationship or the end of your career or the end of your youth or The end of your dream or the end of a life of someone you loved with your whole heart Then I hope you'll mourn with all you've got.

But I also hope that you will receive the good news of today's gospel That God whose name is love is waiting for you everywhere Even in the places you'd rather not go That the Holy Spirit is hovering over the chaotic deep of your crumbling world calling forth new life and That Jesus is always coming Again, and again and again even in this terrible wonderful time.

So stay alert and keep watch. Because you might just find yourself even with a broken heart Staring out a window with wonder in your eyes Witnessing not just the marvels of human innovation But the Living God coming in the clouds of your ordinary life.

Amen, that's it. That's the gospel that he presented. That is the gospel according to Jonathan Merritt that God is God whose name is love is waiting for you everywhere the Holy Spirit is hovering and Jesus is coming again and again and again and Then he says Jesus is coming in the clouds of your ordinary life.

Now that phrase Jesus is coming in the clouds that might ring a bell. That's from Revelation chapter 1 verse 7, which says this actually behold He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him.

Even those who pierced him and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Yes. Amen. That's a real literal second coming. Not according to Jonathan Merritt, you see Jonathan Merritt just spiritualizes everything.

Jesus is coming and coming in the clouds of your ordinary life friends that That's this is not the gospel. There was not a shred of Gospel in this entire sermon and I'll yeah, the link is down there watch the whole thing if you don't believe me.

Not one hint of the gospel was in there. The word sin was not in the entire service. The only time you've heard the word sin in this video is if it's come from me, which it has. But it was not presented in Jonathan sermon not even in the entire service in James Merritt a professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Says that this was faithful to the gospel. What in the blue-eyed world and there is good reason that so many conservative pastors have Have pushed back on this my goodness shame on them if they had not done so.

Friends this is a line has been crossed here a line has been crossed and again, I wish no ill at all on on the Merritt family and I two things I want James Merritt needs to show his son. True love true biblical love by telling him the hard truths.

That he's not a Christian as a homosexual. He's not a Christian. I want that for Jonathan Merritt. I want that in fact, I have prayed for Jonathan Merritt. I have and I will continue to do that. I Want him to know the true bodily risen Lord Jesus Christ who will come back on a day With the clouds and he will come in judgment and unless Jonathan repents truly repents that will not be a good day for him.

This capitulation on homosexuality the social justice train. Remember a couple years ago critical race theory. It was good. It was adopted to be a useful analytical tool by the SPC. This is what you get folks.

All these cars egalitarian car. Homosexual car all these cars come along with it. SPC is in trouble. SPC is in real trouble in the fact that. Some prominent voices in the SPC have come and rushed to James Merritt's defense.

Danny Aiken the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ed Litton the president of the Southern Baptist Convention there was a serial plagiarist and liar. They've rushed to his defense.

Big problems in SPC big problems in SPC and for James Merritt to say that this was faithful to the gospel and He's a preaching professor. Wow. All right, dear ones. Hope that this has been. I don't know that I can say it's been encouraging.

But Paul says in Titus in Titus chapter 1 verse 9, he says teach sound doctrine and Refute those who contradict. It's not an either-or it's a both-and we are to be teaching sound doctrine in refuting those who contradicted.

All right till our next time together. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the fellowship of his Holy Spirit. Be with you all.