The "but" is the problem. It's just not the case that theology is hard-nosed theory, while concrete circumstances demand gentle pastoral implementation. On such a view, the pastoral tail invariably ends up wagging the theological dog, and the theology gets adjusted to the pastoral setting. The outcome, in terms of sexual morality, is invariably the same.

This, it seems to me, is what's happening in the "gay Anglican" debacle.

But here's something that's also very interesting, even though Democrats in the house have a smaller majority, the fact is that that party is now so scared of it's left wing. It's almost impossible to believe that the Equality Act won't pass one way or the other, even if there's not a single Republican vote. But in the Senate, the picture is different because the Senate will require a super majority. It will require at least 60 votes.

The controversy emerged because Max Lucado was in a series of preachers preaching virtual sermons for the nation's national cathedral over the course of the last several weeks. He preached one message, and that message became the object of intense controversy, so much so that the Bishop of the Diocese of Washington and the Dean of the Cathedral, basically had to fall on their swords and apologize for being so insensitive as to ever invite someone as an evangelical like Max Lucado.

Peter the Poor Loser

The apostle Peter's reaction to the "losing moment" of Christ's arrest is a living parable of two ways we can respond poorly to such losses. Despite Christ's reminder earlier that evening, of the trouble his followers will have in this world (John 16:33), Peter is unprepared for what occurs.

Christianity has always been a religion for (short-term) losers.