Hypothetical Issue in Christianity

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

Essay 2

Submitted to Dr. Mark Allen,

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of

APOL 220 – D01 LUO

by

Joseph Sheck

April 22, 2019

Essay 2

In this paper I would like to demonstrate the “Inside Out” method to two hypothetical issues a friend has about Christianity. The first issue is that Christians seem so intolerant and judgmental. I would firstly agree with my friend on this touchpoint. I would say it also depends on that particular denomination’s worldview. I would need to know however which denomination this friend of mine visited to have such a bad experience. I say to my friend that you cannot lump the entirety of Christianity as being intolerant and judgmental because of the actions of one particular person, or group. I would use the Roman Catholic Church as an example of this. In today’s news, The RCC is all over the place due to the molestation scandals. The church as a whole is lumped into it due to the media coverage. However, just because a number of priests in various parishes across the globe molested people, it isn’t the entire churches fault. I would say to my friend that only a percentage of the world’s molestations are done by clergy. According to to Psychology Today, “4 percent of Catholic priests sexually violated a minor child during the last half of the 20th century with the peak level of abuse being in the 1970s and dropping off dramatically by the early 1980s.”[1] That’s one example I can support for my friend. Also, I would need to know about what it was the particular Christians were intolerant and judgmental about. Sometimes, but not all, Christians have to have some level intolerance because it keeps heresy at bay. There could’ve been a multitude of reasons that warranted the intolerance in the first place. Looking at the situation for what it is, I feel this leads into my friends second issue. Which is that Christians sexual ethic seems to suppress basic human desires and our freedom to live fulfilled lives. I would then as my friend a serious of questions pertaining to that. Are you saying that due to Christianity’s stance on divorce and re-marriage? Homosexuality? What is it about Christianity’s sexual ethic, that has left such a bad taste in my friends mouth? If in relation to divorce and re-marriage I would offer my friend the words Jesus Christ spoke in Mark 10:2-12 “ 2 Some Pharisees came to test  him, asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorced his wife?”3 He replied to them, “What did Moses command you?”4 They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away.”5 But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts.6 But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.7 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother 8 and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”10 When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. 12 Also, if she divorces her husbands and marries another, she commits adultery.”[2] There are a lot of “what if” scenarios as it pertains to why a person gets divorced. The one biblical reason would be on grounds of adultery, and sexual immorality. Jesus states in Matthew 19:9 “ 9 I tell you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”[3]