“Say the intolerable thing to a generation whose only value is tolerance”

An interesting quote I think speaks volumes... found embedded in a Timothy Dalrymple post that suggests strongly the admonition may not be heeded by the new Pastor at Harvard Memorial:

[Jonathan] Walton’s sermon was consistent with the general trend of reducing Christianity to a social justice program, and justifying the presence of churches at secular universities by framing them as community organizers.  Yet what was so refreshing about Peter Gomes was that he was willing to be counter-cultural.  Reverend Gomes took his immense learning and his towering standing within the Harvard community and used them to stand against the stream.  My friend Jeff Barneson related this story after Gomes’ death:

On one occasion [Gomes] spoke at one of the regular meetings of the Harvard Graduate School Christian Fellowship—the InterVarsity group I advise. He told the graduate students packed together in Phillips Brooks House that their calling was to “Say the intolerable thing to a generation whose only value is tolerance.” During the discussion following his remarks, I asked what he meant by “the intolerable thing.” “Jeffrey,” he said, “the intolerable thing is that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Reverend Walton will preach hundreds of sermons in his term as the Pusey Minister and Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard.  He is just beginning in his new role, which calls for grace and welcome, not a rush to judgment.  Surely the evangelical community there will seek to build a friendly and productive relationship.  But if he follows in the admirable tradition of his predecessor, Reverend Walton will be willing to press into the tide, to stand for truths immutable in a time of whirling change, and to defend what sounds indefensible to a generation that needs to hear it more than ever.

Walton's start seems to suggest pressing into the tide is not on the man's agenda... but perhaps our assumptions are wrong.

He has big shoes to fill.  Let's hope that given time, he does just that.

It'd be nice to know that there's a defender of Truth at the spiritual helm of one of the most prestigious Universities on the planet.

Comments

[Tim Chesterton]

Peter Gomes will indeed be a big pair of shoes to fill. He was an outstanding preacher of the gospel. I hope your opinion of him will not change, Rick, when you learn that he was also a gay man.

[Rick]

He was gay... and he was celibate...

I think that speaks volumes... and no, it doesn't change my mind about the man...