A Moment With Pastor Fred

8/8/19

The evangelical world has been rocked as of late with the news involving former pastor and popular author, Josh Harris. Harris announced late July that he and his wife of 19 years have separated and later announced they are divorcing. No reasons were given. Then another bombshell – Harris declared he no longer considered himself a Christian. He apologized for his writings on courtship, dating, purity – and to the LGBT community for what he had taught on that issue prior. He described his new standing as a “deconversion.” This past week Harris posted a picture of him eating a rainbow donut at a gay pride parade.

I personally have been blessed by Harris’ writings. I’m not just deeply saddened hearing this news but perplexed and troubled. How can one who pastored a church for 15+ years along with being a leader in Christian circles leave the faith? I am convinced Scripture teaches salvation is for keeps. And yet the Bible says, They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us, 1 Jn 2:19. One of the assurances of salvation is where one is currently spiritually. Heb 3:6, And we are his [Christ’s] house if indeed we hold fast our confidence.    

May we pray for Josh Harris that he would return to the gospel he once proclaimed. May this be a short lapse of faith rather than a final abandonment. Let us pray for each other – for gospel-churches that we that we may keep ourselves in the love of God and in he who keeps us from stumbling