No pastor has ever been accused of hording smut because he owned a dictionary. Peter’s blog entries do not remotely justify the accusations made against him.
But there is no reason for me to belabor the point since every mature reader or every reader who is not desperately looking for a stone to throw has any doubt about this.
Peter, for the record, is one of the gentlest people I know, and his children are exemplary. The implications being made about his piety and his children on the basis of less than 1/500th of his blog are inexcusable. Any one who knows him knows his speech is God-honoring. For example, I’ve never known him to go all psychotic about people he disagrees with and make up asinine excuses to slur their character. And, on a much less important issue, I’ve never heard him swear in anger (or at any other time).
Peter is an amazing author, writing in a host of different genres from children’s stories, literary guides, theological works, and Biblical surveys and commentaries. He is a national treasure and his presence enriches the Protestant and especially (though not exclusively) the presbyterian world. My wife and I used to actually contract with him for freelance work for Coral Ridge Ministries when we worked there as editorial associates. We can attest he is also very much a professional.
I wholeheartedly agree, Mark. My numerous personal interactions with Peter over the years have been nothing but greatly edifying. He is a man of God in every sense of the term.
The internet is a weird place with all it’s information. especially blogging. Everyone’s communicating through their fingers and it’s so easy to get misquoted or misquote someone else.
I can’t wait to read Lienhart’s book “Against Christianity” I’m borrowing it from one of my friends.
To be honest I think that openly bringing shame to Rev. Leithart the way some other ministers have (about this specific issue) very much *should* be confronted as the sinful slander it is. If those who have committed it refuse to repent, they should be officially and judicially charged in the church courts of the PCA/OPC/etc. It is absolutely absurd that this has happened. If the people who have slandered Leithart read his response and are not brought to repentance then there is a serious, serious problem with their ability to function as shepherds in Christ’s Church. I can understand that people may have jumped on the bandwagon in condemning Leithart, not understanding what he had actually said, but once it is clear (which his post in response to the charges shows it is) then there is no longer any excuse.
If you think Rev. Leithart holds wrong theological views that is one thing, but to drag his name through the mud on this issue of vulgarity is uncalled for and unacceptable.
I’m beginning to wonder if the Non-FV are more in love with the creeds or confessions instead of Christ. I’m not even fv, but with all of the misquotes and reactions especially in the blog-world. It’s just making me wonder.
Mark,
In my preparation for catechism class this evening, I was struck by the fact that I should not have spoken in haste, nor was it right of me to impugn Dr. Leithart’s character.
I do think it exceedingly unwise, from a pastoral standpoint, to explore such subjects in a public forum as Dr. Leithart has done.
I do want to set the record straight on one thing immediately. Never did I intend to impugn Dr. Leithart’s moral rectitude as a father. That was never my intention, and when I realized, finally, today, that this is how my words were being construed, I felt compelled to respond. That never even crossed my mind.
My intention, rather, was in the realm of ideas: I didn’t think it wise (nor do I still) to send covenant children to sit under such teaching. The comment, then, was not about personal morality at all, but only the presentation of ideas in a classroom to believing children.
I will post this over to Warfield, as well.