Pulpit and Pen and the Death of Rachel Held Evans

Rachel Held Evans died early in the morning, Friday, May 4, 2019, with her family surrounding her bedside. 

Rachel, 37-years old, entered the hospital a few weeks ago with the flu and a urinary tract infection. A mysterious reaction to antibiotics caused seizures that required a medically induced coma to control them.

This week, doctors unsuccessfully tried to bring Rachel out of her coma. She leaves behind a husband, two small children, and many fans from her best-selling books. 

Though I never had the opportunity to meet Rachel, she corresponded with me via email several times.

On one occasion, she requested permission to re-post on her blog an article I wrote about John Calvin and the equality of women. Another time, she told me she got a good laugh over how I pointed out some confusion over the Southern Baptist Convention's official Twitter handle. 

Rachel took a different perspective on some theological, social, and political issues than I, but she is a beloved sister in Christ, a wonderful spokesperson for the Royal Law of Love, and an intelligent and articulate Christian author. 

However, Pulpit and Pen, a small group of men who self-identify as reformed, conservative, and "biblical," took to their blog on the day Rachel Evans died and called Rachel Held Evans "a heretic," an "apostate," and suggested her soul was now damned in hell. 

Be careful Pulpit and Pen, be very careful. 

The Sanhedrin served as the Supreme Court of Israel in the days of the Law. They pronounced judgment on people, including capital punishment by stoning. 

The Sanhedrin met in two places during the days of Jesus. 

First, the Sanhedrin met in a building called The Chamber of Hewn Stone next to Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was here that Jesus was taken from Caiaphas' house early on the morning of His crucifixion. At the Chamber of Hewn Stone, the Sanhedrin condemned the Messiah to death

The Sanhedrin then went with Jesus to Antonio's Fortress to obtain Roman permission to kill Him. 

They needed Pontius Pilate's permission to put Jesus to death because Judah had lost the ability of capital punishment during Jesus' lifetime, fulfilling the prophecy that"the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between His feet until Shiloh come" Genesis 49:10. 

Shiloh, an ancient Hebrew name for the Messiah, had indeed come. 

Second, the Sanhedrin also met at a place "outside the camp" of Jerusalem. On top of the Mount of Olives, in a little community of Jewish priests called Bethphage, the Sanhedrin met in a meeting hall where they would make judgments on the "unclean" who were not able to enter the Temple Mount. At Bethphage, the Sanhedrin met to pronounce judgment and death on all those they deemed unworthy of Yawheh. 

Bethphage means "House of the Unripe Fig." 

During Jesus' last visit to Bethpage, He cursed the unripe fig tree, and it died. It's no accident Jesus cursed the unripe fig tree at Bethphage.

Bethphage, "The House of the Unripe Fig," was where the Sanhedrin met to promote the Law and condemn the unclean. 

When Jesus curses the unripe fig tree at Bethphage, He visually portrays what He thinks of religious people who condemn those they deem unclean and unworthy.

One should pause and seriously consider the consequences before choosing to take a seat among the Sanhedrin in the House of the Unripe Fig.

It's far better to endure the curse of the religious Sanhedrin for violations of Law than to be cursed by the relational Savior for violations of Love. 

Pulpit and Pen, I call on you to remember Bethphage and take down your Rachel Held Evans posts. 

For those who wish to help in the medical and funeral expenses of Rachel Held Evans, a GoFund Me page can be found here.