Ed Stetzer reported on some research by the Pew Forum related to chuches and the acceptance of homosexuality.
Below is a chart of their findings within Mainline Protestant churches.
Now, this is sad but not altogether surprising. However, I have read on more than a few Southern Baptist blog comment threads how we should be accepting of homosexuality and should not lovingly call folks to repent of that sin. In fact, the SBC has yet to disfellowship a church in Texas with openly unrepentant homosexual members. That issue has been tabled until the SBC meeting this summer in Louisville.
We should have two responses to this research, I think:
1) We must be active in sharing our faith with a lost and dying world at every opportunity calling all men and women to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
2) We must be vigilant to not allow liberals (who now call themselves "Mainstream") to gain control of our denomination so they can shift it leftward a la the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Mainline Protestants.
14 comments:
Oh, shock!
Gay people who love each other don't want to "repent" of their love!
Bigot.
Anon
If you happen to own a Bible, please read Romans 1. That chapter, alnog with a host of other chapters, makes it quite plain that sexual relations between members of the same sex is always sinful all the time without any exception whatsoever.
Thanks for your comment. Have a nice day.
Romans 1 = of no concern to me.
And yes, Joe B, I can quote Romans 1 by heart, from "The wrath of god is being revealed..." all the way through "... approve of those who practice them." Raised by Fundamentalists here, and stuffed full to bursting with Jesus-nonsense all my life. Left it ALL behind. Best thing I ever did.
Furthermore: Romans condemns QUITE A LOT, including (from memory here): gossip, slander, god-hating, insolence, arrogance, boastfulness, disobedience of parents, senselessness, faithlessness, heartlessness, ruthlessness, etc.
Where, Joe B, is your campaign to drum gossips out of the church? Or perhaps those who boast? Or those that are arrogant? I have no doubt that you yourself fall into more than one of these categories.
Of course, I do not expect Fundamentalists to be consistent. They pick and choose which parts of the Bible are binding and which are not. Levitical codes about homosexuality: GOD'S LAW! Levitical codes about shellfish and fabric: Eh, who cares.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, building morality out of a cobbled together "book" that even the third century bishops couldn't agree what should be in it, is kind of a weak way to try to figure out how to live.
Bigot.
I don't care how you paint a same-sex relationship, it's still WRONG. God's word says that, plainly. If you can't read that in the Word, then you can't read anything. It always comes up well it also says gossip, are you going to kick folks out for that? IF I AM DOING ANYTHING UNGODLY, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME!! Please be kind enough, enough of a brother or sister (if you are in Christ) to tell me. That has been hashed, rehashed, and downright mutilated on this blog. If a Christian is a Christian, he/she will appreciate being told about behavior outside the Will of God!
Romans 1 = of no concern to me.
And that, Mr. Andrew, is a you problem, not a me problem.
Furthermore: Romans condemns QUITE A LOT, including [SNIP]
Where, Joe B, is your campaign to drum gossips out of the church? Or perhaps those who boast? Or those that are arrogant? I have no doubt that you yourself fall into more than one of these categories.
Anyone who lives in unrepentant sin should be called to repentance. If they don’t repent, they are proving they are not saved in the first place. It’s called church discipline. Matthew 18. Look it up.
Of course, I do not expect [SNIP] Levitical codes about homosexuality: GOD'S LAW! Levitical codes about shellfish and fabric: Eh, who cares.
Tell you what, Drew. I’m going to give you a hint. Two different Hebrew words were used for abomination in the Old Testament. See which one applied to homosexuality and which one applied to eating shrimp. Also, look to see the difference between the two punishments. Check out Acts chapter 10:9-16 and see what it says about the Old Testament dietary laws after Christ’s resurrection.
Ultimately, at the end of the day, building morality out of a cobbled together "book" that even the third century bishops couldn't agree what should be in it, is kind of a weak way to try to figure out how to live.
Sigh. The Old Testament canon was standardized well before Jesus was born. Very few of the New Testament books were every questioned. I mean, we’re talking like 2 Peter, Jude, etc. The non-canonical books, on the other hand, had virtually no acceptance compared to even the disputed books.
Bigot.
I’m rubber, you’re glue….
Trish
I wouldn’t worry too much about ol’ Drew. God is sovereign and can move in the hearts of men even today. Only God can grant repentance and faith. If it was not for His mercy, we’d be blind and lost.
Andrew
I'm going to type this really slowly so that maybe you're able to understand it. You will adress ONLY me in any comments. You will NOT adress another commenter on this blog.
Post a Comment