Posted on 03/15/2015 6:03:02 PM PDT by massmike
The Elder Board of San Francisco's largest evangelical church, City Church, has announced that the megachurch will end its practice of preventing LGBT people from becoming members if they are unwilling or unable to practice lifelong celibacy.
"Our pastoral practice of demanding life-long 'celibacy,' by which we meant that for the rest of your life you would not engage your sexual orientation in any way, was causing obvious harm and has not led to human flourishing," Sr. Pastor Fred Harrell writes in a letter "on behalf of the Board and for the Gospel."
The pastor cites social science research, saying it points to "skyrocketing rates of depression, suicide and addiction" among the LGBT people. "The generally unintended consequence has been to leave many people feeling deeply damaged, distorted, unlovable, unacceptable, and perverted," he says.
"We believe the thrust and focus of the gospel is the breaking down of former boundaries of exclusion and the expanding of the welcome of Jesus to all," he goes on to say.
"If Jesus were the pastor of City Church, what would he say to the people who are asking if they can belong?" the pastor asks. "As we consider the life of Christ, his example of love, his call to embrace the outsider and cast down, and his patience with those earnestly seeking him, what is a Christ-like response?"
Ending the requirement for celibacy for gays "aligns with our existing core vision: the doors of this church are as wide as the arms of the Savior it proclaims," he adds.
"We will no longer discriminate based on sexual orientation and demand lifelong celibacy as a precondition for joining. For all members, regardless of sexual orientation, we will continue to expect chastity in singleness until marriage," Harrell concludes.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
The people who made this decision just disqualified themselves from holding positions of responsibility. If there is any doubt, read the 5th chapter of 1 Corinthians.
“Human flourishing”? What they don’t want to discourage a homo parade of flashers and crossdressers for Jesus?
Key word is mega- church. Looking for mo’ moneeeeeey! Homers all welcome with cash. Can’t lose with the stuff I use.
There is that aspect possibly present, admittedly.
Of course, I usually lean more towards the human capacity for self delusion and just plain “stupidness”.
The same thing he told a concelebrant heterosexual female "Go and sin no more"
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Sodomites
I think you mean Jude verse 4. There is no Jude 4:1, since there is only 1 chapter in Jude. But the verse definitely applies to today’s mega-evangelical churches and their embracing of ungodly, perverse lifestyles & practices.
Every faith group that has accepted homosexualist acts and ‘gay marriage’ first accepted women as clergy/leaders as far as I have observed.
Freegards
Once you throw out the Biblical standards for ordination, there is no logical reason not to take that next step. The reasoning is identical.
Mega churches are harmful to everyone and the intent of a church gathering is for the building up of the saints, it’s purpose is not to be inclusive of anyone who wants “in”, it’s not a social club. The reason the LGBT crowd is depressed if told to not practice homosexuality is because they have allowed their passions to become perverted, and their passions are at war with the spirit of God. All I can say is I’m sorry for their entanglements of the flesh and pray God’s healing power in their lives, but I will not welcome a practicing homosexual.
And just what/who determines this "church" is evangelical?
In seeking to be more precise than other pollsters, Barna distinguishes between “born again” and “evangelical” and categorizes the latter based upon affirmation of 9 theological aspects. Under such, only 8% of US adults doctrinally qualify as “Evangelicals” (2004 survey), while 38% of US adults classify as born again, but not Evangelical.
It’s sad to see yet tellingly prophetic. They are suppressing God’s truth and there one less place for the repentant-minded homosexual to go - these church elders along with this apostate pastor are huge trouble. I challenge them to show me where love is supposed to feel good all the time.
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
“Mega-church” = big money = inevitable corruption
“We have to get them in here to minister to them.” Ever heard that line?
The world tells women they are better off without men. The world tells men they are better off with men. The church isn’t supposed to listen to the world.
San Francisco's largest evangelical church, City Church
As I have found is typical, it is difficult to find out anything definite about what they believe, confessional standards adhered to, or who they might be affiliated with. There's an "Our Story", but no statement of faith.
They "do Lent" though!
What it gets down to in all these surveys is if those who call themselves Evangelical or even Born Again adhere to Biblical principles. Seems people love to grab on to labels because they go to a certain church.
This SF mega church obviously is kicking aside God’s Law and Gospel by inviting in sinners without repentance.
I’ve heard it, and I’ve heard it regarding a lot of other groups that tend to be disruptive to the congregation.
Our church’s policy is that “outreach” happens outside of “church time”. Church time is for the believers and their families. It is the time when the pastoral staff ministers to the congregation, and then charges the congregation to go OUT and perform the Great Commission.
That reminds me of the bus loads of kids on Baptist busses. It seems to me that parents should bring them in rather than use the church for free babysitting.
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