'God does not discriminate'

star ledger ^ | August 07, 2007 | CANDICE LEIGH HELFAND

[Coleus]

A week before the grand opening of Plainfield's first hip-hop house of worship, Church 'N' the Hood, the Rev. LaDana Clark -- also known as "Lady Jam" -- sat in the basement of the Grace Episcopal Church, the place that would soon welcome her future parishioners. She was calm despite the obvious excitement of others in the room, members of the community dedicated to helping with the church's debut. She smiled and listened as they talked about their hopes for the mission. Then she started to talk.

"God does not discriminate -- no matter if you're Jewish, Muslim, black, white, gay, straight, God loves you," she began, her voice quiet, but earnest.

Being gay and Christian don't have to be mutually exclusive events, Clark said.

"I am a Christian lesbian," she said, her sexual orientation a sticking point for some churches she has attempted to join. "For years, I felt ostracized because of that. But I've realized that everyone is entitled to the holy hook-up."

Her message was rife with passion -- religion is not about rules and restrictions, she said, but about love, hope and community.

Last Friday night, the night of Church 'N' the Hood's unveiling, it seemed Clark's prayers had been answered -- the room was filled with more than 100 people, of all ages and all walks of life. The hall was stifling, but the heat didn't appear to affect the energy of the crowd or the performers, as both partied throughout the evening.

Clark was charismatic -- dancing, singing and taking time to share her struggles with all in attendance.

[darkangel82]

Doesn’t sound very Christian to me.

[BKerr]

One of the reasons God outlawed the practice of females being pastors. It began with the church making God conform with the world by allowing female pastors over the last 120 years (breaking thousands of years of Biblical rule), then came the gays becoming pastors, next will be practicing pedophiles. Mark my words! Twenty years ago, the thought of a gay pastor in a mainstream church would have been laughable.

[ForEternity]

God does descriminate.

21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

(Matthew 7:21 - 23)

She can claim anything she wants, but law is set. We are and will be judged by our obediance to the laws of God. A practicing homosexual, adulterer, fornicator, etc... can not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

[wideawake]

It's interesting that this woman is trying to argue on behalf of homosexual activity using the Bible and hip hop - two American cultural touchstones that both condemn it in no uncertain or politically correct terms.

[nmh]

It wouldn’t surprise me ... .

Hope I’m not here when that happens ... .

[aruanan]

Her message was rife with passion -- religion is not about rules and restrictions, she said, but about love, hope and community.

It's about behavior that's acceptable to God, as Paul wrote to Titus:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

[Salvation]

Christ does warn us. A lot! From today's Gospel about money. (And there are many other examples on various subjects!

Gospel
Mt 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich
to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Again I say to you,
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said,
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,

“For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.”
Then Peter said to him in reply,
“We have given up everything and followed you.
What will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you
that you who have followed me, in the new age,
when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory,
will yourselves sit on twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters
or father or mother or children or lands
for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more,
and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

[nmh]

Matt. 7:13-15

[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

1Cor.6:9

[9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

I don’t know who her god is but my God doesn’t permit her lifestyle CHOICE to enter into heaven.

[nmh]

Funny how wrong these charlatan's get it.

God is the ULTIMATE discriminator.

Jas.4:4

[4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

This one is an enemy of God.

[Gamecock]

God is the ULTIMATE discriminator.

I would say that He doesn't discriminate. He is the ultimate judge and does so in a Holy manner.

[VOA]

‘God does not discriminate’

A clear clue to someone that’s never really read The Holy Bible!!!

[VOA]

‘God does not discriminate’

A clear clue to someone that’s never really read The Holy Bible!!!

[gidget7]

Well DUH, of course God Loves You. Love is not approval, blanket approval of all sin, or otherwise.

Jesus loves everyone, and he awaits us, to forgive us of our sins, in other words, repent. He does not offer approval of sins. NOR does he offer approval of those who would lead his flock away from his word. NOR does he approve those who would harm children or lead them astray.

[Pinkbell]

This doesn’t sound much like a Christian Church to me. It sounds like one big party where people accept each others sins. The Lord says to beware of false profits.

[hiho hiho]

[hiho hiho]

[massgopguy]

“God does not discriminate”. Yes, he does.

There is a sign on the door of the occult book store in New York that used to be the location of the National Council of Churches. It is called The Magikal Child. It welcomes all. Yes, the gates to Hell are much wider than the Pearly Gates.

[nmh]

“I would say that He doesn’t discriminate. He is the ultimate judge and does so in a Holy manner.”

To discriminate is know the difference between right and wrong in this context. You need to have firm boundaries on right and wrong and the Bible provides that. As the ultimate Judge, He determines right and wrong and punishes accordingly. BTW, I use His Book to determine right and wrong, so I discriminate too!

[trisham]

"I am a Christian lesbian," she said

************

Oy vey. Who asked?