Posted on 04/21/2015 8:37:59 AM PDT by Gamecock
I have been traveling and have not posted in a bit, so let me bring up another question that came from the Grand Rapids PCRT:
"What is the root issue that would allow "Christian" denominations to ordain homosexuals and perform homosexual marriages?"
The simple answer to this question is that such denominations have stopped granting ultimate authority to the clear teaching of the Word of God. In almost every case, they no longer regard the Scriptures as inerrant and therefore they find it easy to disregard teachings they consider offensive and antiquated. Having removed their confidence in the Bible, they have granted authority to the culture in its place. Then, facing the kind of cultural pressure that has been mounted on this issue, the change from condemning to endorsing homosexuality involves merely overcoming internal political resistance to change.* In most cases, the authority of Scripture was previously breached with regard to gender and sex when these denominations violated Scripture by ordaining women to church office.** The prohibition against women elders and ministers is just about as clear as the prohibition against sexual indecency. So, having conceded to cultural authority on a lesser matter these same churches can hardly avoid doing so in a greater matter, which in this case is the mandate to endorse and approve of homosexual practice.
*This is the dread "slippery slope" argument, which is so offensive to those who have slid down it but which is nonetheless proved by the chain of compromises that has left them in so obviously unbiblical a position as the endorsement of homosexuality.
** It is for this reason lamentable that many churches have left mainline denominations over the issue of homosexual acceptance but have retained the unbiblical practice of ordaining women to the eldership and ministry. By doing this, they have only moved up the slippery slope rather than off of it, and it is hard to see how they will avoid sliding back down before long.
I have been saying this for years.
In most cases, the authority of Scripture was previously breached with regard to gender and sex when these denominations violated Scripture by ordaining women to church office.** The prohibition against women elders and ministers is just about as clear as the prohibition against sexual indecency. So, having conceded to cultural authority on a lesser matter these same churches can hardly avoid doing so in a greater matter, which in this case is the mandate to endorse and approve of homosexual practice.** It is for this reason lamentable that many churches have left mainline denominations over the issue of homosexual acceptance but have retained the unbiblical practice of ordaining women to the eldership and ministry. By doing this, they have only moved up the slippery slope rather than off of it, and it is hard to see how they will avoid sliding back down before long.
Many of the PC(USA) churches are off starting a new denomination. Moving up the slippery slope is exactly what they are doing. Those committed to being faithful churches should join a solid Reformed denomination and be shepherded in a proper manner.
What makes this self-destructive behavior preferable to all the others which we shun?
or
What makes this mental illness preferable to all the others which we try to treat?
There is no how...
The correct word is ? Can’t
The body of Christ, the church can’t accept homosexuality.
The homosexual movement ii a festering virus, disease.
It has nothing to do with acceptance, the homosexual movement is like the 3rd Riech, Nazi Germany, it’s hell bent for the destruction of the church.
The homosexual movement WILL usher in the Anti-Christ, no wait, it’s already here.
There is no , HOW
Religion is what makes us feel good about ourselves and when conditions change and other things make us feel good or some things don’t feel so good any more then the religion must change. then, of course. To a Liberal reality is a mental construct. It is the same if that Liberal fancies himself religious.
Excellent point. If you look, just about every church that succombs to female pastors ends up embracing gay marriage and gay pastors. "and God gave them over to...."
Christian ethics is inseparable from theology, because it is grounded on the character of God as revealed to us through both general and special revelation. Moral norms come from God's nature and character. His character is eternal and unchanging.Part of His character is that there is no moral equivalency where all things the same to Him, and there is no relativism which means that the things that conform to His character and the things that are opposed to His character are absolutes and are not arbitrary.Thus Christians are committed to a specific moral order and cannot accept some passing fancy bound to society's ever-changing whims.
A variety of passages in Scripture make it very clear that a person who practices sexual immorality will not be given the free gift of eternal life. See Revelation 22:15.
Any minister who finds otherwise has resigned from that office.
Having said that, one of the truths of Scripture, apart from defining what sin is, that humanity does not have the spiritual nature to live a sin-free life. But there is a substantial difference between a person who knows not to commit sin, but who occasionally slips, and a person who refuses to stop committing a sin.
Even people who don’t know God know that some people are habitual liars or murderers, and many people are not.
If for example, take a man who knows that it is a sin to commit adultery but he is living with his mistress. Jesus calls upon such people to realize that in order to inherit eternal life, they must stop their present course of action.
The same must be said about people who have sexual preferences that God defines as immoral. The first step in restoring a proper relationship with God is to stop actions that God says are disqualifying. God will not grant grace to people who refuse to bring their behavior into harmony with God’s Law. He only gives grace and forgiveness to people who are willing to change. He is willing to give all the help necessary to such a person. But a person who refuses to change, will die in his sins.
It grieves me greatly to see ministers and whole churches who just cannot bring themselves to be honest about the Word of God. The entire relationship that God has with people He calls His is on faith in Him and His Word. When a person cannot honestly represent what the Word plainly says, he lacks faith in those words. 2 Timothy 3:16
Liberation theology. Anything a congregation wants, including a pastor/rabbi willing to go along to get along.
Dittoes to that!
When referring to churches that practice heterodoxies and even outright heresies, it is useful to describe them as “neo-churches” that are part of “neo-religions”, that practice “neo-scripture”, as part of their “neo-faith” of “neo-Christianity”.
“Neo-” as a prefix generally means “new”, but in some usages it means “new and abnormal”, like neoplasm, which means “an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose.”
Which is a pretty good description of such neo-religions and neo-churches. They embrace some of the symbolism and mythology (in the nice sense) of traditional religion, but discard the parts they don’t like in a somewhat cynical and pragmatic manner.
Which in effect means that their buildings are not churches, their religions are contrived and empty, their scriptures are babble, their faith hollow, and they deserve no respect or acceptance as Christians. For they are not of the body of Christ.
The same way they support liars, idolaters, fornicators, thieves, and any other sinner.
With love, providing God’s word, and showing them the error of their ways - having them pray, repent, and as someone much greater than I said “Go and sin no more”.
Homosexuality is no greater, or lesser, sin than any of the others listed, and more beside.
You did read the part about ordaining homosexuals and performing homosexual marriages, right?
Do you put a thief in charge of the offering? A fornicator to do home visits of widows?
Honestly, no, I didn’t. Mea culpa.
Churches don’t “support” them by promoting their sins. Ever. Churches support them by doing what I said, showing them God’s love, showing where they’ve sinned, helping them see their sins, repenting, and turning around from the sins.
Exactly.
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