Posted on 02/24/2020 6:54:56 AM PST by Kaslin
According to a new Lifeway Research survey, while 47 percent of “mainline” pastors now support same-sex “marriage,” only 8 percent of evangelical pastors do. More specifically, “Presbyterian or Reformed (49%), Methodist (47%), Lutheran (35%) and Christian/Church of Christ pastors (20%) are more likely to see nothing wrong with same-sex marriage than Baptist (3%) or Pentecostal pastors (1%).”
None of this is surprising in the least.
First, as noted by Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, “The movement we see among pastors’ views of same-sex marriage has less to do with their denominational tradition than their view of the Bible.”
Accordingly, those who hold most faithfully to the authority of Scripture will be the least inclined to change their views on homosexuality. Put another way, those who believe the Bible to be God’s inspired, unchanging Word will be the least likely to compromise their convictions based on societal changes.
“An evangelical distinctive,” McConnell continued, “is the ultimate authority the Bible has over one’s beliefs despite changing cultural perspectives. It is not surprising then that evangelical pastors across different denominations continue to view same-sex marriage as wrong through this lens.”
That’s because the Bible is unambiguous in its condemnation of homosexual unions. Under all circumstances, regardless of how much love or commitment is involved, they are sinful in God’s sight and contrary to His established order.
At the same time, mercy and forgiveness are offered for all, including practicing homosexuals. The Word is equally clear on this (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
That’s why, when I had a mini-debate with “gay Christian” poster boy Matthew Vines, he could not offer a single Scripture verse in support of his position. (For a graphic illustration of the scriptural bankruptcy of the “gay Christian” argument, see here.)
When it comes to “mainline” pastors, which these days primarily refers to “progressive” or “liberal” pastors, they are more inclined to interpret Scripture through the lens of contemporary culture than to evaluate contemporary culture through the lens of Scripture.
As a result, they are more likely to disbelieve fundamental, biblical truths, including: the Bible as God’s infallible Word; salvation coming only through Jesus; the virgin birth and the resurrection; eternal reward and eternal punishment.
That’s why it’s no surprise that these same pastors, who have waffled on the most foundational issues, will waffle on things like gay “marriage” too. What else could we expect?
Ironically, it is the Pentecostals, who are often derided for their belief that the Spirit continues to speak today, who are the most conservative of all, with only 1 percent of their pastors affirming same-sex “marriage.”
But that, too, should come as no surprise. That’s because the reason Pentecostals believe that prophecy and tongues are for today is because they believe that the Word of God means what it says. That’s also why they reject same-sex “marriage.”
Pentecostals also emphasize the importance of the new birth and life in the Spirit. This means that the vast majority of their adherents will have a greater devotion to the Lord and His Word than those of “mainline” churches, which often downplay the concept of personal relationship with God.
All this would be in keeping with a 10-country religious survey published in 2006, titled, “Spirit and Power – A Ten Country Survey of Pentecostals.”
The survey indicated that, “In addition to their distinctive religious experiences, renewalists also stand out for the intensity of their belief in traditional Christian doctrines and practices. For instance, in eight of the 10 countries surveyed (all except the U.S. and Chile), majorities of nonrenewalist Christians believe that the Bible is the word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word; but this view is even more common among pentecostals than among non-renewalist Christians. Similarly, large majorities of all Christians, renewalists and nonrenewalists alike, believe that miracles still occur today as in ancient times. But this belief tends to be even more intense among pentecostals and, to a lesser extent, charismatics than among nonrenewalist Christians.”
It is true that, according to the recent Lifeway Research survey, the more educated the pastor, the more likely he (or she) was to accept same-sex “marriage.” Specifically, “Those with a doctorate (27%) or a master’s degree (32%) are more likely to support same-sex marriage than pastors with a bachelor’s degree (9%) or no college degree (6%).”
But, once again, it is also more likely that many of those who pursued more advanced degrees view the Bible through a more modernist lens than those who chose not to pursue such degrees. Education, in and of itself, does not guarantee orthodoxy. This is especially so when the seminaries attended are themselves liberal.
Interestingly, “Pastors of churches with fewer than 50 in attendance are more likely to see nothing wrong with two people of the same gender getting married (33%) than those at churches with 100 or more in attendance (19%).”
This would confirm what I have written about numerous times, namely, that “progressive Christianity” is doomed to fail.
That’s why, while 47 percent of “mainline” pastors now affirm same-sex relations, they represent an increasingly small minority of American pastors as a whole as their congregations are dwindling. In stark contrast, Pentecostal-Charismatic Christianity is exploding around the globe.
One group adheres more faithfully to the Word and relies on the Spirit’s power. The other does not.
The results are as expected.
Paul writes:
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
3 For I delivered unto you first of all, which I also received: how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures:
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen by Cephas; and after that by the eleven.
6 Then he was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once: of whom many remain until this present, and some are fallen asleep.
1 Thess 4 indicates the spirit is with the Lord ...
Oh??
1 Thessalonians 4 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
1 For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.
2 For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication;
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour:
5 Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God:
6 And that no man overreach, nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification.
8 Therefore, he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his holy Spirit in us.
9 But as touching the charity of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.
10 For indeed you do it towards all the brethren in all Macedonia. But we entreat you, brethren, that you abound more:
11 And that you use your endeavour to be quiet, and that you do your own business, and work with your own hands, as we commanded you: and that you walk honestly towards them that are without; and that you want nothing of any man's.
12 And we will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope.
13 For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.
14 For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.
15 For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first.
16 Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord.
17 Wherefore, comfort ye one another with these words.
Please.
Do NOT hang all your belief upon this phrase; while dismissing all of those around it.
I've been struggling to summarize my thoughts on this exact topic for some time now, you just nailed it. As I read the above words I heard a bell gong. :-)
Of course it is. How dare Jesus an the disciples not include women in leadership roles! Why, that just invalidates the entire teaching of the New Testament according to your fellow #Feminist movement.
If you're going to use today's standards to change Biblical teaching, then just go ahead and admit you want to create a new religion because that's exactly what you're trying to do.
God's word changes us, we don't change God's word.
That's how it's supposed to be.
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Well; in this here box there's over 900 rounds of .556
we must differentiate between what GOD bans and what Paul decides is wrong.
All I'll say in response is this: I trust you have more than one box? :-)
We’ll leave that little exercise up to the inquirer to determine ;^)
Never, Never, NEVER take all your firearms AND ammo with you on a canoe trip. Dammit, lost all mine at the bottom of a deep, deep river!
Context...Mrs.D….context.
A sin-laden soul may sleep but the spirit is alive and with the Lord when/after we die in Christ. The sin-laden soul is dead apart from Christ. The soul is software not simply hardware to dissolve after dying. Paul reinforced that with 'to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.'
Each human descended from Adam is a spirit, a soul (behavior mechanism of mind will and emotion), and a body. As descended from the fallen Adam we are born with a dead spirit which may come alive by the blood of Jesus. Sin is the provenance of the behavior mechanism, the soul, the fleshy self which directs the body. In the born again human the spirit has been enlivened and has God abiding therein (1 John 3:9(. The mythical purgatory is all about 'purifying the fleshy nature, the soul. God did not go to that Cross to redeem the fleshy self.
At death of a born again member in Christ's Spiritual body of believers, the alive spirit goes to be with the Lord, where He is. The soul (or behavior mechanism is halted (call it asleep if you wish) and will be replaced not purified, at the event Paul describes in 1 Cor 15:51-58.
The works being tested as to their quality is not the believer being purified from sin.
That’s all?
You’re slacking.
You need to stock up.
If memory serves, he did say the box he was looking at. Wisely, he did not mention the wall cobered with unopened cases neatly stacked.
That’s maybe two days worth!
I can burn a brick of 22 lr or 22 magnum in one sitting at the range.
That’s ‘cause them targets ain’t shootin’ BACK!!
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