LCMS ping!
To be added or dropped, freepmail Albion Wilde
Segregate out UCC from other Churches of Christ.
Matthew 7:22-23
The article is unfair in that it lumps the orthodox and liberal denominations with the same origin together. I am certain, for example, that you would find 90% of ELCA Lutheran pastors supporting homosexual marriage, but only 1 or 2% of LCMS, just like the evangelicals; throw the two denominations together and you get 45%.
Those denominations that allow women in the ministry are in favor of other aberrations of doctrine.
I go to a Christian church. I don’t know of a single member there - including staff - that is pro same-sex marriage.
I don’t know that you’d call us “evangelical” though. I don’t really know what that label means any more.
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).
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It is? I think this person needs to re-read (and take seriously) Scripture. If you want to integrate practicing homosexuality with Christianity, then just admit you’ve created a new religion.
My opinion doesn’t matter - “What sayeth the word of God”?
I’ll go as far as saying “If there is anything in your life that would cause you to abandon your faith, you don’t really have that faith”.
I keep hearing people say “I left the faith because someone criticized....”. If someone can say something that causes you to “fall from grace”, you are the problem
The irony is that churches which try to “go with the times” are the ones losing membership, the exact opposite of what the “reformers” predict.
A number of years ago we had a senior female leader from the Synod come to the church to discuss homosexuality at our Uniting Church in Australia. The parishioners were split up into discussion groups. Mitch5501 opened up the bible to read from it. Her reaction was “Well I’d we are going to bring the Bible into it we may as well stop now”. Never a truer word spoken but not for the reasons she thought. God’s word is clear on this matter. End of story
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%).”
In other words, if you want a Christian church that follows the Bible (which should be a given for Christians), go Baptist or Pentecostal.
Bump for later
Since they don't break up Presbyterian, Lutheran, etc. churches into branches (Evangelical Presbyterian, Missouri Synod, etc.), this is a rather meaningless statistic. I see similar statements all the time. For example, "The Lutheran Church allows gays and lesbians to serve as clergy." Well, no. The ELCA does, the Missouri Synod doesn't, and it's the Missouri Synod that's growing, especially among young people.
I notice the lead article speaks of “pentecostals” who are very opposed to the Sodom and Gomorrah plague among us today, but this is not nearly so true of “charismatics” (though some call them “pentecostals”).
I can say I have never known ANY pentecostal pastor, especially among the “classic” pentecostal groups like the UPC (United Pentecostal Church), who is not absolutely opposed to homosexuality, same sex marriage, etc.
This article is very true in that regard.
Ping!
What matters is what is in the Bible and the Bible only accepts marriage between one man and one woman. Everything else is just wrong. You can go ahead and do wrong and see what happens in the long run if you want to, just don’t involve me or expect me to condone or accept what you do.
I’ll stick with this and related passages: Romans 1:18-32
I guess it is up to you to find out if the preacher is wrong.
So if you have to read the Bible and understand it first, why do you need a preacher, especially one who will lead you astray and that you have to correct? I do like a church with good singing though.
Another good article.
I left the ELCA back in 2004 when I heard a woman reporting on her experience at the synod gathering, extolling the beauty of solidarity with the homosexual community. After the service, I told my son that we were going exploring, and left the Leesburg ELCA church, got on the road and said, “God, take us to our new home!”
I got off the Greenway at the Ashburn Exit, took two or three turns, and ahead of us was the LCMS church. We were welcomed, made part of the community.
Since moving back to New Hampshire, my son and I attended a LCMA church in Nashua, but there was a power clique there that made me feel unwelcome.
My new wife and I attended the local Anglican Church. It was nice, but we have been away from it for about 5 years, but God is with us.
I am sick and tired of being expected to be tolerant of behaviors that I find immoral.