"When homosexuals take over a parish" (a story from North Carolina)

Virtuosityonline.org ^ | 25 Nov. 2003 | Willard Fishburne

[Blue Screen of Death]

On the up side... at least the church would have an interior makeover. Some fabulous new materials and colors on the benches, some tasteful antiques and maybe a hot tub.

[Eala]

Posted a week ago ping.

[SquirrelKing]

It was clear to me that the celebrants had not been celibate throughout the evening. The place was a mess.

Ugh.

[TPartyType]

Wow. Powerful story. I think I would have been much less long-suffering. I predict that congregation will self-destruct within a generation, and Calvary will thrive.

[churchillbuff]

I predict that congregation will self-destruct within a generation

When these kinds of infiltrations happen at a parish that has a strong endowment (from generations of wealthy parishioners or faithful tithers), it doesn't matter if the infiltrators drive people away, because the church can continue by living off the endowment.

[exit82]

The priest at the first church has a lot to answer for.

In I Timothy 4:1,2 we read:

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."(NIV)

This trend will continue, not only in churches, but in the public square. All those who stand in the way of homosexuality will be branded as intolerant, accused of hate speech, and then persecuted to the full extent of the law.

All for speaking God's Word in love.

It's already happening in Canada. Will it happen here?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Except that too many of the homosexuals simply refuse to change their lives in any way whatsoever. Like the article said, the sermons went from biblical teachings to social issues.

[Reagan is King]

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.

This should be a lesson to all of us that this sort of thing should be shouted down from the start instead of being allowed to take over like a creeping vine.

[Savage Beast]

"Asheville? What a surprise."

Uh...been to Asheville lately???

[backhoe]

titled "Have You Been Delphi-ed?".

THE DELPHI TECHNIQUE

[Jotmo]

My response would be that staying and fighting only applies to a certain degree. Once the church leadership decides to tolerate open, unrepentant sinful behavior from it's members and will not change or cannot be removed, there is nothing left to fight for, as it is no longer a hose of God.

The first sigh of homosexual acceptance that maintains the leaderships approval would be the last for me.

These things rarely happen all of a sudden without other events preceding them, though. And It's likely that I would have left before it got close to that point.

The proudly "progressive" liberal priest would be the first clue. One cannot be liberal and have any moral integrity worth spit, in my view.

Liberalism and morality are mutually exclusive.

[RinaseaofDs]

I think maybe that's the problem. They hear it, but they aren't listening to it.

Shocking to read the account. Our church, a Lutheran one, is meeting on this soon, and it looks like I'm going to have to attend those meetings.

Our pastor is about as far to the left as it can get, which is worrisome. So far, with some highlighted exceptions, he has been true to doctrine.

I see that changing.

[Jotmo]

hose=house

[Wheee The People]

A well written story that sent chills down my spine. Leaving a church is difficult and I could feel his pain. Walk with God Willard Fishburne.

[who knows what evil?]

Uh...been to Asheville lately???

Sorry...I guess my statement wasn't dripping with as much sarcasm as I thought. (My wife likes to shop in Asheville, and the sales tax is LOWER than the neighboring state, so we get over there quite a bit. It's a freak show, no doubt.)

[jim_trent]

Unfortunately, the Church I used to belong to took a similar path. The homosexuals depend on stealth to infiltrate a church (and probably any other organization). When a few start coming out, the closeted ones band together with them to condemn anyone who won't accept gays as NON-Christians. Up is down, white is black. Then more and more gays join, turning the Church into a "dating" place. A handy place to meet others for sexual purposes. Then the long term members start leaving.

I have heard that the preacher that was hired shortly after I left (who was also gay) committed the Church to buying a huge property and sell what they had, and then left completely. When he broke up with his "significant other", he just could not continue. The gays in the congregation left soon afterward. The Church is in financial difficulties now. There weren't before. I am not sure who is left there, but I won't go back.

[Savage Beast]

When I was growing up, the churches in town--and the synagogues too--had widely different personalities and subcultures. One Episcopal church catered to homosexuals. There seemed to be homosexual priests, deacons, choir members, etc., though whether or not they were active or promiscuous I never knew. I went to a different Episcopal church, and, not being homosexual, had little knowledge of this.

The homosexuality was not flaunted. It was dignified. There was no objection to it in the community. In fact, it was a part of the community that seemed to fit in about as well as anything else. I hate to use this word, but, though I didn't realized it growing up, the wide diversity of the city was fun and interesting. It occurred naturally and without design. The city was merely a diverse place in which open-mindedness was taken for granted. I still don't know whether this was a matter of tolerance or apathy, but I do know that it was a city of beautiful sophistication, in the loveliest meaning of the world.

However, if the above tale is accurate, I would have left the church when the fashion show occurred and gone somewhere else.

My wife and I are quite liberal (which has nothing to do with "Liberals" and "Liberalism", which have nothing to do with liberalism). We have homosexual friends. We have visited in the homes of lesbians and male homosexuals, and they have visited us in our home.

However, the kind to foolishness described in this article is ridiculous. It is inconsiderate, oppressive, tasteless, and absurd, and such behavior breeds intolerance.

[MHGinTN]

"That nearly was the last straw, for me." Uh, there's your problem, brother. You don't go to war against satan's spawn wielding a straw. Try the armor and sword ordained for the job, else you will lose to degeneracy every time.

[ChocChipCookie]

From last week's posting: Part of the gay strategy is finding a comfortable congregation.

I believe this is true. My lesbian SIL won't come to our Calvary Chapel church because she said it made her, "feel uncomfortable." She prefers a Disciples of Christ church. Does anyone have any info on this group?

[StoneColdTaxHater]

I have been a member of an ELCA chucrh and that gang has been slipping that way for a while too. Our pastor is a died in the wool UNC liberal. I beleive it won't be long before the gay marriages will be performed. This is why I looked into my sould and realized I do not beleive in "church". I believe in God. Churches have become examples of "group think". I am my own man. Many churches have come to stand for absolutely nothing. As stated they want to get along and go along. Sorry, you can keep that crap.