- Resistance Is Futile!
Posted on 10/28/2005 2:11:25 PM PDT by Crackingham
The man had been attending a Methodist church in South Hill, Va., for several months. He sang in the choir. He owned a business and was well known in the community. But when he asked to become a formal member of the church, the pastor turned him down, because he is gay.
Those are the bare facts of a case that has split a 650-member congregation in southern Virginia and that threatens to divide the 8 million-member United Methodist Church, the nation's second largest Protestant denomination.
Yesterday in Houston, the Methodists' highest court heard an appeal from the pastor of South Hill United Methodist Church, the Rev. Edward Johnson. He was placed on unpaid leave after he rejected entreaties from his immediate supervisor and his bishop to admit the gay man, who has not been named by church officials and has declined to talk about the case.
Nationally, the Methodist Church prohibits "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals" from serving as ordained ministers. But it has declared that gay men and lesbians are "persons of sacred worth" and has repeatedly said there are no bars to their participation as lay people.
"The theme of our church for five years now has been 'Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.' The issue here is, 'Are we really open or not?' " said the Rev. W. Anthony Layman, who was Johnson's district superintendent when the pastor was removed in June by a 581 to 20 vote of fellow ministers in the church's Virginia conference.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
1Co 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Wasn't the Rabbi who attended your Church an "unofficial" member? To actually "join" the Church he would've had to have been Baptised and Confess Jesus.
i am confused if he attends church is he not supposed to confess his sins and ask forgiveness-then how can one attend as a homo-is he asking for a blessing because he said he was a sinner but-does he think that it is alright to keep being what he practices-he cannot be a homo and accept CHRIST without getting rid of such evil ways he can live with thoughts but if he acts and says that this is what he is-he is not a CHRISTMAN
What about couples who divorce and remarry? Jesus says that they're committing adultery. Do they go too?
If you want on/off the ping list let me and little jeremiah know.
And it pre-dates the reformation so it was once commonly accepted by all Christians. I know of no Protestant reformers who have accepted these acts as anything other than sins
Unlike some, I don't speak for G-d so I can't comment but I believe the topic was lust. I see no difference between suicide by fork and lust in terms of sin.
He also said that divorce because of infidelity is acceptable.
He also said that it is the one who causes another to sin who is the real culprit.
Therefore, "divorce + remarriage = adultery" is a description.
Who are proud of their sins? Nope.
I am a United Methodist pastor, elder, and retired chaplain.
The above is inaccurate.
Our denominational guidelines also say that "homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." Our membership vows require the participant to acknowledge that they have renounced sin.
The issue with this man who wanted to become a member is that he AFFIRMED homosexuality. Therefore, the pastor, who is the recognized leader of the congregation, was more than right in refusing membership at that time to the homosexual man.
The doors were not closed to him, and he was free to worship and participate. This pastor has been treated with grave injustice by his radical, liberal bishop.
It is a matter of the homosexual wanted that church to acept him with his selected lifestyle as normal. He wanted to join that church with the condition that the Christian priest must convert to the politically correct though of "homosexuality is a normal sex practice."
Now the homosexual is trying to FORCE the priest to convert to the PC police theology.
The man was free to join IF he accepted the fact that this church teaches homosexuality is a deviance and wrong.
The homosexual did this to cause problems, he could have easily gone down the street to any number of "chinese menu" churches. (I will have a bit of religion from column 3 and 5 and 9 but nothing from the other parts of the menu)
Of course they are sins. They just weren't written in stone. I'm guessing that that means that there was an intended distinction between mortal and venal sins.
So one sinner is guilty of lust and pride and another gluttony and sloth. Two sins apiece by my count.
Their minds are so open, their brains fell out...
So every sin is equivalent by your count?
That is a legitimate opinion. The issue is quite subjective and as such the greater good is weighed by the shepherd of the flock. Considerations of one soul that is persistently and or defiantly in error against those of the souls that may be led astray and or corrupted by exposure to the persistence and or defiance... The shephard made his call which God alone can judge...
Wow. Quite the tirade. Comparing a satanist coming into a church with the purpose of dishonoring it with a sinner who is trying to hear the word of God but who hasn't gotten the message, yet.
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. The bible is very clear on homosexuality and I am glad you are setting everyone straight. Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them:
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev. 1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for
her?
I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev. 15:19- 24. The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend
of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill
him myself?
A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of
two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend).
He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the
trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal
and unchanging.
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