Posted on 03/03/2006 7:54:29 AM PST by wallcrawlr
When Jacob Reitan heard a young man talk about the pain and fear he felt as a gay student at Wheaton (Ill.) College, a school that opposes any expression of homosexuality, he got an idea.
Reitan, 24, of Eden Prairie, was inspired by such stories, as well as by an admiration for the civil rights activists of the 1960s, to organize a "freedom ride" that will travel by bus to 19 U.S. colleges with religion-based policies that exclude gays. The young activists, who are Christians, hope to talk with students and faculty members. This morning, Reitan and four others will fly to Washington, D.C., to join about 30 other "Soulforce Equality Riders" for training before they set out on their seven-week, cross-country crusade.
On Thursday night, hundreds gathered at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis to honor the Minnesota participants -- Reitan; David Durand, 26, and Carolyn Westra, 25, both of Minneapolis; David Coleman, 23, of Delano -- and ride co-organizer Haven Herrin, 23, of Dallas.
Issues around homosexuality deeply divide U.S. Christians. Some believe the Bible compels them to oppose gay rights, while others say it calls them to advocate for them.
< snip >
At Thursday's service, Coleman received a standing ovation after he spoke emotionally about being kicked out of North Central after revealing that he is gay.
"God loves you just the way you are," said Coleman, who was a senior when he was asked to leave the college last year. "Nothing can take us away from the love of God."
Durand said the riders will speak "for those who can't speak for themselves, because they must stay closeted."
Said Westra: "These [anti-gay] folks won't come to us, so we have to go to them."
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
The love that dare not shut up strikes again.
What a fallacy that statement is: "God loves you just the way you are,"
God loves you but not as you are.
He wants you to change.
They should be arrested for disturbing the peace and being a nuisance (to say the least).
What I wouldn't do was unleash a flouncy caravan of attention seeking drama queens with bullhorns in a futile attempt to mold the college to my opinion.
It will be interesting to see who fixes who. I'm hoping these young Christians can have their energies redirected.
"When Jacob Reitan heard a young man talk about the PAIN and fear he felt as a gay student ..."
EXIT ONLY, Dumba$$!!! ;)
Bingo! We have a winner.
One should feel pain and fear as an active homosexual. The practice is detestable to God and Paul warned that no one involved in it would enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We are not being helpful to homosexuals if we make them feel comfortable and accepted, any more than we are helping alcohols by enabling their addiction.
Deal with it.
Amen. These people will do anything they can to try to justify their sin. They seem to miss large parts of the bible in their studies. Sodom and Gamorrah, Leviticus, Ezekial, etc. We are to love the person, not the sin. God will judge the sin. They also fail to realize the bible is as relevant today as when it was written. If you believe you are gay or that the lifestyle is okay in God's eyes, you are not a believer, period.
"Christians" who hold views entirely inconsistent with the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. And whose contrary views are, it seems, their core values.
I'm betting these schools are private schools and not state or federally funded?
"What I wouldn't do was unleash a flouncy caravan of attention seeking drama queens with bullhorns in a futile attempt to mold the college to my opinion."
LOL! "flouncy caravan" that's EXCELLENT! I shall steal if from you and use it again someday.
One for the list.
"God loves you but not as you are."
You might want to check your theology there.
God does love everyone just the way they are. Yes, he does expect people to change, but that hasn't nothing to do with God's love.
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Barf alert!!
EXCERPT:
At Thursday's service, Coleman received a standing ovation after he spoke emotionally about being kicked out of North Central after revealing that he is gay.
"God loves you just the way you are," said Coleman, who was a senior when he was asked to leave the college last year. "Nothing can take us away from the love of God."
Durand said the riders will speak "for those who can't speak for themselves, because they must stay closeted."
Said Westra: "These [anti-gay] folks won't come to us, so we have to go to them."
Boy - I feel sorry for the people that have to share the interstate rest stops with this group.
Yes but...
I'd bet that there are some programs any private school has access to for some fed/state funds.
But also the students can get fed/state aid to attend.
It all depends on the type of cirriculum the school has.
If its general education with majors...then they prob have access to fed/state money.
If its devotional and seminary...then prob not.
Youre saying the exact same thing I am.
God loves you but not as you are.
He wants you to change.
I'm sorry it wasnt worded properly for you.
Anyone who thinks that God will "love" them into heaven needs to "check their theology". God requires us to recognize our sin and repent.
The reason that student makes that statement is to excuse their behavior.
When he says, nothing can take us away from the love of God", he's not providing critical information that would provide the salvation these students need.
For a senior at a christian college he's obviously shamefully an immature christian when it comes to doctrine.
Wheaton is a private college. The school, it's administrators, and it's alumni have their own rights as well, and the government should not infringe upon them by telling them they cannot make policies on morality at a private school.
The school should simple expell this idiot.
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