Posted on 04/28/2011 5:55:29 AM PDT by ZGuy
Being gay is a gift from God, asserts one church in Ohio.
That’s the message that Central United Methodist Church is spreading throughout their community via a digital billboard, launched on Monday.
This “simple statement,” the church announced, is “intended to be a gift to those who have experienced hurt and discrimination because of their real or perceived sexual orientation.”
“The Church seeks nothing less than the healing of the world, and Central UMC wants to offer words and acts of healing to those hurt and marginalized,” the website states.
Jeff Buchanan, the director of Exodus Church Equipping & Student Ministries, agrees that the Church must display love and compassion for those in the LGBT community. But he opposes the message that CUMC is sending through their “Being Gay is a Gift from God” campaign.
“Why would God bestow this ‘gift’ only to condemn it throughout the Bible? This would seemingly contradict His character as a God who is loving and just.”
The Toledo church’s controversial billboard ad is directly connected to a long month-long sermon series by its new pastor, Bill Barnard. The church is hoping that the ad will move the public towards tolerance, reported ABC 13, and not perpetuate anti-gay attitudes and behaviors, which were harming the LGBT community.
The purposes of their recently launched campaign are threefold: to offer welcome to all persons who are gay; to challenge the larger Church to fully accept persons who are gay into the life of the Church; and to call on all people to bring all the gifts of who they are to God.
“By welcoming and living in community with faithful Christians who happen to be gay, we have come to understand that being gay is part of who God made them to be,” CUMC proclaims on their site. “And by gay Christians bringing all that they are to God, the body of Christ has been strengthened.”
“In fact, we would experience the body of Christ as incomplete without LGBT persons.”
Barnard told ABC, “We really believe that being gay is a gift from God, and it’s not anything that anyone has to apologize for or be ashamed about. So that’s how [the campaign] came to be.”
Believing sexuality to be a “good gift from God” – or as they declared yet another way in God’s infinite diversity – CUMC defines sin as denying who God created them to be.
“The overwhelming scientific evidence is that people are born with their sexual orientation, that it is not a choice,” the church contends. “Fully accepting one’s sexual orientation and identity is key to leading a normal and healthy life.
“Forcing people to act against their God-given sexual orientation will lead to disordered lives. Allowing people to act in accordance with their God-given sexual orientation leads to reconciliation.”
While deeming the marginalization of LGBT persons as “unjustified” – mentioning that Jesus did not speak directly regarding homosexuality – the Toledo church recognizes that the Church today continues to be divided over interpretation of Scripture related to homosexuality.
Just two months ago, 33 retired United Methodist bishops urged the denomination to remove its ban on homosexual clergy, prolonging the undying debate within the church body.
CUMC hopes to unify believers by focusing more on “things that [they] agree on, such as kindness, justice, and humility,” instead of contributing to hate and discrimination, which they believe leads not to reconciliation, but to self-destructive practices within the LGBT community.
“Holding people responsible for matters in which they have no control is irrational and immoral,” the church declares. “We believe that both those within and without the Church are hungry for dialogue about homosexuality that reflects compassion and humility rather than intolerance and strife.”
Buchanan contends that CUMC’s message “tells people that the only option they have is a gay identity.”
But “people need to understand that thousands of men and women have found there is another way and have found freedom from homosexuality through the power of Christ,” he says.
Even if there was conclusive evidence supporting the theory that people were “born this way,” Buchanan stresses that Christians were called to be “born again.”
“While we may not choose our desires, we do have the ability and responsibility to choose whether or not we act on those desires. Our goal should be living a life that is congruent with Scripture,” he says.
“Genesis describes the fall of man and the permanent effects that sin has on us spiritually, mentally, and physically. Just because something may be inherent does not mean it was intended.”
Despite the outcry of many from the Christian community against CUMC’s campaign, Barnard continues to proclaim that homosexuality is a “gift” and has people come and remain just “as they are.”
Working to accept persons who are gay into the full life of the Church, CUMC is a founding member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which is the United Methodist movement for gay equality in the denomination.
Two of the volunteer staff members at their church, including the music director and lead team chair, live with their partners and have served the church for over seven years.
Grieved over the misinterpretation of Scripture and false teaching that is being promoted by CUMC and many other churches like them, Buchanan encourages churches to deliver the message of Christ with love and grace, but also with accuracy and uncompromised truth.
“We must always remember that authentic love is built upon a foundation of grace and truth.”
Gee he should have become a Roman priest...he would have fit right in
LOL caught in their own web...
The denominational rules say that “Homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching” and that self-avowed, practicing homosexuals with not be ordained or appointed to pastoral positions in our churches.
To be sure, there is an active homosexual advocacy group within our church. So far, we have not permitted them to change our denominational standards.
We will continue the fight against them while we pray for revival. That said, ALL humans, including homosexuals, are legitimate targets of proselytization to real Christianity, including this pastor...who is a heretic.
Catholics especially hate Reformed theology , it was the doctrine that fueled the reformation ..they think if they can discredit it, they can discredit all of Protestantism...
LOL
I knew that some fringe, Assembly of God-type Protestants rejected the Trinity, but was not previously aware of these problems you raise with the mainstream. I would be interested to see if there is any defense.
You will have to provide some sort of citation for the assertion that the UMC is Pro-Life, I’ve never heard or read that anywhere.
I would also say that a follower of Christ would be growing. That’s why I am suspicious of “unChurched Christians”. They are usually eschewing church because someone once condemned their own personal sin or they discovered the real God didn’t match their version of Him.
I find a lot of Universal Salvation types avoid church for the latter reason.
I never said they were Pro-Life . . . they can't make up their minds whether it's a sin to ruthlessly slaughter a human or not. Therefore, they're pro-DEATH.
Well, you do entertain...
Please note: it was not I that brought up the issue of "sects" -- you did. You seem to infer that you "know" all about my "sect" (denomination), so I asked YOU to share your knowledge... mine was not proffered. Again, you FAIL in that you attempted to twist the argument. Nice try... no dice.
I am in no way embarrassed to claim my Christianity; I believe in Christ, and Him crucified -- as I have stated MANY times on this site. However, the Roman Catholic Cult should be terribly ashamed and embarrassed about its pedophile priests and the lack of punishment, the false gospel preached by its priests; the flouting of God and His word; and the reliance on man-made "traditions" that are touted as co-equal to scripture. Oh.. and let's not forget the Mariolatry and idol worship.
Also... just for your edification: you need to learn the meaning of farce. You use it incorrectly in this context.
Just trying to help. You're still entertaining, though.
Hoss
LOL!
How true....
:D
Hoss
I guess I would say unless one sees his sin he will never think he needs a Savior.. I think it is our sin that drives us to the cross..
Yes but not always all of our sin. Sometimes it takes a while to figure all that out. Paul mentions that the people of Corinth couldn’t recognize some sin and demands they throw out a member for it.
The sin of pride could probably doom us all.
You are right ... I think that the Holy Spirit reveals our sin to us as we grow in Christ.. but if people think they are "good enough" and that they "live better than their neighbor " they will never seek a Savior.. we need to really understand that we are sinners ...and we really do need a Savior..
It was pride that caused the fall of Satan and pride that cased Eve to eat that apple.. Personally I believe pride is the root of all sin ...
I wondered about who this "Rome" you gripe about and slander everyday is so I did some research and narrowed it down. Can you point out the one you have so much angst about from the following list?
1. Presbyterian Church of Rome, Rome, PA
2. Rome Presbyterian Church, Rome, Ohio
3. Rome Presbyterian Church, Proctorville, OH.
4. Rome Presbyterian Church, Rome, PA
5. Presbyterian Church of Scotland – Rome, Italy
6. First Presbyterian Church, Rome, GA
7. First Presbyterian Church, Rome, New York
8. First Presbyterian Church. Rome, Italy
9. St Andrew's Church, Rome, Italy
10. Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rome, GA
11. New Rome Presbyterian Churches, New Rome, OH
12. Rome Scottish Presbyterian Church, Rome, Italy
13. New Lyme Presbyterian Church of Rome, Rome, OH
For the OPC, Jesus is a lesser or messenger god to God the Father, much like Mercury was the messenger of Jupiter in the Roman Pantheon of gods. This is not Christian.
Forgetting the crude analogy for the moment, can you find one instance in Scripture where Jesus claims to be equal to His Father?
JOHN 14:
28 You heard me say to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;
31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.
Yes, God did send his Son to earth for a single purpose.
John 3:17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Does your group believe Jesus wants us, even you, to be ONE with the Father just as He is?
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
How about Matthew 28:19?
The problem is with your question, not with the Catholic answer. You see, the problem with simple people self interpreting is that you get over simplified interpretations.
There is a significant difference between saying there are three consubstantial hypostases in the Trinity, and there are three co-equal persons. Jesus is not equal to the Father, Jesus is God, as is God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
Exactly
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