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To: Pollster1
A Church should provide a higher ideal, goals which we aspire to. It should not demand perfection, but should insist on acceptance of its tenets. Too much change too soon causes folks to question their faith. It enables those who don't accept those values to not strive to do better.

Our world is very confusing and falling apart at the seams. Our religion needs to tell us that we strive for a greater good. Folks need a core of values to believe in.

In a time when it won't be possible to feel safe in public bathrooms anymore because its anything goes for choosing ones sexual identity, we don't need to embrace those who are open about being gay and/or perverted. At a time when ISIS is winning people over by pretending to have strong unwavering beliefs, we don't need a "do your own thing" Church. We need a Church that's a warrior for Christian values.

JMHO

19 posted on 04/08/2016 5:42:35 AM PDT by grania
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To: grania
A Church should provide a higher ideal . . . Folks need a core of values to believe in . . . we don't need to embrace those who are open about being gay and/or perverted . . . We need a Church that's a warrior for Christian values.

I mostly agree with your post, except on not embracing those who are open about being gay/perverted.

I am from time to time strongly tempted toward adultery. I don't fantasize about women other than my (first and only) wife, and I don't flirt with other women. But opportunities come up - usually to my shocked surprise, since I almost never realize what's coming in those situations. So far, I have as politely but firmly as possible rejected every such opportunity, but I have also been tempted. Very tempted some times. The Church should embrace me - but also frequently, emphatically, and unambiguously reinforce the message that adultery is completely forbidden.

The Church should respond to homosexuality the same. So long as welcoming gays and other perverts includes a frequent and clear emphasis on the relevant scriptures and their proper interpretation (which is that homosexual conduct of all kinds is always wrong), they can be welcomed without harming the Church.

The problem comes when we try to be welcoming by skipping over the parts of God's word that those in need of spiritual guidance don't want to hear. The problem comes when we accept the far left premise that quoting God's word is "hate" and encouraging/celebrating disordered conduct that violates God's word and spreads deadly diseases is "love". A Church cannot accept that premise and still remain Christian.

26 posted on 04/08/2016 6:09:18 AM PDT by Pollster1 (Somebody who agrees with me 80% of the time is a friend and ally, not a 20% traitor. - Ronald Reagan)
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