[xzins]

As a result, it is not enough for orthodox Christians to simply say that Jesus called God "Father," or that Scripture condemns homosexuality, or that Jesus commands us to evangelize, or that the universal tradition of the church requires baptism prior to Eucharist. Ecstatics know all this. They relativize these claims by viewing them as outmoded expressions of an evolving faith that progressively expresses the Indescribable.

[xzins]

The spirit of antichrist denies the Christ came in the flesh.

Consider a further example, the Resurrection. If Jesus was bodily raised by God, then God acted physically at a specific time and place. This would make God an agent, as if God—like an electron, a tree, or a cat—was literally affecting matter. Ecstatics would not understand God in such a "crude" fashion. As a result, many ecstatics deny the bodily Resurrection. Many also deny biblical miracles, which they consider creations of primitive peoples who took felt experiences of the Holy and clothed them in language normally used for objects. By contrast, an orthodox perspective would trust in the biblical miracles, especially that God raised Jesus bodily from the dead, that the tomb was indeed empty.

[AlbionGirl]

Bump for a later, more thorough read. Looks interesting.

But this kind of says it all, doesn't it?

Seeking a superficial unity, some denominational leaders opt for feelings over facts.

[AlbionGirl]

And oddly enough, or maybe not, behind the ecstacy of the Ecstatics is a lethargy and enervation that is legion.

[xzins]

ping

[AAABEST]

or that the universal tradition of the church requires baptism prior to Eucharist.

Non-Catholics don't have a "Eucharist".

The Eucharist consists of fully believing that our Lord was telling us the plain truth that day in the temple (John 6) when He lost much of His following and scandalized the Pharisees. He reemphasized how important this was to Him at the very first mass on His very last night alive as a man on this earth.

The fact is that every single Sunday "service" in existence is rooted from this most holy mass. The very sad development is that these modern services are meals or celebrations spawned by unholy men who decided to do things their own way... as Christ's disenchanted followers did because they could not hear His words.

I honestly don't want to be harsh, but unless you are partaking of the body and blood of Lord Jesus it is NOT the Eucharist. To claim it as such is an duplicitous.

[AndrewC]

The Dammann case does reveal continuing differences in the United Methodist Church concerning the issue of homosexuality. The Council of Bishops is painfully aware of this disagreement. In such moments as this, we remember that our unity in Christ does not depend on unanimity of opinion. Rather, in Jesus Christ we are bound together by love that transcends our differences and calls us to stay at the table with one another.

When they finished, all of us stood up and applauded, with a lump in our throats and a tear in our eyes, as we watched them embrace one another. Convictions were not reconciled that day, but two people who held different convictions were reconciled in Christ.

How we all fit together, how our singularities are made sense of, how our divergent views and different understandings of God's intent are reconciled, passes all understanding. All that we can do is to travel on in faith and trust, knowing that all contradictions and paradoxes and seemingly irreconcilable truths—which seem both consistent and inconsistent with Scripture—are brought together in the larger and all- embracing truth of Christ, which, by Christ's own words, has yet to be fully drawn forth and known.

Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

According to these church "leaders", Satan belongs in the congregation since he quotes scripture.

[opus86]

Thanks for the ping. Funny, I had no trouble understanding the point of this article. BTW ecstaticism (?) is not unique to mainline Protestant churches. It's just another form of fuzzy, man-made truth that helps people feel better about their sinfulness.

[aruanan]

In such moments as this, we remember that our unity in Christ does not depend on unanimity of opinion. Rather, in Jesus Christ we are bound together by love that transcends our differences and calls us to stay at the table with one another.

I guess the Apostle Paul would differ with the above rather than getting all estactic and embracing the circumcisers:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8

But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 1 Corinthians 5:11

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? Galatians 2:14

Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! Galatians 5:11

[Mark in the Old South]

This whole subject has put me in mind about a theory I have had for some time. In a few older prayers that speak of the suffering Christ went through during His Passion. The Magnificent prayers of Saint Bridget are a good example where they speak of some "unspeakable crime" committed against our Lord. There are other moments in other prayers where you have to wonder if there is more to His suffering at the hands of Roman soldiers. A group not know for their compassion or sensitivity to the humiliation of others. Their sexual practices lead something to be desired as well. Is not the modern day Homosexual Lobby not doing unspeakable things to the Body of Christ today.