Southern Baptist Leaders Seek Softer Approach To Homosexuality

National Public Radio ^ | 5/17/14 | Blake Farmer

[marshmallow]

Some Christian denominations around the U.S. have been slowly warming to the idea of gay marriage. A few have even made an about-face.

Not so with the country's largest protestant group, Southern Baptists. The Southern Baptist Convention still preaches that marriage can only be between one man and one woman. But some pastors are softening their message.

A Change Of Tone

The Southern Baptist Convention held a gathering of pastors at its Nashville headquarters in April. For an organization that has previously used opposition to gay marriage as a rallying point, statements here from church leaders, like Kevin Smith of Kentucky, shocked the auditorium of pastors into silence.

"If you spent 20 years and you've never said anything about divorce in the church culture, then shut up about gay marriage," Smith said.

Pastor Jimmy Scroggins of Florida went even further.

"We're all in agreement that the cultural war is over when it comes to homosexuality, especially when it comes to gay marriage," Scroggins told the pastors.

Officially, Southern Baptists aren't backing down from their belief that homosexuality is sinful. Gays and lesbians are still barred from church membership without first repenting. But Scroggins says they're sitting in his pews and shouldn't be the butt of preacher humor. He calls that "redneck theology."

"Let's stop telling Adam and Steve jokes and let's be compassionate, because these are people that are in our community," he said at the convention. "These are people that are in our churches."

Baptist voices in the recent past were not known for compassion on gay issues. Richard Land was the church's chief spokesman for 25 years, and while no longer speaking for the denomination, he can still be heard from time to time on Christian talk radio saying things like this:

"I know that the dirty little...........

.

[Genoa]

Sexual purity— saving yourself for marriage, as a gift to God and your spouse and your children, needs some vocal support. People have to get back to aspiring to holiness.br>
Quite true, as long as we keep stressing that marriage is between a man and a woman and is not up for redefinition. I totally understand your point, but our testimony needs to remain: that homosexual acts are sinful in and of themselves, regardless of whatever other dysfunctionalities there might or might not be. It doesn't matter how tender or loyal or rewarding the homosexual relationship is in a certain case. We need to stay clear on that and not be distracted by collateral issues.

[CA Conservative]

Not, it isn’t. The SB are still the most conservative church in the nation. However, we don’t bar the door to anyone. Come as you are, but don’t keep your sinful lifestyle.

While the SBC is still pretty conservative,I think you should be careful with a statement like this. You will get a lot of people from churches like the COGiC, AoG and other Pentecostal denominations disagreeing with you...

[Black Agnes]

All denominations will eventually accept homosexuality. Not that I like this inevitable outcome. But like you said, people who know or are related to one will drive this. And with the pansexual education agenda in public schools now starting at age FIVE, it’s a predetermined outcome.

[Genoa]

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. - 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

[Vigilanteman]

If they persist in said retreat, they will end up like the ELCA.

[WKB]

Baptist ping

[Vigilanteman]

Good point. I read a reliable source (quoted by Dr. Dobson) that whereas something like 80% of heterosexual women and 70% of heterosexual men were faithfully monogamous, the corresponding figures among homos was something like 6% and 4% respectively.

They are not like us. Not even close.

[WKB]

Pastor Greg Belser of Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss may have inside information

http://www.wfaa.com/news/investigates/Disturbing-revelations-about-former-Prestonwood-minister-127284918.html

[Alex Murphy]

Hey now, you’re going to spoil all the fun of the propaganda in the thread.

LOL!

[NKP_Vet]

“We’re all in agreement that the cultural war is over when it comes to homosexuality, especially when it comes to gay marriage,” Scroggins told the pastors”

Scoggins must want to “marry” his boyfriend, or maybe his bass boat or refrigerator. A woman married a ferris wheel yesterday. Happened in Florida. Wonder how many food stamps she’ll get for her giant ferris wheel.

[NKP_Vet]

Sodomites die sooner than straight men due to anal cancer, AIDs and all sorts of diseases attributed to anal “sex”.

“AIDs would be wiped out in this country if some men realized the anus is for exit, not entry” ~ Morton Downey, Jr.

[DwFry]

“....But Scroggins says they’re sitting in his pews and shouldn’t be the butt of preacher humor. He calls that “redneck theology.””

I will never understand the mindset of putting down the people who support you the most in order to gain the favor of those who despise you.

This groveling, condescending, unprincipled twit should be run out of leadership from any group he’s a part of.

[NKP_Vet]

A sin is a sin is a sin. Faiths that believe in the word of God will never accept homosexuality as anything but a perversion. That’s the truth and everyone knows it, including the ones that practice it. No one is born homosexual. It is a lifestyle.

[Black Agnes]

Agree with majority of what you wrote. Just stating my opinion of what’s happening now and will happen in the future.

As in the days of Noah indeedy...

[NKP_Vet]

Homosexual men are by and large sexual predators. The more partners, the better. By all large lesbian women would all love to be a polygamous relationship. Very few lesbians sleep with just one woman. Threesomes and foursomes are a common practice any where you have lesbians living together.
They think absolutely nothing of it. It’s all about sex, no love involved at all. Now these sexual deviants can get “married” and their sexual perversions substidized by the government. Sodomites are by and large sick, sick people in need of prayers, not acceptance by society.

[Morgana]

I’ve been hearing a lot of complaints that the SB’s are going south on the issue of homosexuality. Not just in here but elsewhere as well.

Really I’m not surprised it if happens. I met so many Christians who are against it till they have a family member, esp a child come out as homosexual. When that happens all bets are off. They cave and accept the behavior. Not even “love the sinner not the sin” they accept their “gay” kid and that is final no matter what the Bible/God says.

[Coldwater Creek]

But, not a word about Bellvue Baptist in Memphis, who tried to cover a child molestation by one of the Ministers, and actually refused to immediately fire him. This was 7 or 8 years ago, and resulted in dividing the church and families.

[Former Fetus]

Moore says instead of waging war on homosexuality, Baptists should accept that their view of marriage puts them in the minority of Americans.

Thank God that each Baptist church is an independent entity, not required to follow the dictates of the so-called "leaders". So, Rev. Moore can say what he pleases, but as for me and my (church) family, we will serve the Lord!