Posted on 07/05/2005 2:43:21 PM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan
A network of Christian groups that minister to homosexuals says the United Church of Christ's decision to endorse same-sex marriage lacks a truly compassionate approach to the issue.
Yesterday, the rule-making body of the 1.3 million-member denomination voted to endorse same-sex marriage, making it the largest Christian denomination to do so.
About 80 percent of the representatives on the church's 884-member General Synod approved the resolution, which calls on members to consider wedding policies "that do not discriminate against couples based on gender."
It also asks churches to back legislation promoting same-sex marriage.
The evangelical network Exodus International believes churches must do more to reach out to homosexuals who feel alienated and excluded, but the United Church of Christ's decision is not the answer.
"Embracing homosexual unions, but abandoning the very truth that could change lives may be politically correct, but it is not true compassion," said Alan Chambers, a former homosexual who served as an associate pastor before becoming President of Exodus International.
"Homosexuals need to know they are welcome at their local church, but they also need to know that hundreds of thousands of us have found freedom from the isolation and emptiness we experienced in gay life through the power of Jesus Christ," he said.
Chambers added, "Our existence as ex-gays is additional proof that homosexuality is not an immutable trait and therefore, marriage is not a civil right to be extended to any group of individuals who demand it. Preserving the public purpose of marriage sets a higher standard for future generations and defines its biblical intention to those who are confused and questioning their sexuality. As a former homosexual who is now happily married, I am grateful for the laws that protected and esteemed this life-preserving, authentic union."
This is weird. . . I can't believe such a big church would be saying these kinds of things: "Support legislation that backs homosexual marriage." The end times are certainly upon us.
Like Grandma said:
"You can put your boots in the oven but that don't make them biscuits"
They should show true compasion by okaying murder, adultry, and lying.
They could take it to the logicial conclusion and say there is no real sin and therefore no sins need be forgiven. </sarcasm>
Among mainline Protestants, only the United Church of Christ sent officials to appear at RCRC's(the religious coalition for reproductive choice) Capital Hill press conference. So too did the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism
How many times in the New Testament does it say something akin to "in the time of th eend men will not be able to stand sound doctrine but will be turned to fables." How often are the Believers told to not recieve those bearing false doctrine into their house- nor bid them God speed?
The miltiant homosexual Steve Warren in 1987 in a rant
published under the Warning to the homophobes Published in the publication "The Advocate"one of the largest publications "of by,and for homosexuals -- Sept.1 issue
p.29 Declared they would use Christian churches to advance their cause."Yet the "Already captured press and
liberal establishment(schools ,TV,entertainment ,politics
the Courts ) have given a captive response either protecting the homosexual-or supressing any negatives.
The bible is True and everything else a LIE.
Ping
They will not remain a large denomination for long. The true believers will leave and go Fundamentalist, Catholic, or Orthodox. Soon their pews will be largely empty, and they'll be selling off their buildings and bemoaning the decline of their church.
Ichabod.
Oh you're back! I hope you had a good, relaxing time and didn't get sunburnt.
I'm done with my pinging for right now, I'll play catchup later on...Oh, I guess I'll get this one. Such a procrastinator I am.
""I can't believe such a big church would be saying these kinds of things:""
1.3 m members is hardly a big church...wanna bet their memberships falls
I had a great time, which included throwing kids in the cold water. :-)
Homosexual Agenda Ping.
What is the meaning of compassion? What is true kindness? Is it saying "you're fine as you are, you can't/shouldn't change? Or is it saying - you don't have to be "gay" - there is a way out?
Another question is this - why do people put blinders on to the fact that there are tens of thousands of former homosexuals? Why don't they want to know the truth? (Aside from the pushers of the "gay" agenda, that is.) One reason is this: when one begins to question the false "truths" that one clings to, then every assumption starts looking dubious as well.
IOW, one phony "truth" that is shown to be false, starts making cracks in the whole building. And what happens when one's whole life is shown to be a fraud? People don't want their fragile shell to be cracked open. Then it means they have to start looking into the real question, the only one that has any meaning - does God really exist, what is He like, and what do I need to do about the possibility of His existence?*
Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.
*[Or in the case above, thinking that I knew who or what God is, and then finding out it was all illusion.]
I've gotta find out someplace around here to go swimming. Welcome back!
When an abomination is given equal standing as Holy Matrimony, you know this fallen world is in its final death struggle. Don't underestimate how significant a sign this is, especially coming from a organization that claims to represent Christ. It ain't over, until its over, but I hope you don't have any long term plans in this world.
This has always been an extreme liberal "church" more akin to Unitarians than actual Christians.
The United Church of Christ is part of this so-called "liberal" Christianity...they've allowed openly homosexual individuals to become members, ordained ministers, etc. since the 1980s...I recently saw a seminary from that Church defend homosexual "marriage" (oxymornoic) on a t.v. show called Faith Under Fire...the church is home to sycophants like Barry Lynn...and it ran the ad after the election featuring bouncers turning away gays and minorities and then adding Jesus didn't turn away anyone...in other words those awful religious right churches are turning away minorities and gays...it reeks of political liberal activism.
Maybe we should call it the United Church of Satan!
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