Posted on 06/18/2011 12:15:44 AM PDT by balch3
PHOENIX (ABP) The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said June 15 that Southern Baptists need to repent of a form of homophobia that keeps gays and lesbians out of their churches.
Albert Mohler responded during his report to the Southern Baptist Convention to a question from Peter Lumpkins, a Southern Baptist blogger, about whether comments attributed to him in a March 24 Christian Science Monitor article were accurate.
Writer Jonathan Merritt, a Southern Baptist minister and well-known social critic, quoted Mohler as saying Weve lied about the nature of homosexuality and have practiced what can only be described as a form of homophobia, and Weve used the choice language when it is clear that sexual orientation is a deep inner struggle and not merely a matter of choice.
Mohler said at the convention there is no way anyone in fair mindedness can be confused about what I believe about homosexuality, because he has written more than 200 articles about it, but that the reality is that we as Christian churches have not done well on this issue.
Evangelicals, thankfully, have failed to take the liberal trajectory of lying about homosexuality and its sinfulness, Mohler said. We know that the Bible clearly declares not only in isolated verses but in the totality of its comprehensive presentation the fact that homosexuality not only is not Gods best for us, as some try to say, but it is sin.
But we as evangelicals have a very sad history in dealing with this issue, he continued. We have told not the truth, but we have told about half the truth. Weve told the biblical truth, and thats important, but we havent applied it in the biblical way.
We have said to people that homosexuality is just a choice, Mohler said. Its clear that its more than a choice. That doesnt mean its any less sinful, but it does mean its not something people can just turn on and turn off. We are not a gospel people unless we understand that only the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ gives a homosexual person any hope of release from homosexuality.
Mohler said churches have not done their job until there are those who have been trapped in that sin sitting among us.
Lumpkin said in is blog June 16 that Mohlers answer was not what he expected to hear and something Ill be digesting a long time.
Mohler has appeared on television programs and been quoted in mainstream media many times over the years in opposition to gay marriage, ordination of gay clergy and other aspects of what he has called attempts to normalize homosexual behavior.
As recently as May Mohler described a decision by the Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbytery of the Twin Cities in Minnesota to ordain persons without regard to sexual orientation as yet another tragedy in the sad history of mainline Protestantisms race toward total theological disaster.
In June Mohler objected to use of the term clobber scriptures to describe Bible verses that label
“The SBC supports illegal immigration so its not surprising to me that they support gay rights.”
What “gay rights” does the SBC support and what is your source?
I’ve been to many churches in my life and not one of them asked my sexual orientation before entering.
“Another good reason to depart from organized religion and start home churches of like minded uncompromising saints.”
I’ve spoken to a lot of people that say that, most of them end up gossiping for an hour and then break out the beers.
You can thank the so-called “pastor” Rick Warren and the church’s nearly wholesale adoption of his pernicious and totally unbiblical “Purpose Driven Church” philosophy of mininstry for much of what you have so aptly said has been taking place within the church.
All heresies “go wobbly”, eventually.
In our SBC church in So. Cal., we’d have gays and lesbians visit. Sometimes they came with the intent to disrupt the service.
Once, about six transvestites dressed like hookers sashayed in after the service had started, creating a ruckus and expecting to be thrown out. (We in the choir had a panoramic view of the complete incident.) Instead of asking them to leave, the ushers escorted them to pews, and nobody in the congregation reacted to the weirdness. When they realized they weren’t getting the reaction they’d hoped for, they left.
Anyhow, we should welcome anyone to into the church services as it may be the only time they’ll hear the gospel. They shouldn’t be accepted as members while practicing sin, though. The old, “Hate the sin; love the sinner” saying.
“Homophobic” is the FEAR of homosexuals, not the hatred of homosexuals. We shouldn’t fear or hate them — just pray for them.
I don't mean to say that either a person who affirms homosexuality as legitimate or the one who just discretely practices it are not condemned. The act most certainly is. But there is a gulf of difference in the two, when one knows it's a sin, though he may capitulate to the illegitimate urges within him, while not wishing this on anyone else, and the other who proclaims that sin is not sin and militantly promotes this lie. The former should have our greatest empathy and prayers as well as every effort the help. The latter needs to hear the truth and be left with it.
“Looks like Harold Camping may be right about only one thing - the era of organized Christian Churches is over.”
Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
And it sounds like he still holds that position.
As anyone who has read the article would have noticed, he said that homosexuality is a sin. He basically said the equilivant of: hate the sin; love the sinner.
I completely agree. It's heartbreaking how Southern Baptist Churches have swallowed his lie wholesale. My dear mother, a Godly woman, gave me a copy that was handed out at her SB Church several years ago when the popularity of the "seeker-sensitive" malarkey was just gaining steam. I only got through the first couple of chapters before warning bells started going off. Warren has overwhelmingly confirmed my suspicions since then.
I always cleanse such warped theology out of my mind with a good dose of Scripture, and then maybe some of the writings of A.W. Tozer.
If a person must be free of sin before setting foot in a church, all the churches would be completely empty.
Very good post. Thank you.
Homosexuals have money, therefore we need to be nice to them?
Why are Christians even attentive to the gay community’s opinions regarding homosexually???
Ignore them. I could care less if they call us homophobes.
Most gays I know are hard core atheists and will NEVER give up their deviant lifestyle until they discover God on their own.
JMO...
Where do you get they support “gay rights”? Mohler has been against homosexual marriage and “normalization” of the lifestyle. Don’t read more into this than is there.
Straw man. No one is saying this at all. Dealing with sin, or at least the honest attempt to, is the issue. "Gays" don't want to deal with their sin, which they demand NOT to be called sin.
Homosexuality is sin. So are gluttony, lust and lying. Anyone here on FR guilty of those?
Churches should reach out to homosexuals in Christ's love, but should never condone or approve of their sin. Instead we need to inform them of what God says, show how sin can be defeated with the power of the Holy Spirit and how to live a moral and upright life before the Lord.
If we truly love the sinner, this shouldn't scare us or cause us to hate these people any more than alcoholism or drug addiction. However, Christians should NEVER put a homosexual in any sort of leadership or ministry position. This includes choir director or organist.
Finally, we need to remember that homosexuality is demonic and must be countered through the power of the Holy Spirit.
From the article:
When the resolution was amended to say that it was not to be construed as support for amnesty for any undocumented immigrant, it passed by a wide margin with a show of raised ballots.
Actually, yes, someone did say it. I was responding directly to a particular post.
We all stuggle with our own sins...but some definately have a far reaching impact both on the one committing the act as well as those who it affects in their path. To the onlooker it matters not what their struggle is or reasoning about it....they do know it is “sin” ...thus they struggle long before they act on it. It is this way with most any sin we are tempted to do. The struggle evidences something isn’t right. Homosexuals and or gays both struggle with their decision BEFORE they act on it.
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