Mohler says Baptists must repent of homophobia (Baptists going wobbly)

The church is the fellowship of baptized believers in Christ and their families. The church does not include mere attendees, the curious, the trolls, or the weeds.

While these are prospects for future membership, they are present by permission and not by inclusion.

They have no vote, no voice, and no authority in any church decisions that get made.

The bottom line is that a church worship service is NOT an evangelistic crusade. While some churches do have a portion of their service geared toward outreach to the unchurched, they do NOT include them in communion until after their repentance, faith, and baptism. In short, they are onlookers and not part of the body of Christ.

There is no difference between one sin and another.

I agree..however the consequences, who and how much those sins affects others are vastly different. Some leave scars for a life time, others not so much. Some cripple others do not. My point is God calls homosexuality an abomination for a reason. It's affects on an individual and those around them is tremendous. If you think not then think again of the very power it welds....it has an agenda politically and spiritually to destroy.

“go out to them? Yeah right, I'll bet they do that at your church all the time. I think I'll go to a gay bar and profess the gospel and see how many converts I get, (after I recover from my injuries).

Your attitude leaves much to be desired... For yes indeed there are Christians who "go out to them", and since you don't seem to be aware of that let me inform you that they do... and are very good at working with Homosexuals to help them and lead them to Christ.

They don't need their sin to be confronted by an individual. They already know it's sin. They know their sexual preference goes against the natural order of life. It's naive to think otherwise.

God knows where they are and how to prepare their heart...and when they are ready God will have the right individual there to meet them and reach out their hand to help pull them out of the pit they are in. After all it is HIS work...we are simply available when He desires.

Remember they turned their back on God...a person does this enough times God will let them have their way, though it grieves Him deeply. Those people generally have no desire to go to church unless it's one the homosexuals have taken over.

I was there, and you are very naive.

Mohler, for some inexplicable reason, is working with a group that has taken leadership in the SBC and are promoting cultural liberalism. Mohler’s “nuanced” statement, which is actually incoherent, was intended to begin the process of moving the Convention away from taking a clear Biblical stand on the homosexual lifestyle.

Using the language of “homophobia” is not accidental, just as the amnesty resultion’s use of “undocumented workers” was not accidental. The liberal trend is being “justified” as expanded “evangelism”. What it really represents is a desire to maintain membership numbers and cashflow. The result is going to be a war within the SBC leading to a split, a conservative takeover, or a collapse.

The church is the fellowship of baptized believers in Christ and their families. The church does not include mere attendees, the curious, the trolls, or the weeds.

While these are prospects for future membership, they are present by permission and not by inclusion.

They have no vote, no voice, and no authority in any church decisions that get made.

The bottom line is that a church worship service is NOT an evangelistic crusade. While some churches do have a portion of their service geared toward outreach to the unchurched, they do NOT include them in communion until after their repentance, faith, and baptism. In short, they are onlookers and not part of the body of Christ.

I’m sorry, xzins — I am not suggesting otherwise. What about my post made you believe that I believed anything contradictory to what you state above?? Please explain...

I wasn’t disagreeing with you. I was pinging you because I thought you’d be interested.

I was addressing anyone who’d think that a visitor is the same as a member.

I wasn’t disagreeing with you. I was pinging you because I thought you’d be interested.

I was addressing anyone who’d think that a visitor is the same as a member.

Thanks then. Sorry for the misunderstanding!

Not sure of your point? I agree with almost everything you said. I suspect I wouldn't appreciate your “tone” if I heard you speak it.

It seems you don't think evangelism belongs in the church service. I totally disagree with that aspect. We are to evangelize everywhere and in everything we do. Being a Christ like example to others.

The church service is one of the BEST places to reach the lost since they, for some reason, are actually in a church. Why are they there? Are they “seeking” answers. Are they in need of Christ? Are they reaching out for help? Are they even just a captive audience? What better opportunity to reach out to them? This can't happen if you don't let them in the door.

On that point we agree.

I can’t understand your thinking.
Just let others do it?
God already has people doing that job? (I know there are missions to reach gays)
There is only one way to reach out to gays?
I am waiting for God to tell me what I should do?

In a study I did once (I actually didn’t like it) but it stated, what I thought, was one profound concept.

“Find out where God is working and join Him”. (”working” meaning succeeding, not just doing)

God is working at my church bringing the “Good News” of Jesus Christ to “anyone” who will hear it. People are being “saved”. I don’t care if they are gay, felons, wife beaters, or drunks. If they get to hear the “Good News” of Jesus Christ, and turn away from sin, my God is pleased.

I don’t think God would be pleased with a mutual admiration society church, with their secret handshakes, secret code words and passwords. Where sinners (really “bad” sinners) who may be seeking salvation, are looked upon with disdain instead instead of pity.

“Sorry, sinners not allowed, only we the pious, the righteous, (by our own definition), can enter these sacred, hallowed walls.”

B.S. Short for BULLCRAP!

From your post you seem to think that we as Christians should be presenting the Gospel to everyone we meet regardless of God’s leading to those who has prepared for His great work. I disagree greatly. We are not called to step out on our own, for it is the work of His Spirit that prepares and moves the heart and mind of those He intends to reach..and in His timing not ours.

I have seen the effects of those, as yourself, who leave a trail of people behind them who were bombarded with the Gospel and made to feel less than acceptable to God...not to mention offended by the delivery...because it was done without the leadership of His Spirit. He does not just throw out the Gospel to everyone without having also prepared them, not to mention we are cautioned not give what is Holy to “swine”.....God prepared people to present the Gospel as well. Even the Apostles were “taught” by Jesus Himself before He sent them out.

Those who “wait on the Lord” to be directed where He leads will find their mission and their place of His choosing when they are ready and prepared by Him. Paul was wise to learn under others before He went to the Gentiles....we would do well to do likewise.

Each man is ‘equipped’ by God for their mission in His work...not all are evangelists, not all have the same abilities...but each one is equipped within the household of faith for the work He has for them to do.

So yes, there are those especially equipped to reach those within the homosexual community. It is not a matter of “just let others do it”, that’s a laxadaisy way of looking at it. Rather it is being wise enough to recognize what means is most effective and who is equipped for that....with results favorable and enduring.

Many have gone into mission work thinking it is enough to know the way of salvation. They go to another country, or into the cities on their own only to return battered and without the fruit they have hoped for. They learned the hard way that preparation is required.

I know don’t know of a single Christian church who would not be willing to work with repentant homosexuals who desire to know Christ...or for that matter any sinner reaching out to God.

So you are mistaken to think the Christian community would not help homosexuals. They are indeed reaching out and have been effective in leading these lost souls to Christ...and the hard work thereafter to leave their sin behind them.

Harold Camping is wrong. The church has been organized since its beginnings and a few slips do not change that fact. Chaos leads to apostasy on the levels of the mormon religion