Yes. Catholic priest. To summarize:
Marriage is between a man and a woman.
Also — we shouldn’t be surprised that sinners do sinful things. The thing to focus on, personally, is that we’re Christians — are we doing CHRISTIAN things? Are we living like Christ?
There’s no way in heaven or hell that our pastor will ever “marry” 2 homosexuals. Ever. One pastor’s wife was crying in a conversation with a friend because she and her husband understand exactly what price they might have to pay.
Nothing explicit was said about the ruling, but then we had a substitute preacher as our regular pastor was on vacation.
HOWEVER, the lay minister who gave the announcements at the beginning of the service said merely, “Please take note of the Church Seminar announced in the Bulletin.”
Evidently, they have scheduled two evening sessions to teach the Biblical view of homosexuality. They were very cryptic about the location of these sessions, as if they feared hecklers/protesters, and did not state it in the bulletin.
I went to church and just got angrier than I already was. During prayer and praise requests a woman raised her hand and proceeded to gush over what a historic week it was, and how proud she was that such a thing could happen in this country. The pastor tried to be as neutral as possible and said something like, our congregation’s feelings cover the spectrum on this issue, that we need to be compassionate and that our denomination is one of the few that attempts to “hold the tension” between the two sides. I left furious. One, that the woman who spoke just assumed that everyone agreed with her, and two, that the pastor did not articulate a clear position.
So when I got home I looked up the official position of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and found that it does affirm traditional marriage and does not allow same-sex unions to be performed. For now, at least. So I emailed the pastor and told her my feelings and fears, and that pretty soon it’s not going to be possible to “hold the tension”, as she put it, because the church will need to take a clear stand. If ministers are forced into performing gay “weddings” there’s no room for faking it. Besides, I’m not sure what “holding the tension” means, anyway. And how can Christians take any other view except that it’s wrong?
Anyway, I’m meeting with the pastor this morning to hash these things out. I’ll let you know what she said. This whole thing has me really distressed. I want to respond in the way Christ would, which I’m sure isn’t with the murderous rage I feel towards Obama, the SCOTUS, and the Left in general. If anyone has any suggestions to achieve “Serentity Now” I would appreciate them.
We began the service with a srirring rendition OF “God Bless America, Again!” with patriotic themes on the big screen.
My pastor then said we are in the darkest times and he and the deacons were meeting that afternoon to discuss the future policy of wedding held at church.
The service was on prayer and there was an alter call where 90% of the congregation came down to pray God’s will be done.
16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
In the prayers yesterday, I included this petition, suggested by our synod:
Holy Father, as Your people we turn to You, our only refuge in every need. You see how confused our leaders and our people are at this time in regards to Your holy will that marriage be honored as the life-long union of one man and one woman. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy! Show us the path forward that we may be faithful to You even as we are uncompromising in our witness to Your will and ways. Help us to proclaim in Christ the gift of forgiveness for every sin and the promise of strength to live a new life by the Holy Spirit. Forgive us for everything we've done to undermine the sanctity of marriage in our society and through this difficult time bring us as a nation to repentance. We have no right to ask this, save through the merits and meditation of Him whose blood atones for the sin of the whole world, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
As a bulletin insert, I included this excellent pastoral letter from our synod president:
Synod president responds to SCOTUS same-sex marriage ruling
And in my remarks to the congregation after the service, I said something like what I posted on my FB page on Friday:
Today five "justices" (sic) of the Supreme Court, contrary to nature, reason, and moral law, and in violation of the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution they are sworn to uphold, trampled on the rights of states to have laws against homosexual "marriage" (sick). . . .
Of course, I and millions of other Americans will never recognize the legitimacy of their evil and unconstitutional ruling. And as an ordained minister, I will never conduct a homosexual wedding, regardless of the consequences. "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). . . .
This coming Sunday, I plan to bring the matter up in my sermon, as the appointed readings for the day (Ezekiel 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, and Mark 6:1-13) would lend themselves to preaching about the church's prophetic voice and the resulting persecution.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. --Romans 1:26-27 (ESV)
My new FB cover photo:
My new FB profile photo:
Nope. Passing nod to the Pope’s encyclical then dwelt on the message of that day’s Gospel. He is retiring at the end of next month.
We attended a PCA church so it was not complimentary of the ruling though not pushy.
My pastor was ON FIRE Sunday. His sermon was about good vs evil - In addition to a scathing rebuke of the Supreme Court decision, he told the congregation he had warned them about voting for candidates who believe in abortion and told them they needed to repent for their votes.
He also said it was not only a time to pray, but ACT and that the elections were no longer about being a Democrat or Republican. Christians needed to vote their faith.
The sermon was broadcast on the radio.
I missed yesterday because I was sick. Calling a friend later to see what he said.
We did not get any PC mumbo jumbo.
We got the Word of God.
Thank God for my pastor.
What an excellent question to post. I wish I hadn’t played hooky.
He and his wife also sought out A.M.E. churches in the area to assure them we are in union with their grieving for the evil that was done in Charleston.
Loose offerings were designated to donate to an A.M.E. church that shares the same name as our Episcopal Church.
Ushers told me it was the largest amount of loose offerings they had ever seen.
My pastor wanted a show hands of who would visit him in prison when the persecution begins. The message was on our Christian foundation as a nation, starting with the Mayflower Compact, preaching on II Chronicles 7:14 and that revival starts with the Christians, not the lost. Our musical was “Heal our Land” based on this Scriptude and if you want to see a few minutes of it, FreepMail me and I’ll send a link. Pray for our Vacation Bible School that starts tonight. We usually have 100 to 150 kids get saved every year and we know time is short to reach the lost.
We didn't get here by accident. The nation is reaping what it has sowed I'm sorry to say.
When my wife and I stood weeping at the grave of Ronald Reagan a few years ago, it was for missing the leadership of a great man, but also the demise of his Shining City on a Hill...
Pastor said nothing. I left disgusted.
Yes he did:
Phillipians 4:6
An excellent choice after such a disaster.