A win for religious freedoms?

[davidees]

I feel like this issue is about to cause a lot of conflict in several denominations. The marrying thing is just part of the issue. There will be conflict over whether or not openly gay people should be allowed to serve on committees, teach Sunday school, be elected deacons, etc.. How do churches react when openly gay people start bringing their partner to church? Especially small to medium churches in small town Mississippi. We are gonna see some churches split up over this issue.

Attending and being members (you have to be a member before you can participate in stuff like that) are two different things. A bible believing church shouldn't accept a member who's living in open, unrepented sin.

[Wingman]

How do churches react when openly gay people start bringing their partner to church? Especially small to medium churches in small town Mississippi. We are gonna see some churches split up over this issue.

Churches *should* react the same way they do when anyone else who sins on a daily basis (ie everyone) walks in the door. When a church begins to refuse sinners entry, it has truly lost its way. That is completely different than ordaining a same-sex marriage. Church is designed, by God, to be a welcoming and open place of repentance and worship.

Bingo.

[DuckBoat]

How do churches react when openly gay people start bringing their partner to church? Especially small to medium churches in small town Mississippi. We are gonna see some churches split up over this issue.

Churches *should* react the same way they do when anyone else who sins on a daily basis (ie everyone) walks in the door. When a church begins to refuse sinners entry, it has truly lost its way. That is completely different than ordaining a same-sex marriage. Church is designed, by God, to be a welcoming and open place of repentance and worship.

Bingo.

I don't think so. Please read Paul's first letter to the church of Corinth(1st Corinthians) and you will find a church that "has truly lost its way". It seems pretty clear that the church should not accept this type of behavior in the church.

[davidees]

"Churches *should* react the same way they do when anyone else who sins on a daily basis (ie everyone) walks in the door. When a church begins to refuse sinners entry, it has truly lost its way. That is completely different than ordaining a same-sex marriage. Church is designed, by God, to be a welcoming and open place of repentance and worship."

"I don't think so. Please read Paul's first letter to the church of Corinth(1st Corinthians) and you will find a church that "has truly lost its way". It seems pretty clear that the church should not accept this type of behavior in the church."

He was a member, sleeping with his father's wife. Again, I reiterate, anyone should be welcome to come sit in a pew, but sinners living in open rebellion should not be allowed to join the congregation as members.

[CBrown]

When and where in the Bible does it say the church is for sinners? The church is the bride of Christ, the called out ones. But instead we have traded the Word of God for our own lifestyles. The new great commission is to "go ye therefore into all nations and invite people to church". Nope, wrong. The Church of Jesus Christ is full of sheep so why would we let wolves into our congregation?

It is not the pastors job to convert sinners. It is his job to shepherd the flock and teach the Word. That is why most Southern Baptist are biblically illiterate, because the Pastor is always preaching an evangelical sermon to convert the lost people that make up 90 percent of his congregation.

Reminds me of a story John Macarthur told. A man walks out into a meadow and sees a Shepherd watching his flock. As the man gets closer he realizes the pasture is full of new born lambs. So the guy walks over to the Shepherd and says, "Wow look at all those lambs, when did you give birth to them all?" So the Shepherd looks at him and says, "I didn't give birth to all of these lambs." So the man asked, "well who did" and the Shepherd answered, " The sheep did."

[davidees]

If you're biblically illiterate, regardless of the church you attend, it's your own fault. It's on you to read The Word. The preacher doesn't and can't do it for you. As for people attending church, you don't check membership cards at the door and say, "Naw, you ain't a member, therefore you ain't welcome to come hear The Word of God, now git!" Who does that? There is a process of becoming a member of most churches, you don't just show up and join, but you can show up and hear.
Romans 10:14-15 says, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
That said, it is our job (as Christians) to share the gospel outside of church. Do it whenever you can.

[CBrown]

First let me say that I belong to a SBC church so it was not a slight at Southern Baptist alone. But most of our churches preach topical sermons that rarely relate to the passage cited at the beginning of the sermon. The sermons degrade into therapeutic moral theism where the pastor is telling stories and a list of do's and don'ts. Expository book by book, verse by verse preaching is rare today.

I disagree with you that there is a process at most churches to become a member. Yes I think if you show up a couple of weeks in a row and then request membership you will probably get ushered right in to many of the churches in Mississippi today. Yes all can hear, and I pray all do hear the Gospel in their lifetime. But if an openly homosexual couple came to our church, then after the sermon our pastor would meet with them and share the Gospel. Not only after the sermon but for as long as it took if they were still open to hearing the Word then he would meet them anytime and any place. But, after that first Sunday if they insisted on coming back to our Church and attending without repentance then they would not be allowed to meet with the believers.

In Romans 10: 14-15 Paul is clearly talking about the man who is called to missions and is SENT to preach the Word. Paul was talking about us the believers. It is our feet that should be bringing the Gospel of Peace. My point was this, today there will be 6 million members of the SBC that will not be in church this morning. Nor have they been in over 6 months. The reason they departed from us is because they never were from us.

Last point and then I am done. Church discipline is clearly taught in the Word of God, but when is the last time anyone has seen it exercised?

[davidees]

First let me say that I belong to a SBC church so it was not a slight at Southern Baptist alone. But most of our churches preach topical sermons that rarely relate to the passage cited at the beginning of the sermon. The sermons degrade into therapeutic moral theism where the pastor is telling stories and a list of do's and don'ts. Expository book by book, verse by verse preaching is rare today.

I disagree with you that there is a process at most churches to become a member. Yes I think if you show up a couple of weeks in a row and then request membership you will probably get ushered right in to many of the churches in Mississippi today. Yes all can hear, and I pray all do hear the Gospel in their lifetime. But if an openly homosexual couple came to our church, then after the sermon our pastor would meet with them and share the Gospel. Not only after the sermon but for as long as it took if they were still open to hearing the Word then he would meet them anytime and any place. But, after that first Sunday if they insisted on coming back to our Church and attending without repentance then they would not be allowed to meet with the believers.

In Romans 10: 14-15 Paul is clearly talking about the man who is called to missions and is SENT to preach the Word. Paul was talking about us the believers. It is our feet that should be bringing the Gospel of Peace. My point was this, today there will be 6 million members of the SBC that will not be in church this morning. Nor have they been in over 6 months. The reason they departed from us is because they never were from us.

Last point and then I am done. Church discipline is clearly taught in the Word of God, but when is the last time anyone has seen it exercised?

I don't disagree with any of that. I think we are pretty much saying the same thing.

[bigoak]

How do churches react when openly gay people start bringing their partner to church? Especially small to medium churches in small town Mississippi. We are gonna see some churches split up over this issue.

Churches *should* react the same way they do when anyone else who sins on a daily basis (ie everyone) walks in the door. When a church begins to refuse sinners entry, it has truly lost its way. That is completely different than ordaining a same-sex marriage. Church is designed, by God, to be a welcoming and open place of repentance and worship.

Anyone who does not think there will be conflict in churches when more and more open unrepenting homosexuals come out has got their head in the sand. How would you vote if an openly gay couple stood together before your church as a legally married couple and asked for membership?

[davidees]

How do churches react when openly gay people start bringing their partner to church? Especially small to medium churches in small town Mississippi. We are gonna see some churches split up over this issue.

Churches *should* react the same way they do when anyone else who sins on a daily basis (ie everyone) walks in the door. When a church begins to refuse sinners entry, it has truly lost its way. That is completely different than ordaining a same-sex marriage. Church is designed, by God, to be a welcoming and open place of repentance and worship.

Anyone who does not think there will be conflict in churches when more and more open unrepenting homosexuals come out has got their head in the sand. How would you vote if an openly gay couple stood together before your church as a legally married couple and asked for membership?

The exact same way I'd vote if it were an unwed couple living together, or someone I know to be an unrepented drunkard/ drug abuser, a known adulterer, etc....NO!

[CBrown]

bigoak wrote:


ShotgunSP wrote:


bigoak wrote:

How do churches react when openly gay people start bringing their partner to church? Especially small to medium churches in small town Mississippi. We are gonna see some churches split up over this issue.


Churches *should* react the same way they do when anyone else who sins on a daily basis (ie everyone) walks in the door. When a church begins to refuse sinners entry, it has truly lost its way. That is completely different than ordaining a same-sex marriage. Church is designed, by God, to be a welcoming and open place of repentance and worship.

Anyone who does not think there will be conflict in churches when more and more open unrepenting homosexuals come out has got their head in the sand. How would you vote if an openly gay couple stood together before your church as a legally married couple and asked for membership?

The exact same way I'd vote if it were an unwed couple living together, or someone I know to be an unrepented drunkard/ drug abuser, a known adulterer, etc....NO!

X 1000

Being a homosexual is not what sends a person to hell. Not being born again is what sends a person to hell.

John Chapt 3 tells us: 5Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7"Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'…

Only people born from above should be allowed to join the Bride of Christ (or Church, same thing) and the bible clearly states that those who make a practice of the above are not Born from above.