What would you do if you were gay?

"Born Again" for the purposes of this post refers to someone who believes in the Calvinist doctrine of Perserverence of the Saints, e.g., "once saved, always saved". Because the Father has elected who shall believe and who shall be saved, the Son has redeemed the saved, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation to The Elect, those thus saved are eternally secure in Christ.

That's actually not far from what happens when a Born Again messes up and/or leaves the faith -- the other Born Agains say the person was never saved because he wasn't sincere in the first place.

Now this might surprise you, BAFRIEND, but I got exactly the same thing from my family when I became a Lutheran! Some conservative Protestants claim Catholics aren't "Christian" (and I'm definitely not one of those people!). My family believes that Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians -- and most Baptists -- aren't Christians and to join one of these churches means that one wasn't sincere when that person made their profession of faith (which is ALWAYS done during an "altar call" at the end of the service).

Translation: I'm going to Hell -- because I'm a Lutheran. For the same reason, I'm not allowed to give the invocation at family reunions, to say table grace when visiting my family (or when they visit me), or to participate in Communion at their church -- which really isn't a hardship for me, because I have no intention of attending their church in the first place!

The caveat is that the things which have been said or have occurred within the context of my post are specific to my more-or-less extended family and does NOT apply to all members of these denominations:

The denominations are:

- Church of Christ
- Primitive Baptist

Church of Christ as in United Church of Christ? Guess there are all different branches of that, b/c the UCC Church that i've begun to go by me is very liberal. The banner if front is "Jesus never turned anyone away...either do we". Tomorrow, instead of the usual Sunday service...we take the word of God and volunteer and bring the service to all different locatons such as senior homes, nursing homes, soup kitchen, shelters, hospices, and all those other places where people can't get to church. THAT is Christianity. DOING the walk as opposed to talking the talk. So, try to keep a balance and go to the ECLA and UCC...I like them both, so why pick? I think it's ok to do this right? Is it unchristian like to go to two different places? Never really thought about it. let me know if I'm wrong.

Is this true or are you just being sarcastic? Do these people really think that "being saved" is forever? You can go ahead and live a life of misery, destruction, etc..and b/c you are saved, you're good and the rest don't know the truth? WOW. Amazing. No wonder why religion gets a bad rap by so many and is the cause of every war we've ever had.

You are one paraniod individual.

And I leave my internet on for your information. And as I stated if anyone who is familar with orthodoxy and directly contradicts it is not worth listening too.

Well, it sort of like this, NewGuy:

The person who keeps hitting their head with a hammer and the person who finally says "enough" and leaves an abusive relationship are always so relieved with the pain finally stops.

And that's exactly the place I've reached with you. I have finally reached the place where I can say this in all honesty about your posts: I really don't care. I don't care what you post, and I don't care what you think.

I made a conscious decision just not even to bother with you — and it's very liberating, actually.

There are several other people on this board I'm going to suggest the same thing. Hope you enjoy posting to people who probably aren't going to respond.

If you call "reaching" calling me names and attacking me than I'm glad.

BTW this is a self-defeating statement.

Originally Posted by rick0824

Church of Christ as in United Church of Christ? Guess there are all different branches of that, b/c the UCC Church that i've begun to go by me is very liberal. The banner if front is "Jesus never turned anyone away...either do we". Tomorrow, instead of the usual Sunday service...we take the word of God and volunteer and bring the service to all different locatons such as senior homes, nursing homes, soup kitchen, shelters, hospices, and all those other places where people can't get to church. THAT is Christianity. DOING the walk as opposed to talking the talk. So, try to keep a balance and go to the ECLA and UCC...I like them both, so why pick? I think it's ok to do this right? Is it unchristian like to go to two different places? Never really thought about it. let me know if I'm wrong.

UCC is a hippie "reformed" church. Although I doubt they actually follow any of the traditional reformed values such as reason and the west minister confession of faith.

UCC is a hippie "reformed" church. Although I doubt they actually follow any of the traditional reformed values such as reason and the west minister confession of faith.

Then clearly you aren't familiar with RT.

Gee, NewGuy: I thought a good part of the basics of what Christians are to do was stated by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46:

31 But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36 I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’

40 “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,and didn’t help you?’

45 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you didn’t do it to one of the least of these,you didn’t do it to me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

If Matthew 25:31-46 is what it takes to be a "hippie" church, I'll gladly attend a "hippie" church any day over the self-satisfied smugness of the Exclusive Country Club of the Sanctified Elect.