Rainbow churches

[PloverWing]

What is the labryinth thing all about..walking round in circles?

It's a meditative exercise. The one time I walked a labyrinth, I found it to be deeply calming.

 

[anna ~ grace]

Christ calls us to deny ourselves, and follow Him. We can not deny ourselves and give in to self at the same time.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

I would rather they hear the message "Come, be Christian with us", instead of "Go away, we don't want you."

The gospel is not come be Christian with us. So if that is the message they are off already anyhow. Jesus sent many people away.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Jesus spoke to some of the most undesirable and ostracized people of his day. Why should we not welcome all into our midst to hear the Gospel?

 

[2Timothy2:15]

Jesus spoke to some of the most undesirable and ostracized people of his day. Why should we not welcome all into our midst to hear the Gospel?

Yes, and he told them sin NO MORE. He did not coddle them in their sin and turn a blind eye. Many followed him after they ate the bread that fed the five thousand. Jesus sent them away because they were looking for bread to fill their bellies and not for JESUS the true bread. He also sent the rich young ruler away as well. The idea that Jesus was embracing sin and allowing people to continue in it is a water downed gospel at best, even worse it is a false gospel.

 

[seeking.IAM]

All kinds of people look for the true bread. And, the church is full of all kinds of sinners. Let him without sin cast the first stone.

I am glad I am not a part of a church that picks and chooses who can attend there.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

All kinds of people look for the true bread. And, the church is full of all kinds of sinners. Let him without sin cast the first stone.

I am glad I am not a part of a church that picks and chooses who can attend there.

Love it, be the first to cast a stone, then he looked at the adulterous woman and said SIN NO MORE. He did not say continue in your adulterous ways until you feel like it...sigh, what were the guys doing with the stones? They were going to KILL her, this is not about welcoming people in the the fold. I really wish people would read the bible for themselves instead of interjecting a GOD to their own liking. One who winks at sin, embraces sexual perversion, and encourages the deviant to remain and infect the body.

With all due respect maybe the reason you think like you do is because that wonderful church you attend that allows this is unable to teach the word of God and divide it rightly which is why you think this way. That is the saddest thing to me. Who knows what else is going on there, what is done in the hidden rooms. One thing for sure, that pastor will account to the Lord one day. But you will give an account for yourself as to why you did not study the word more closely yourself. Standing up for truth and righteousness comes at a cost, it is hard and unpopular. I say these things not to offend you or insult you in any way, I say these things to jolt you out of a slumber. When you read that fornicators and sexual perverts will not enter the kingdom of heaven do you think that is a suggestion or a joke? I don't think so. Paul said do not even eat with these people let alone invite them into the church to stay. If they come and repent then Praise Jesus, but we are not to let them stay, a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Let's see who is behind churches putting up rainbow flags for a second. The rainbow is a creation of God. It is a COVENANT that the LORD would not flood the earth again. Why did he flood it? Man's wickedness right.

Now, the homosexual community has hijacked GODs symbol of a covenant and twisted it to fit their agenda which is total wickedness. Hmmmm, I wonder who would do that? Satan maybe. Now you have so called churches putting this mockery of Gods covenant on their church and flying flags...the LORD WILL NOT BE MOCKED. Wake up.

 

[seeking.IAM]

... Jesus sent them away because they were looking for bread to fill their bellies and not for JESUS the true bread. He also sent the rich young ruler away as well...

Precisely. Jesus sent them away. Jesus did it. I was not charged with the authority to bind and loose. I was charged with a whole bunch of other stuff. I have been commanded to love my neighbor as myself. I have been commanded not to judge. The Bible tells me to work on getting the logs out of my own eye before I turn to working on my neighbor's. God will judge us all. It's not my job. In fact I am expressly forbidden from doing it.

What we see in our dialogue is an example of why there are denominations and why there are rooms on christianforums.com for those looking for a church. Christians do have differences and it is important for seekers to find a church that is compatible with Christianity as they understand it.

 

[seeking.IAM]

....With all due respect maybe the reason you think like you do is because that wonderful church you attend that allows this is unable to teach the word of God and divide it rightly which is why you think this way. That is the saddest thing to me. Who knows what else is going on there, what is done in the hidden rooms...

You make false assumptions, and apparently do not understand what you speak. The Episcopal Church has relegated decisions about homosexuality to Bishops, to priests, then to congregations. My church is in a conservative diocese where gay marriages have been forbidden by the Bishop. Our congregation is a mixture of progressives and ultra conservatives. I do not know how the congregational vote would go if one was held, but that issue is moot for now.

What those progressives and ultra conservatives do is worship the risen Savior together. And, oh yes, we welcome seekers without being judgmental.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

You make false assumptions, and apparently do not understand what you speak. The Episcopal Church has relegated decisions about homosexuality to Bishops, to priests, then to congregations. My church is in a conservative diocese where gay marriages have been forbidden by the Bishop. Our congregation is a mixture of progressives and ultra conservatives. I do not know how the congregational vote would go if one was held, but that issue is moot for now.

What those progressives and ultra conservatives do is worship the risen Savior together. And, oh yes, we welcome seekers without being judgmental.

I think you are the one who does not understand what I am saying. Believe me I understand exactly what I speak of. You said your church welcomes homosexuals. The church Jesus built tells them to repent.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

Precisely. Jesus sent them away. Jesus did it. I was not charged with the authority to bind and loose. I was charged with a whole bunch of other stuff. I have been commanded to love my neighbor as myself. I have been commanded not to judge. The Bible tells me to work on getting the logs out of my own eye before I turn to working on my neighbor's. God will judge us all. It's not my job. In fact I am expressly forbidden from doing it.

What we see in our dialogue is an example of why there are denominations and why there are rooms on christianforums.com for those looking for a church. Christians do have differences and it is important for seekers to find a church that is compatible with Christianity as they understand it.

Actually we are given that bind and loose as Jesus gave it out to those he sent....sorry but I am not sure about your doctrine at all. You are commended to judge, between error and truth. You are not judging people as in the bible where judgement led to a sentencing.....I really wish people would study biblical judgement too.. I can see this is going no where good.

 

[dude99]

Love it, be the first to cast a stone, then he looked at the adulterous woman and said SIN NO MORE. He did not say continue in your adulterous ways until you feel like it...sigh, what were the guys doing with the stones? They were going to KILL her, this is not about welcoming people in the the fold. I really wish people would read the bible for themselves instead of interjecting a GOD to their own liking. One who winks at sin, embraces sexual perversion, and encourages the deviant to remain and infect the body.

With all due respect maybe the reason you think like you do is because that wonderful church you attend that allows this is unable to teach the word of God and divide it rightly which is why you think this way. That is the saddest thing to me. Who knows what else is going on there, what is done in the hidden rooms. One thing for sure, that pastor will account to the Lord one day. But you will give an account for yourself as to why you did not study the word more closely yourself. Standing up for truth and righteousness comes at a cost, it is hard and unpopular. I say these things not to offend you or insult you in any way, I say these things to jolt you out of a slumber. When you read that fornicators and sexual perverts will not enter the kingdom of heaven do you think that is a suggestion or a joke? I don't think so. Paul said do not even eat with these people let alone invite them into the church to stay. If they come and repent then Praise Jesus, but we are not to let them stay, a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Let's see who is behind churches putting up rainbow flags for a second. The rainbow is a creation of God. It is a COVENANT that the LORD would not flood the earth again. Why did he flood it? Man's wickedness right.

Now, the homosexual community has hijacked GODs symbol of a covenant and twisted it to fit their agenda which is total wickedness. Hmmmm, I wonder who would do that? Satan maybe. Now you have so called churches putting this mockery of Gods covenant on their church and flying flags...the LORD WILL NOT BE MOCKED. Wake up.

Can I point before Jesus stated go and sin no more, he knew she lived with a man not her husband. He shared the gospel gently with her. He did not condemn her while he shared the gospel. She never knew Jesus, but was awaiting for the messiah. If there is a transformation it be through Jesus Christ alone.

Sure homosexuality is a sin, so is watching inappropriate contentography, or looking at lust at a woman, even lying as well as hating someone is a sin. We all have been sinners, but through Jesus Christ we are set free and are transformed. Even so we are to love one another including homosexuals.

Even so anyone should be welcome no matter if they are gay or not in the churches, and even couples living outside wedlock.

 

[Albion]

Even so anyone should be welcome no matter if they are gay or not in the churches, and even couples living outside wedlock.

The critical issue concerns what they hear or read once they're there, wouldn't you say?

 

[seeking.IAM]

The critical issue concerns what they hear or read once they're there, wouldn't you say?

Agreed. My contention is that it is not my place to judge that they "got it" or "they didn't" anymore than anyone in the church is passing judgment on whether the sins unique to me qualify me to stay in the church. I've been a member of several churches of different faith traditions during my lifetime. Not one gave me a sin inventory to complete to decide if I was worthy. We are all unworthy.

If I wanted to be a part of a group where they voted on whether I was worthy, I would join a Rotary Club or the country club, that is if I could afford the dues.

 

[dude99]

The critical issue concerns what they hear or read once they're there, wouldn't you say?

I never condoned ranbow churches. BTW while you at it, no church is perfect but of course there are false churches no doubt. Of course there are no perfect churches and if it is so there would not be so many broken marriages in bible based churches.

 

[2Timothy2:15]

Can I point before Jesus stated go and sin no more, he knew she lived with a man not her husband. He shared the gospel gently with her. He did not condemn her while he shared the gospel. She never knew Jesus, but was awaiting for the messiah. If there is a transformation it be through Jesus Christ alone.

Sure homosexuality is a sin, so is watching inappropriate contentography, or looking at lust at a woman, even lying as well as hating someone is a sin. We all have been sinners, but through Jesus Christ we are set free and are transformed. Even so we are to love one another including homosexuals.

Even so anyone should be welcome no matter if they are gay or not in the churches, and even couples living outside wedlock.

Ok, first off, you are making an assumption she was living with a man that was not her husband. The gospel does not indicate that other than she was caught in adultery so you are adding to the scriptures where that information is not there.

Secondly, homosexuals and adulterous were put to death under the OT, not liars or people having lustful thoughts. So to lump all those thing together is just bad theology. Sure having lustful thoughts is a sin but carrying those thoughts out is a whole other level.

Show me where in the early church found in the NT that people welcomed these people among them? I would like to see chapter and verse. But I will show you were these types of people were kicked out of the church and where people were very careful whom they let in. I am sorry but what you are describing is not only not biblical but frankly watered down gospel seeker friendly sinner coddling nonsense. It really is no wonder churches are full of fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, drug addicts, and elders and pastors never address it but rather let it infect the whole body. You see if some guy is struggling with lustful thoughts and there is a woman who is sleeping with men in the church she calls her boyfriends from time to time don't you think that is really dangerous?

Sorry, I do not see this compromised version of embracing out right unrepentant sinners in the bible.

I will give a personal example. When my now wife and I were very new converts we were indeed living together, fornicating. I am so glad that the pastor told us to our face what we were doing. He did it in a loving way but showed us right in the bible where this was wrong. We repented, we got married and we stayed. I have no doubt if we did not repent, continued fornicating that the pastor would have asked us to leave and he would have been very right in doing so. To protect the flock. Now, I will say this, even though we repented we had things to deal with the Lord as a result of our actions that were tough to work through. Now if a church lets unrepentant homosexuals to just hang out, well you have a social club with a cross on the building and not a biblical church.....

 

[dude99]

Ok, first off, you are making an assumption she was living with a man that was not her husband. The gospel does not indicate that other than she was caught in adultery so you are adding to the scriptures where that information is not there.

Secondly, homosexuals and adulterous were put to death under the OT, not liars or people having lustful thoughts. So to lump all those thing together is just bad theology. Sure having lustful thoughts is a sin but carrying those thoughts out is a whole other level.

Show me where in the early church found in the NT that people welcomed these people among them? I would like to see chapter and verse. But I will show you were these types of people were kicked out of the church and where people were very careful whom they let in. I am sorry but what you are describing is not only not biblical but frankly watered down gospel seeker friendly sinner coddling nonsense. It really is no wonder churches are full of fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, drug addicts, and elders and pastors never address it but rather let it infect the whole body. You see if some guy is struggling with lustful thoughts and there is a woman who is sleeping with men in the church she calls her boyfriends from time to time don't you think that is really dangerous?

Sorry, I do not see this compromised version of embracing out right unrepentant sinners in the bible.

I will give a personal example. When my now wife and I were very new converts we were indeed living together, fornicating. I am so glad that the pastor told us to our face what we were doing. He did it in a loving way but showed us right in the bible where this was wrong. We repented, we got married and we stayed. I have no doubt if we did not repent, continued fornicating that the pastor would have asked us to leave and he would have been very right in doing so. To protect the flock. Now, I will say this, even though we repented we had things to deal with the Lord as a result of our actions that were tough to work through. Now if a church lets unrepentant homosexuals to just hang out, well you have a social club with a cross on the building and not a biblical church.....

You stated that homosexuals and adulturers were put to death in the OT laws. Even when Jesus was confronted by the teachers of the Law, they brought a woman forward that was confronted with adultery and stated she is to be stoned to death.

No matter the sins of people, any sin will lead to eternal condemnation without the Lord Jesus Christ in one life. All sin, no matter how small, is against the Lord, and is therefore worthy of an infinite and eternal penalty. Further, there is no sin too “big” that God cannot forgive it. Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin. Jesus died for all of our sins.

Well Jesus preached to the unbelievers and sinners of the day and shared the gospel with them. Sharing with them and even hanging out with them does not mean he is having equally yoked with them. Even Jesus hanged out with tax collectors who were detested by many in his day. Homosexuals people are detested by certain Christians too. Of course homosexuals and people that use drugs attend churches, and they should be welcomed to attend, but it does not mean they are equally yoked with fellow believers.

 

[dude99]

Also i met a former drug addict at church recently and if he did not attend church he will still be a drug addict.

 

[Goodbook]

Ok..question then, is it ok for me to invite this friend to a bible study from my church? Shall I confront her about sin?

I remember one of the leaders of my ladies bible study said she was fornicating eith her now husband and they were going to do the honorable thing by getting married, and the minister told her she had to get right with God before He went and married them. So she became a christian. And was born again...and eventually her husband followed, he got baptized last year. This minister wasnt actually part of the church she is in now, he was presy and she now goes to a baptist. But the thing is if the minister had not confronted her and told her the gospel he could have married themaand turned a blind eye or he could have refused to marry them. But I do think it comes from God convicting her since she approched the church to marry. I dont think she was already in a church.

 

[dude99]

Ok..question then, is it ok for me to invite this friend to a bible study from my church? Shall I confront her about sin?

I remember one of the leaders of my ladies bible study said she was fornicating eith her now husband and they were going to do the honorable thing by getting married, and the minister told her she had to get right with God before He went and married them. So she became a christian. And was born again...and eventually her husband followed, he got baptized last year. This minister wasnt actually part of the church she is in now, he was presy and she now goes to a baptist. But the thing is if the minister had not confronted her and told her the gospel he could have married themaand turned a blind eye or he could have refused to marry them. But I do think it comes from God convicting her since she approched the church to marry. I dont think she was already in a church.

Firstly if I were you I will pray about it. It be great to invite your friend to bible study. You can confront her about sin and tell on God designs for marriage as after all he invented marriage.