Is the Devil using LGBTQ to destroy Christian churches?

[The Liturgist]

Thank you. I pray for everyone on these forums and for those who just lurk but don't post as we all need the mighty benefits of prayer. I don't know who they all are but God does and I trust Him to keep track of them all.

I greatly appreciate your prayers!

 

[Gary O']

I greatly appreciate your prayers

Of late, I'm learning of the great and wonderful power of prayer.

What a bastion in these final days.

Keep praying, without ceasing, brothers and sisters

 

[RileyG]

I am not an adventist, but the answer is a resounding yes! it's become the "new normal" in our society. the devil is full of lies. reject them.

 

[Sunflower39]

So Pope Francis is all for blessing same sex couples but he’s against the ordination of women. It makes no sense to me. He has his priorities wrong.

 

[BobRyan]

Do you know of any SDA churches which have openly gay ministers or have made statements contradictory to normative SDA doctrine and the teachings of Ellen G White on human sexuality or other issues?

yeah - sadly that is a problem with a few congregations. But in a group of 22 million members one has to expect that some congregations can be found that skew outside of the norm.

 

[Gary K]

yeah - sadly that is a problem with a few congregations. But in a group of 22 million members one has to expect that some congregations can be found that skew outside of the norm.

I just found out that our pastor and the conference where I live are pushing the LGBTQ agenda. A woman my wife knows very well told her that. She is really angry about it. When they crossed her they woke up a mamma bear with cubs.

Another thing she told my wife was that a husband and wife who work with the homeless have have been bringing a guy to church who works for them and he was caught in the men's bathroom shooting up last Sabbath. We are in the very end times and the shaking and sifting of Adventism is going on full bore.

 

[friend of]

Now Jesus mentions the great falling away in Matt.24. I believe that this prophecy began its fulfillment in 2005

Agreed. We are in the midst of it.

 

[HopeSings]

In my opinion politics are the biggest problem in churches.

 

[RileyG]

Of late, I'm learning of the great and wonderful power of prayer.

What a bastion in these final days.

Keep praying, without ceasing, brothers and sisters

Thank you for your prayers.

Blessings

 

[RileyG]

yeah - sadly that is a problem with a few congregations. But in a group of 22 million members one has to expect that some congregations can be found that skew outside of the norm.

That's interesting. How many SDA congregations actually affirm it? I haven't become familiar with them until I went to college and realized they were worldwide- even in small towns. I lived a rather shelter life in my youth.

 

[BobRyan]

That's interesting. How many SDA congregations actually affirm it? I haven't become familiar with them until I went to college and realized they were worldwide- even in small towns. I lived a rather shelter life in my youth.

once in a blue moon I hear about one going for LGBTQ -- but whole congregations like that are pretty hard to find.
And our denomination level statements are pretty clear - we oppose it.

As you note - SDA churches are all over the world - 5th largest Christian denomination according to ChristianityToday - and fastest growing. Just last month - in one single month in one single country (PNG) - 300,000 people were baptized into the Seventh-Day Adventist church.

By contrast 7500 churches leave the UMC according to April 2024 report of USA today

Here’s what a massive exodus is costing the United Methodist Church: Splinter explainer

Ahead of UMC General Conference – where it will decide on a new budget – a look at the financial impact of 7,500-plus churches leaving in five years.

www.usatoday.com

"The United Methodist Church losing a quarter of its churches in five years -- is just the start."

 

[rturner76]

Is the Devil using LGBTQ to destroy Christian churches?​

In practical application, I think it's the other way around. The LGBTQ "community" isn't trying to eliminate Christianity but many factions in Christianity are trying to either eliminate the LGBT community or shame the LGBTQ community back into the closet to be isolated with their shame.

 

[BobRyan]

Is the Devil using LGBTQ to destroy Christian churches?​

In practical application, I think it's the other way around. The LGBTQ "community" isn't trying to eliminate Christianity but many factions in Christianity are trying to either eliminate the LGBT community or shame the LGBTQ community back into the closet to be isolated with their shame.

the facts... the news... #31 appears to differ with your suggestion

 

[rturner76]

the facts... the news... #31 appears to differ with your suggestion

It may be different from my suggestion but not much different than my experience. For example, I have never seen the LGBTQ+ community try to remove a Christian from their "community" but I have seen LGBTQ+ people run out of their Christian community.

I'm pretty sure it's not the LGBTQ+ community is not causing a mass exodus but that particular denomination split over the issue. I don't think there are 75,000 LGBTQ+ people splitting off the UMD.

There are two philosophies I have noticed with Protestants........They either embrace or shun sinners. Some believe that the best place for a sinner is in the house of God and some believe the best place for sinners is in hell. It's a shame that there is not one person without sin, that would make it easier to shun ALL sinners and not just the gay ones but since we all sin and fall short, the LGBTQ+ community is the most visible target.

 

[Lukaris]

It may be different from my suggestion but not much different than my experience. For example, I have never seen the LGBTQ+ community try to remove a Christian from their "community" but I have seen LGBTQ+ people run out of their Christian community.

I'm pretty sure it's not the LGBTQ+ community is not causing a mass exodus but that particular denomination split over the issue. I don't think there are 75,000 LGBTQ+ people splitting off the UMD.

There are two philosophies I have noticed with Protestants........They either embrace or shun sinners. Some believe that the best place for a sinner is in the house of God and some believe the best place for sinners is in hell. It's a shame that there is not one person without sin, that would make it easier to shun ALL sinners and not just the gay ones but since we all sin and fall short, the LGBTQ+ community is the most visible target.

We are to hate sin ( Amos 5:14-15) not sinners ( Romans 3:23). The Lord preached repentance and remission of our sins ( Luke 24:47. Such sins include carnal sins as St. Paul lists in Romans 1:18-32 as per the Lord in Matthew 15:16-20).

If we have confessed to the Lord ( Romans 10:9-13) we should be free from outright perversion ( Ephesians 5:1-20) and know the need to keep our fallen urges in check ( 1 John 1:5-10).


Just wanted to say that I mixed up where I was forum wise. I didn’t mean to intrude with this post.

 

[reddogs]

Which side is leaving?

Obviously, the progressives are leaving. What a stupid question.

I was wrong. It is the conservatives who are leaving.

The author of the article accidently revealed the answer right near the very end of the article. Marc, the author, fell and hit his head or something, and useful information came out.

The church is so corrupted at the highest levels that the conservatives have to leave is shocking to me. But should I be shocked? Probably not.

The Devil is never going to strive to knock his own out of the church, its Gods people he works hard at taking down and out of the church, and seems he took a good chunk in this case..

 

[reddogs]

I almost hate to ask what seems an obvious question, but what does "full apostasy" say re: the timing in the calendar of the ages? Doesn't AD70 say something about the extent of God's patience with rebellion among His People? Or does this say more about the narrow gate and way vs. the wide one, and/or the darnel vs. the wheat in the pews? It doesn't seem to bode well, but what does it bode?

Just look at the ministry of Jim Baker and Tammy Faye and the PTL, it was a while till it hit bottom, but it was going there almost from the start...

 

[reddogs]

It may be different from my suggestion but not much different than my experience. For example, I have never seen the LGBTQ+ community try to remove a Christian from their "community" but I have seen LGBTQ+ people run out of their Christian community.

I'm pretty sure it's not the LGBTQ+ community is not causing a mass exodus but that particular denomination split over the issue. I don't think there are 75,000 LGBTQ+ people splitting off the UMD.

There are two philosophies I have noticed with Protestants........They either embrace or shun sinners. Some believe that the best place for a sinner is in the house of God and some believe the best place for sinners is in hell. It's a shame that there is not one person without sin, that would make it easier to shun ALL sinners and not just the gay ones but since we all sin and fall short, the LGBTQ+ community is the most visible target.

Please, its like the drug culture, the moment they get together they exclude any believer from their midst. I have many who I grew up with or considered close who have gone down this path, and they don't hide it...

 

[rturner76]

Please, its like the drug culture, the moment they get together they exclude any believer from their midst. I have many who I grew up with or considered close who have gone down this path, and they don't hide it...

To me it goes back to the question, where is the best place for a sinner? My opinion is that it's in the middle of the church so they can be exposed to a better way of life. This is also the most successful way to break the chains of addiction. Without spiritual development, there can be no growth. It starts with denying one's self-will and doing the will of their higher power. There seem to be differing philosophies when it comes to the question of whether sinners should be removed from the church or welcomed in.

Also like with homosexuality etc. people who are addicted live with a lot of shame and guilt and feel they contaminate those who are living the life they want.

 

[reddogs]

To me it goes back to the question, where is the best place for a sinner? My opinion is that it's in the middle of the church so they can be exposed to a better way of life. This is also the most successful way to break the chains of addiction. Without spiritual development, there can be no growth. It starts with denying one's self-will and doing the will of their higher power. There seem to be differing philosophies when it comes to the question of whether sinners should be removed from the church or welcomed in.

Also like with homosexuality etc. people who are addicted live with a lot of shame and guilt and feel they contaminate those who are living the life they want.

There are certain sins which are such a nature as to be dangerous to others, pedophile comes to mind, and sexual sins are in the same line, as its just like an addiction. They can't control it...