what would you do?

[ChaliceThunder]

Of course I would do something. I would say hello and welcome them.

What else would any Christian do?

Evidently SOME Christian churches would say: "Welcome, gentlemen! Do you do live in the same abode? If so, we shall require proof that neither of you is doing the nasty with the other. Otherwise, the Bible tells us that we are to call you sinners and to cast you out from this exclusive fellowship."

 

[UnitedInChrist]

This poll is mainly geared towards hetero's but all are welcome to post their thoughts.

Hypothetical situation.

An openly homosexual couple join your church, are you compelled to do anything?

If anyone feels inclined to respond, I'd also like to know what your position is at your church, and also what you would do if you were the head pastor (if anything different).


By starting this discussion I am hoping to try to give some insight to fellow brethren so please use your best efforts not to completely derail the thread

I belong to the First Congregational Church which is part of the UCC (United Church of Christ). It is an OPEN and AFFIRMING church where ALL are welcomed. Jesus never turned anyone away from his table...nor should the church. Our congregation is a mix of everyone. Many gay couples attend, right along many seniors, married couples with children, asians, african-americans, handicapped, etc... No one cares..and it's never discussed. The pastor welcomes all. He greats everyone and all join us for coffee hour immediately following the service. Who are any of us to judge? We also have about 3 homeless people that come to service every Sunday as well...and they too are welcomed and greeted the same as those in suit and tie.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

I belong to the First Congregational Church which is part of the UCC (United Church of Christ). It is an OPEN and AFFIRMING church where ALL are welcomed. Jesus never turned anyone away from his table...nor should the church. Our congregation is a mix of everyone. Many gay couples attend, right along many seniors, married couples with children, asians, african-americans, handicapped, etc... No one cares..and it's never discussed. The pastor welcomes all. He greats everyone and all join us for coffee hour immediately following the service. Who are any of us to judge? We also have about 3 homeless people that come to service every Sunday as well...and they too are welcomed and greeted the same as those in suit and tie.

Your church is a powerful witness to Christ in the world.

Glad you've found such a great place.

 

[Jet_A_Jockey]

Of course I would do something. I would say hello and welcome them.

What else would any Christian do?

good post

 

[TheFathersDaughter]

The Body is supposed to be group of people worshipping God and fellowshipping. Fellowshipping does NOT include gossip, which unfortunately, is quite a trend in churches. And gossip is something I can't stand. How do YOU know they're having sex? If they come in and just start spouting "Yeah we have sex every night" I think you have other things to worry about. But if you find it out by eavesdropping or even ASSUMING then I think there are other things that need to be looked into.

A church shouldn't HAVE to do anything unless they come forward themselves with the desire to be prayed over. And most couples won't because they obviously want to go to church and no matter what anyone says, the majority of the church will get hostile if it's found out that the two are a couple.

If a homosexual couple came to my church and found themselves in that situation, I would be the one sitting next to them in the empty pew because no one wants to sit next to "disgusting gays" and really fellowshipping. Church is not a social group people.

 

[Jet_A_Jockey]

By openly homosexual, do you mean they are a homosexual couple that pretty much let us know that they are having sex?.

Hello Zaac,

This is what I was getting at with this post, how prejudice it would be for us to call out, preach about, or teach a doctrine against homosexual sins, when we do not the same for every unmarried couple who walks through the door? To assume the homosexual couple is having sex, and that it must be addressed, is quite a leap when there are probably 10 times as many hetero couples who are there every sunday and do not get called out on their -assumed- fornicative actions.

Once again, conviction on assumption cannot lead to prosperous results.
Obviously if they came in and were teaching a false doctrine they should be corrected, but otherwise why should we single them out? Let the Holy Spirit do the convicting I say.

thanks for your reply btw.

 

[MrPirate]

Its great to see the number of good Christians who welcome people to their churches

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Jesus welcomes all, so of course we're expected to welcome all. But if we reject him, do you expect him to let us stay? We'd get cut off and thrown into the fire. A repentant heart will not be turned away, all who come to him should be accepted, but we would have to let that person know that accepting Jesus means rejecting sin. Accepting sin to a church is like rejecting Jesus, so it's to be cut off. PERSONALLY, I wouldn't talk to the person unless they declared it before everyone because I'm described as a "shy, quiet person." I have no need to involve myself in one's personal matters, especially one who doesn't want me in those affairs. What the person does in private is something they'll have to answer to God for, not me. Also, as Zaac previously indicated in another post, this does not only apply to homosexual fornicators, but to all of us. We're all accountable.

 

[united4Peace]

I voted something ...





I would welcome them!! Just as I would anyone else

 

[united4Peace]

By openly homosexual, do you mean they are a homosexual couple that pretty much let us know that they are having sex?

If so, yes. If by some wonder, they were allowed to join the church, they would be held to the same Biblical standard as every other member.

Is someone is walking in disobedience, he is to be admonished, warned and appealed to in love. 2 Tim 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction

The admonishing or correcting is not limited to church leaders but any member in the body who is spiritually mature and led of the Spirit.

First, we are to seek private correction and/or reconciliation with the offender. The Bible says in Mat. 18:15 15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

If the first step fails, witnesses are to be taken to strengthen the effect of the discipline, preferably spiritual leaders, so that if it has to be brought before the whole church it can be firmly proven and established.

16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' Matt. 18:16


If the second step fails, seek reconciliation and restoration through the whole body and taking it before the whole church.

17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector Matthew 18:17

If theydo not want to receive discipline from the church body, they are to be removed from the body.


But note this process is the same for EVERYONE, not just gay couples.

Im assuming your Church only has Married Heterosexuals...

Our church has a mixture...some married, some common law...as for homosexuals, no idea...I dont know what people do in thier bedrooms...they could be having 3somes for all I care... as their sex life is between them and God

As for myself I like the diversity as I know God is there for all and we are all apart of God and in God's place for the same reason (to worship)

 

[Zaac]

I cannot help it if you and your church are sin-focussed. We prefer to focus on mission, ministry, worship and hospitality.

We prefer to focus on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It happens to deal with sin.

Indeed - if your church is overly interested in the sex life of its members - then your church IS lurid, prurient, and way out of line with the Jesus' command.

You must be reading a secular progressive translation of the Bible.

 

[Zaac]

Hello Zaac,

This is what I was getting at with this post, how prejudice it would be for us to call out, preach about, or teach a doctrine against homosexual sins, when we do not the same for every unmarried couple who walks through the door? To assume the homosexual couple is having sex, and that it must be addressed, is quite a leap when there are probably 10 times as many hetero couples who are there every sunday and do not get called out on their -assumed- fornicative actions.

Absolutely Jet. There would be no reason to assume that they are having sex.

But let me ask this question. You say they are an openly gay couple. Can you understand why a Church that believes what God says about a man uniting with a wife and becoming one flesh would not want to appear to be endorsing such behavior?

 

[Zaac]

Im assuming your Church only has Married Heterosexuals...

Why?

Our church has a mixture...some married, some common law...as for homosexuals, no idea...I dont know what people do in thier bedrooms...they could be having 3somes for all I care... as their sex life is between them and God

Being a Christ honoring body, we are not to give the impression that we are encouraging homosexual coupling. It goes against the basics of what God's Word says about husband and wife.

As for myself I like the diversity as I know God is there for all and we are all apart of God and in God's place for the same reason (to worship)

Okay. You go for diversity. We'll continue to uphold the standard of Christ.

 

[davedjy]

We'll continue to uphold the standard of Christ.

That should read "We'll continue to uphold what we believe the standard of Christ to be".

 

[Zaac]

That should read "We'll continue to uphold what we believe the standard of Christ to be".

It reads the way it was intended to be read.

 

[davedjy]

It reads the way it was intended to be read.

Of course I realize that, I corrected it for you.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

We prefer to focus on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It happens to deal with sin.



You must be reading a secular progressive translation of the Bible.

The Gospel of Christ is more concerned with Love and the Release from Sin.

You guys who are so focussed on sin are really missing out on a lot of the good stuff Jesus gave us. But that is your choice.

 

[Zaac]

Of course I realize that, I corrected it for you.

No need to correct that which is right.

 

[Zaac]

The Gospel of Christ is more concerned with Love and the Release from Sin.

Wow. How are you gonna preach a Gospel about release from sin without talking about sin? You act like it's wrong for a church to preach about man's need for a savior from that which leads to destruction.

You guys who are so focussed on sin are really missing out on a lot of the good stuff Jesus gave us. But that is your choice.

You guys who focus on God's love while leaving out his wrath against sin are preaching a false gospel. But that's your choice.

 

[davedjy]

No need to correct that which is right.

It isn't right, it is the truth according you to your uneducated opinion of what you believe God's Word to be. As you said, you are willing to trust false translations, even though, translation to translation there are extreme inconsistencies, and they don't agree with each other.