State Baptists expel Cabarrus church for accepting gay members

[J-Excel]

They should be allowed to discriminate against homosexuals, just as they should be allowed to discriminate against people who engage in bestiality, pedophilia, necrophilia and other sexual deviant behavior. What if it were a church that openly accepted pedophiles? Would there be an issue with expelling them?

[M_Six]

Quote:

Thanks for your thoughtful contribution to the discussion.

Actually I was being redundant as "sanctimonious" means "excessively or hypocritically pious", so I didn't need the extra "hypocrites". Should have said morons or jackasses or...

My point being that the whole big "draw" to Christianity is the chance to be saved or absolved of your sins and that only Christ is qualified to do so. This church organization seems to think they know better than Christ what is right and what is wrong. In my mind, that makes them the more grievous sinners.

[Knothead]

Quote:

Originally posted by M_Six


My point being that the whole big "draw" to Christianity is the chance to be saved or absolved of your sins and that only Christ is qualified to do so. This church organization seems to think they know better than Christ what is right and what is wrong. In my mind, that makes them the more grievous sinners.

Could not have said it better myself!

Let's have some fun here...

(Knock knock)
Rev. Bob: Welcome to our church, brother! Say, what's that in your hand?

Axe Murderer: It's m' axe. I'm an axe murderer.

Rev: You're a...say, you ain't no queer, are ya?

A.M.: No, no, nothin' like that. Just axe murderin', ya know. Can I come in?

Rev.: You can't come in here like that!

A.M.: Why not? Where does it say in the Bible that axe murderers can't be saved?

Rev.: Axe Murderers are proscribed in the eyes of the Lord!

A.M.: Now, you're just makin' that up, the Bible don't say nothin' against axe murderers!

Rev: Well maybe not, but you're givin' me the heebie jeebies there, fella!

Where, oh where does it stop?

[J-Excel]

Thou shalt not kill. Even with an axe.

[osprey4]

Quote:

Originally posted by M_Six
My point being that the whole big "draw" to Christianity is the chance to be saved or absolved of your sins and that only Christ is qualified to do so. This church organization seems to think they know better than Christ what is right and what is wrong. In my mind, that makes them the more grievous sinners.

You're entirely correct. Bear in mind that this particular church, if the facts presented are accurate, are in fact reaching out to these men. And as an independent congregation, which all Baptist churches are, no "parent" organization can put any pressure on them to do otherwise. There ain't no such thing as a Baptist "pope".

Good illustration, Knothead, although I'd respectfully request he leave his axe outside.

[Siliconjunkie]

Quote:

Originally posted by J-Excel
They should be allowed to discriminate against homosexuals, just as they should be allowed to discriminate against people who engage in bestiality, pedophilia, necrophilia and other sexual deviant behavior. What if it were a church that openly accepted pedophiles? Would there be an issue with expelling them?

The problem with that thought is that it is YOUR idea of sexually deviant behavior. And its based on YOUR interpitation of the bible. You are free to feel this way, just as I am free to disagree. But it is all interpetation, I don't see it as sexually deviant behavior. So who is to say if you are right or I am?

[J-Excel]

I don't give a rip what the bible says about it. Most societies throughout history have not accepted homosexuality as normal behavior. In this case the State Baptists have classified it as deviant sexual behavior. They have every right to.

[originel]

Quote:

My point being that the whole big "draw" to Christianity is the chance to be saved or absolved of your sins and that only Christ is qualified to do so. This church organization seems to think they know better than Christ what is right and what is wrong. In my mind, that makes them the more grievous sinners.

i would actually say that this church is taking the right steps, and that it is the parent organization (the state convention) that is the more grievous sinners.

One of my most basic beliefs is that, although we are to try and act as jesus did, we are not perfect and will sin in our life...it is unnavoidable. Even if we were to live the perfect life we would still have original sin. All we can do is our best to be as good as we can and trust that Jesus has forgiven us of our sins and have faith. This also means that we need to accept others where they are (we don't have to agree with it, but just understand where they are coming). This church recognizises this and doesn't set "criteria" for it's members, it accepts people where they are.

The problem i have with organizations like this state convention is that they basically require people to be a certain way (i.e. sinless), but as i have stated before that's not possible, so what people do is put up a facade that everything is ok, essentially sweeping any problems they may have under the rug. this does nothing to solve the problem, and can in fact make it worse. and unfortunately (at least in my experience) that is how about 80% of the christian community acts (keep in mind i live in the buckle on the bible belt).

Let me give an example...say there is a middle aged family man who has a drinking problem. The baptist church (generally, at least around here) believes that drinking is a sin, so this church would shun this man, instead of helping him. Is that the best thing to do for him? absolutely not. What he needs is someone to understand him, to listen to him, in order that he might have the necessary support to get over it. i mention drinking because i live in a college town, and obviously drinking is prevalent (also i have a few friends who had an alcoholic in the family)....but at the same time the christian community here believes drinking to be immoral and whatnot, so we get a rather large clash here over that.

well that's enough incoherent rambling for now...that's my 2 cents

EDIT: while i disagree with what the convention has done...they are a private organization and have every right to do what they did IMO.

[M_Six]

Quote:

i would actually say that this church is taking the right steps, and that it is the parent organization (the state convention) that is the more grievous sinners.

My point exactly, although I guess I wasn't very clear about it. When I referred to the "church organization", I was referring to the state convention group, not the individual church.

Mea culpa.

[jmebonner]

Quote:

Originally posted by originel
so this church would shun this man, instead of helping him

If a church shuns a man b/c of what they consider wrong, they are wrong...PERIOD.
Jesus didn't say "Zacchaeus, quit robbing people of their hard earned money and I'll come to your house" He didn't say to the woman at the well "Stop sleeping around and get married and you can be saved" He didn't ever set any stipulations that someone had to give up something in order to be saved. You get saved and then choose to give it up or not, depending on your personal choices. You have to decide for yourself, with God's guidance if something is wrong or right for you. Just b/c a preacher says it, does not make it law.

That said, the church has every right to preach against drinking, fornication, homosexuality, murder, and so on. We are taught at our chuch (yes, an Independent Fundamental Baptist church) to "Love the sinner and hate the sin"

This is possible as I have a family member who is gay (a cousin). He's an awesome guy, cool as all get out. I enjoy hanging out w/ him at family functions. However, I don't condone the fact that he's gay. Just as I'm sure most people didn't care for the fact that I was a rebelious metal head in high school Didn't mean they didn't like me, just didn't like what I did.


As for the issue of lesbianism, try Romans 1:26,27.


EDIT: Spelling