State Baptists expel Cabarrus church for accepting gay members

Theophylact · October 6th, 2003, 09:30 AM

Not as ministers; as members.

Quote:

Ayers said his church has never discussed the issue of homosexuality and did not go through a process of declaring itself "open and affirming" to gays and lesbians, as some other churches have.

He said church leaders didn't ask the men if they were homosexuals.

"In our tradition, we open the church doors to everyone who comes to know Christ," Ayers said. "Jesus told us to fish for people. He didn't say to use fishhooks, but nets. It's not our job to sort the fish. He'll take care of any sorting."

osprey4 · October 6th, 2003, 09:51 AM

Of course, this has no legal ramifications, since all Baptist churches are legally autonomous. Kind of ironic actually, "expelling" an independent church.

ClubMed · October 6th, 2003, 09:53 AM

Is homosexuality mentioned in any manner in the Bible ?

Scott Tiger · October 6th, 2003, 10:39 AM

Yep, it's forbidden. They're just acting according to thier doctrine.

Knothead · October 6th, 2003, 10:52 AM

Quote:

"In our tradition, we open the church doors to everyone who comes to know Christ," Ayers said.

So this guy feels that it's okay for him to judge who gets to know Jesus, and who doesn't, eh?

Sanctimonious, judgemental people like this are the reason I avoid "churches" like the plague. And I'm not even gay!

Theophylact · October 6th, 2003, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Is homosexuality mentioned in any manner in the Bible?

Well, yes, sort of; it's in several places, most especially in Deuteronomy (although there doesn't seem to be any prohibition against lesbianism). But it's also, as you can see, death to diss your parents, work on the Sabbath, to eat leavened bread at Passover, become an apostate, prophesy incorrectly (boy! Pat Robertson would be a goner), and a whole bunch of other stuff. And lots of other things are forbidden: yoking an ox with a donkey, mixing wool with linen, eating rabbit (or any other mammal that fails to chew its cud and have cloven hooves), wear drag, tattoo or scar yourself, und so weiter. Here's pretty much the whole megillah.

osprey4 · October 6th, 2003, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ClubMed
Is homosexuality mentioned in any manner in the Bible ?

Yes, along with many other sins.

Quote:

1 Corinthians 6
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Knothead · October 6th, 2003, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by osprey4

Of course, these are the people Jesus came to seek and save. And I have yet to see a church make a such a fuss over thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, or extortioners.

lol, Osprey!

Yes, that's because it's usually those guys who are the church operators!

M_Six · October 6th, 2003, 11:13 AM

Bunch of sanctimonious hypocrites.

osprey4 · October 6th, 2003, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by M_Six
Bunch of sanctimonious hypocrites.

Thanks for your thoughtful contribution to the discussion. We need more shooting from the hip around here.

There's no use taking sides since we know nothing about the situation other than what some local rag posted on their web site. Hasn't the New York Times taught us to be skeptical of newspapers?