Letter: Churches led by homosexuals send wrong message
Published: September 30, 2009
Churches led by homosexuals send wrong message
Jim Evans is right: The tornado that blew the steeple off the Minneapolis church where Evangelical Lutherans were deciding to ordain practicing homosexuals was a chance event and not a miraculous message from God.
God doesn’t need repeated interventions to announce his judgment on sexual sin. His views have been clear since Sodom, and they were codified in Leviticus: “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” Paul’s assessment in I Corinthians 6 is blunt: Practicing homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.
The ancient Hebrews initiated thousands of years of moral progress by restricting sex to marriage (Google “Judaism’s sexual revolution” for details). Pagan cultures divorced sexuality from marriage, and both male and female temple prostitution was commonplace. When Judaism demanded that all sexual activity be channeled into marriage, it dramatically elevated the status of women, civilized men, and created stable homes where children could be educated and nurtured through two decades of immaturity.
Churches led by homosexuals reverse this progress, sending an unmistakable message that restricting sex to marriage doesn’t matter. They offer theological cover to singles considering “hooking up,” to spouses tempted to commit adultery, and to men and women attracted by the no-strings lure of homosexuality. At greatest risk are teens confused about their new stirrings of sexuality. We live in a culture awash with claims that sex is simple recreation, that if it feels good, do it. The consequences of “doing it” may impoverish life dramatically, from unmarried pregnancy to sexually transmitted disease, from a cheapening of character to an inability to practice sexual exclusivity in marriage. What a terrible travesty that temptations to dissolute living should come from a church.
Bruce Murray
Auburn
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Reader Reactions
Justus, you appear to be a good man. I hope I stay married for 50 years as you and my grandparents have done. I agree with 100%, that many preachers have lost sight of Jesus’ work to help the poor and the lost. I believe many preachers are like politicians, they begin with good intentions, but somehow turn away from the original purpose. Much like Peter took his eyes off Jesus and sank into the water.
1932 is significant, it the birth year of my Dad. I miss him dearly. He was a sweet, good man. The day he died, several older black men drove into my yard, crying saying how much my Dad meant to them and how much he helped them over the years. My Dad deserves a book to be written about him. The best way to describe him; he was an uneducated Atticus Finch. When I watch or read the book To Kill A Mockingbird, my Dad reminds me of Atticus.
augrad1983au, I agree with you also. The Left and the Right has these type of preachers. Not trying to pick on the Rev. Jesse Jackson, but can anyone tell me what church does he pastor and has he ever held a real job. I know major corp. gives him money to stay off their backs, but can someone enlighten me on his job and pastoral status.
Another issue I have with a con artist, self-proclaimed “preacher” is when he takes tithe money and uses it politically. For example, a percentage of a churches budget from the “flock’s” hard earned tithing goes to “religious” organizations that actually give money to political parties and its candidates. To me, this is an abomination in the eyes of God. Any church participating in this activity should be taxed. And one good way to uncover the theft in churches is to look directly at their million dollar video board display in its mega parking lot.
hbd1932:
When I said you must be 77 I was guessing the 1932 in your handle was significant and may be the year of your birth.Only a guess which was wrong.
I have been married almost 50 years to the same lady and to be truthful she probably should have left me several times. She is a very strong believer in Jesus Christ and has lived it for the world to see along with me.
I probably have little time left but I enjoy life to the fullest and am more happy than I have ever been. My only concern today is the mess I and we are leaving those behind us in. My children,grandchildren and Great Grand Children are going to pay dearly for our sorry ways.
Speaking of the church I am affraid they have become like the government and are run like the government and I truly believe that. When I see preachers living lavishly and answering to no one and yet asking those who are struggling to make ends meet to keep on providing for the Preacher I have serious questions and it is time for answers. I see local churches send in to national headquarters and you never hear from them for anything but to ask for more. Something is wrong with the picture and real Christians need to evaluate and reevaluate what is happening. It is no longer about the poor and Jesus it is about (Just-Us).
Have a great day and hang in there the truth will eventually set is all free and it wont come from government of Professional Preachers. Jesus is the answer.
Justus & mpb3 I take your comments as a compliment. I work hard for my family and to pay bills. I give to the church the best I can. I do not take kindly to preachers asking me to give more, while enjoying a tee time several times a week.
Justus, you said I must be 77 with all I have experienced. Several people over the years have expressed that I carry myself as an older person.
Would you believe me if I said I am 35 years old? I have held both my parents hands as they were dying. I have almost been bankrupt due to unforseen health issues. I have experienced divorce from a spouse who sought sordid affairs. With less than a year left in college, I had to quit due to health issues with my parents.
So life has not been easy to me. But, I have survived and have KBO’d as Winston Churchill said. (keep buggering on) Which is the reason why I believe success lies within one’s on heart and soul and not govt.
I do not support gay marriage personally, but hey like I said if gays want it bad enough, by all means be ready for the bad with the good when it comes to marriage.
For me now, I am in the minority in our household. I am married to a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent woman and have a sweet, beautiful, healthy little girl.
I am a lucky man, who kept buggering on. Success is not what we acquire, but how many times we get back up after many failures.
You all take care and wish everyone a wonderful week!
Wow! hbd, I’ve never heard you so cynical before. Cheers.
hbd:
You must be at least 77 with all that you have expierenced.By the way I worship and believe in God. But I think it is time the Church is taxed. I am about to believe every tax exempt organiztion should be taxed.There is so much waste and getting around what should be done. Most Preachers are treated like God and if you believe in Jesus he did not live a lavish life. A lot of Christians think the preacher can take them to heaven.Preachers and Congress and all tax exempt organizations should be closely monitored and exemptions should be few.
Nothing infuriates me more than a preacher asking me sacrifice more money to the church, while at the same time driving a luxury vehicle, playing golf Sunday afternoon at the local country club.
On another note. I have said it before, by all means allow gays to marry. I would love to be sitting in the public area in a courtroom, while two gays(husband and whatever) are fighting over their possessions during divorce court. Then when the court is over pat them on the back and say, “man I can’t believe you wanted this. You should have been careful what you ask for.“ Marriage can be a double edged sword even for gays.
Examples: adultery, divorce, alimony, child support, nagging, half of everything you own….
Leading a church while driving $90,000 vehicles and living in a 5 bedroom luxury home is a bigger sin than a church attempting to bring in homosexuals to Christ.
Preachers with women “on the side” and picking up hookers “on the down low” is a bigger sin than any preacher attempting to bring gays to Christ. The author of this article should encourage the good news of the Gospel of Christ, and not “holier than thou” attitudes. We are ALL sinners.
Interesting, iluvcheese—you have no religion (just a personal relationship to God) and yet you are so concerned about who leads churches. I’m with wtf on this post. However, these people are not just concerned with who runs their churches, they want to deny basic rights to people who are homosexual. That is where I take issue. I know many, many homosexuals, some are married (in states that allow/allowed it) and many have children. They are the most loving parents I’ve encountered. Many of my homosexual friends have been together in monogamous relationships for 20 years. Their children are very well-adjusted.
This is America and you have the right to think it a sin, and you have the right to talk about it and write about it, but you don’t have the right to take away their rights!
wtf?
See this is where we agree. I would agree that divorce is tremendously harmful to children and to the break down in our societal fabric. The one problem I find in your arguement is that we should lobby against no-fault divorce. That wont do a stinking thing. The issue that you have to look at is the heart because if you have eradicated no-fault divorce you will still have two people in a marriage who are selfish unwilling to work together and angry.
The nice part of my life is that I dont have a religion, I have a personal relationsip with God. Which is fine because you have free will. Now if you are going to live your life as if there is no God, you had better hope your right. You will know when this life if over and if disbelief is the road you choose to go then I respect that but it doesnt make it right.
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