Just so heartbreaking

[Stephen63]

I don't suppose none of you'ins that are arguing on here ever stop to think how the Op feels, seeing you have taken over & derailed her thread? Don't you have any feelings at all? Is it just that easy to get carried away & forget about what matters?

Saddly, the main church is closing down the branch we have enjoyed.
Long story short...
The main church's head pastor decided to allow practicing homosexuals to hold teaching and leadership positions in the church.
Scripture is clear about the requirements for any who hold positions of teaching, leadership and authorty.
The head pastor had already been allowing practicing homosexuals to hold these positions, with out any knowladge of the church body.
Our branch pastor resigned as he could not be in agreement with the direction of the church.
We support Him compleatly.
Saddly, the head pastor decided that since our pastor and church body did not agree, our church branch is being shut down.
We were never trully given any oppertunity to speak to our concernes, only the illusion of such.
How sad, that truth is being lost.

What is the most heartbreaking is not that our church is being shut down, but that the truth in Jesus, is being comprimised, lost, how many will be lost because of this?

So sad that the love of God, is being comprimised as aproval for those who need most to hear the truth.

May we all remain always faithful to the truth and love of Jesus, so that all will know how great and perfect the truth and love of Jesus is.

God bless
pickles

Ever since I've been on here she's been kindhearted, softspoken, & a lover of peace. NEVER have I read an unkind word from her. She comes in here with a broken heart & speaks her feelings...... & you guys arguing just miss/ignore the real issue altogether. At what cost will you pay to be right? Is "being right" more important than being an encourager? All thru Paul's teachings, he speaks about edifying.

1 Corinthians 10:23 (KJV) All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
[HR][/HR]1 Corinthians 14:5 (KJV) I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
[HR][/HR]1 Corinthians 14:26 (KJV) How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
[HR][/HR]2 Corinthians 12:19 (KJV) Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

 

[Stephen63]

Pickles,
I apologize for the behavior you've had to endure in your own thread. As I said before, you deserve better than that.

 

[pickles]

Saddly, there was no recourse, as the church we belonged to was considerd a satlelight of the main church, since the building is owned by the main church, the assistant pastor who disagreed had no power in decisions made.
Some of the people from our former church are discusing different options, most though have been looking at an newly established church that is well spoken of and bible based.

God bless
pickles

So sorry for you Pickles.

I would have thought on that issue, almost all the congregation would oppose it. Can you not liaise with other branches to oust that head pastor? I cannot think he has majority support. What church is this by the way? Witholding of tithes by many or most(if you do such things) may be enough to put the church under pressure to listen

............

But on the problem in general. Luther foresaw the problem he created with authority , and by the time he recognised it, he could not put the genie back into the bottle either.

He said towards the end of his life:
“There are as many sects now and beliefs as there are heads. This fellow has nothing to do with baptism. Another one denies the sacraments. A third believes there is another world between this one and the last day. Some teach that Christ is not God. Some say this, some say that. There is no rustic so rude that if he dreams or fancies anything believes it must be the whisper of the Holy Spirit and that he himself must be a prophet.”

A fair comment about your head pastor!

Luther was even more critical of the non denominational one man factions arising from self interpretation.
"In matters of faith, to be sure, each Christian is for himself Pope and Church.” “There will be the greatest confusion. Nobody will allow himself to be led by another man’s doctrine or authority. Everyone will be his own rabbi: hence, the greatest scandals.”
Notice the arguments on this forum!

He concludes wryly:
"If God had not closed my eyes, and if I had foreseen these scandals, I would never have begun to teach the gospel."
"If the world lasts, it will be necessary, on account of the differing interpretations of Scripture which now exist, that to preserve the unity of faith, we should receive the Catholic councils and decrees and fly to them for refuge."

That lack of authority in the light of disputes is why there are so many fractures

But heh! It is not over till it is over. Joining hands with other branches, could have results!

 

[pickles]

Pickles,
I apologize for the behavior you've had to endure in your own thread. As I said before, you deserve better than that.

Its ok stephen63, I am not offended, not because of anything on my part, but simply this, we are called to do all things as unto the Lord, it is in doing this that freedom from offence is found, for when all we do is unto the Lord, the offence is not against us, but God.
Also, it helps that I wasnt able to be online for a few days, my hands were just grumpy again.

One here said how can I possible aprove to oppsing opinions?
Simply because each carries a part of the truth, and what matters is how it is applied subject to the point the poster is making. There is truth in each persons words.
The point in this thread though is not about rejecting any because they are homosexual, or any other sin.
It is about allowing an openly practicing sinful person to hold a position of teacher or athority in the church.
The new testament speaks very spacifically to how any holding such a position must meet certain requirements.
Mostly because if one in such a postion, openly practices such sins, they give aproval by their actions.
God forbid that such an action would mislead any, especially a child!
This is not a question of loving in Jesus, for such love always fills every heart who seeks Him, overflowing in mercy and compassion.
But the truth is that when any receives Jesus, yes first it is about salvation.
But then Jesus, with our obedience brings santification.
Not so we will earn salvation, but so we will not become lost or lose sight of Jesus, that salvation.
For scripture says, happy the man who does not condemn himself in what he does.
For it is not Jesus who condemns, but we who condemn ourselves in what we do.
It is a good study to read the scripture spoken to by paul, if one here knows the chapter and verse, please post it, as I forget such, sorry.

Anyway, to sum all up here, this was not about loving or accepting all in Jesus, for we are called to walk as Jesus walked.
This posting was about allowing any person who openly practices any sin that God has spoken to as an abomination, to hold a position of teaching or athority.

Never was it about denying any the love of Jesus or refusing such person this love and salvation, for such is God's gift given in Jesus to all by faith.

in Jesus, God bless
pickles

 

[Zmouth]

The main church's head pastor decided to allow practicing homosexuals to hold teaching and leadership positions in the church.
Scripture is clear about the requirements for any who hold positions of teaching, leadership and authority.

Kinda ironic that a married man can teach and lead in the church when it is written:

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
1 Cor 7:32-33

What is the most heartbreaking is not that our church is being shut down, but that the truth in Jesus, is being comprimised, lost, how many will be lost because of this?

As far a your church, Luke 6:47-49.

How many will be lost? Since it is written in John 6:44 that "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: " The real question would be how many were lost.

 

[mikeuk]

Saddly, there was no recourse, as the church we belonged to was considerd a satlelight of the main church, since the building is owned by the main church, the assistant pastor who disagreed had no power in decisions made.
Some of the people from our former church are discusing different options, most though have been looking at an newly established church that is well spoken of and bible based.

God bless
pickles

I have to wonder how any of the other pastors of other branches agreed. I suspect because they would lose their employment, which is a pitiful reason. Even then I cannot think the decision had majority support of the congregation, so I wonder how many are drifting away now, which they should if they follow their consciences.

All I can say is good luck and God bless, in the end your move may prove to be a good thing for you! if not only to get away from the stigma of belonging to a church that believes things like that!