There are a couple of issues that I have recently read about that I would like us to really get into. The first issue is a local issue (Michigan). According to Focus on the Family’s Citizen’s link a pro-life group in Flint is suing the governor of this fine state because she is collecting petitions on her web site in support of embryonic stem cell research, but she refuses, on this publicly funded site, to give space to those opposed to embryonic stem cell research. In essence she is a giving a government benefit, a government voice favoring those who agree with her on this policy.
As a private citizen, on her own website, the governor can endorse whatever she wishes, but on a publicly funded website she must give equal access to all voices on an issue. Let’s hope the Federal Court sees the need for such equal access.
The next issue that needs to be discussed involves a statement made by Bishop Tiny Muskens of the Netherlands. He contends that Catholic Churches in the Netherlands should begin calling God by the name Allah in order to help ease tensions between Muslins and Catholics. "Someone like me has prayed to Allah yang maha kuasa (Almighty God) for eight years in Indonesia and other priests for 20 or 30 years," Muskens said. "In the heart of the Eucharist, God is called Allah over there, so why can't we start doing that together?" I don’t know about you but I have a real problem with a Christian, Catholic or otherwise, advising the flock he shepherds to act in a politically correct fashion just so as not to offend. I realize that the Lord God is above such “discussion and bickering” as Bishop Muskens says but the one who is “I AM” desires that all men would be come into a relationship with Him and the Muslim god Allah is not the “name given by which all must be saved” but only in the name of Jesus are men saved.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Lutherans Say Gay is OK
During a weeklong assembly that ended Saturday, August 11, 2007 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) again loosened its standards on homosexuality. While they voted down a measure that would have ended the church's celibacy requirement for homosexual clergy, they voted in favor of refraining from disciplining homosexual clergy who are in committed relationships.
These types of rulings always confuse me because I can never see the logic. By keeping the celibacy requirement they are acknowledging that homosexual sex is a sin. At the same time, by refraining from discipline they are effectivley endorsing the sin.
If I were in a 'committed' adulterous affair, I would not expect my church to say, as long as I am cheating on my wife with only one woman, they will not do anything about it. I expect my church to uphold Biblical truths and call me on the carpet for my sinful actions. If I repent of my sin, I can be restored within the body. If I continue to sin, I expect my church to remove me from any leadership position.
You would not ignore cancer in your body. You would take action to remove it before it spreads and destroys your body. The same implications are true with allowing sin to stay within the church body, specifically the leadership.
That being said, every one of us who walks through a church door is a sinner and fall short of the glory of God. Homosexuality is no worse of a short falling that stealing a pack of gum.
For those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are forgiven sinners. As forgiven sinners we still struggle to stay away from our sinful nature, but as forgiven sinners we acknowledge our sin and turn from it.
The action of the ELCA strikes me as a compromise between those who believe the Bible and those who do not. You can never compromise the Bible. For those Lutherans who are concerned about a split, do not be. Separating yourself from satanic influences is the best thing you could do.
These types of rulings always confuse me because I can never see the logic. By keeping the celibacy requirement they are acknowledging that homosexual sex is a sin. At the same time, by refraining from discipline they are effectivley endorsing the sin.
If I were in a 'committed' adulterous affair, I would not expect my church to say, as long as I am cheating on my wife with only one woman, they will not do anything about it. I expect my church to uphold Biblical truths and call me on the carpet for my sinful actions. If I repent of my sin, I can be restored within the body. If I continue to sin, I expect my church to remove me from any leadership position.
You would not ignore cancer in your body. You would take action to remove it before it spreads and destroys your body. The same implications are true with allowing sin to stay within the church body, specifically the leadership.
That being said, every one of us who walks through a church door is a sinner and fall short of the glory of God. Homosexuality is no worse of a short falling that stealing a pack of gum.
For those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are forgiven sinners. As forgiven sinners we still struggle to stay away from our sinful nature, but as forgiven sinners we acknowledge our sin and turn from it.
The action of the ELCA strikes me as a compromise between those who believe the Bible and those who do not. You can never compromise the Bible. For those Lutherans who are concerned about a split, do not be. Separating yourself from satanic influences is the best thing you could do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)