How do I know that Daniel's 70th Week (the Tribulation and Great Tribulation) is close at hand? All I have to do is turn on the news today and hear about a Christian church succumbing to what's politically correct rather than boldly proclaiming that they will continue to stand for what's right, and moral, and God's holy law.
The Lutheran church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to be exact, is lost. How else do you explain how leaders of the nation's largest Lutheran church voted Friday to allow sexually active gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as clergy? In doing so, they have totally ignored the Scriptures as the guidelines for Christian behavior in regard to homosexuality.
For those who think I'm just contributing to the same song-and-dance and that "it's just like you Christians to always bash homosexuals" I would simply respond by saying that this is as absurd as any Christian church voting to say that they believe it's ok for people (specifically their members) to abort babies, to have sex before marriage, to commit adultery, to murder others, to steal from others, to lie and cheat, to view pornography, to physically abuse others, etc.
The bottom line is that sin is sin. God doesn't make a distinction between each one, or place them on different levels like we always do thinking that one is worse than another. He tells us plainly what sin is, and tells us plainly what the result of sin is. He tells us plainly and in no uncertain terms what's wrong and what's right. There is no room for compromise. Political correctness does not exist in His world because it's something Satan has succeeded in getting us to create down here to make ourselves feel better about sin and make it palatable on a mass scale. Again, plain and simple.
Luke 21:28 -- "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near."
Keep looking up because I'd say we're well beyond the "begin to come to pass" stage and more likely in the "about to give birth any moment" phase following those birth pains we've heard so much about over the years.
It's just so sad that the church is promoting a lifestyle that is not only a sin, but one which is also illegal in 48 states.
24 Comments:
Jerone Davison is a former Oakland Raiders running back and he is now a pastor here in Northern California. He sent out an email regarding SB 572 here in California, which is a bill to pass Harvey Milk Day. Harvey Milk was a well known gay politician in San Francisco.
The intent of Harvey Milk Day is to introduce gay issues into the schools here by having students participate in this day, which could include transgender education and gay parades.
Jerone sent out an email to a host of "Christians" (including myself) and receive emails back saying that we shouldn't be so harsh on the gay community.
How far we have fallen. The broader church fails to understand that this is not a racial group. It is not a sin to be black, white or any other ethnic group. It is a sin to be homosexual (and it is not a racial group). The Bible is very clear.
Leviticus 18:22
Leviticus 20:13
Romans 1:26-27
We love the sinner, we hate the sin.
Bruce
As a caveat, I will say that homosexuality appears to have been quite prevalent during the times of Jesus - among the Roman empire elites.
And, wouldn't you know it- among our empire's elite too.
But rampant homosexuality does seem to point that we are later on the timeline.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Bruce
The Reformed church in the Netherlands also has gay ministers. My cousin goes to a church in Groningen where the minister lives in an open relationship with another man...I asked her how she could justify going to that church and her answer was "He's a good preacher"
I was shocked to say the least....it IS a sign of the times!
yaddy
Hebrews 13:8 ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines.
Malachi 3: 6 “ For I am the LORD, I do not change..”;
Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Rom 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
Rom 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen.
Rom 1:26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
Rom 1:27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Rom 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
Rom 1:29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
Rom 1:30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
Rom 1:31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Rom 1:32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Sodom & Gomorrah playing on planet earth, again.If everyone were homo-sexual there would be no ability to multiply on the earth of good seed and that helps the peverted and corrupted agenda of the bad seed whose rebellious way is to divide and conquor in direct opposition to the commandment...Genetic modification is dividing and separating sin full blown as in the days of Noah...
Colossians 3:6-7
"...For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."
Lord, help them and us to overcome...
Amen. You said it all.
Tornadoes are the Finger of GOD.!
The wind tore the CROSS off the church's 90-year-old metal steeple around 2:00 pm
It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God! - IN CHURCH!
1 Peter 4:17
Storm Judgment on Homo Sin
Aug 20 ELCA approves homo sin. Tornadoes are the Finger of GOD.
GOD is angry at the US pressure on Israel to give up her God-given land to her enemies, and HE hates the homo SIN,
so Minnesota was chosen for a display of His disapproval. I'd say this was a lot of MERCY, all things considered - just a warning.
On a day when NO severe weather was predicted or expected, a tornado forms, baffling the weather experts, they’ve
never seen anything like it, right in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The tornado happens during the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's national convention in the
Minneapolis Convention Center. The convention is using Central Lutheran across the street as its church.
The 5th session of the convention was to begin at 2 PM on Wednesday, August 19.
The main item of the session: “Consideration: Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality.â€
The issue is whether practicing homosexuality is a behavior that should disqualify a person from the pastoral ministry.
There were no warnings at all. An eye witness said, What’s that? It’s a tornado! They all ran into the church and the doors
were locked. It happened so fast and without warning. There were NO watches or WARNINGS. It only got up to the 60’s and rain.
About 30-40 cars on the top floor of our parking ramp got their windows blown out.
Powerful winds slammed parts of 4 Midwestern states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.
Violent storms and tornado hits Minneapolis area, church and convention center where ELCA Lutherans approved statement
validating 'chaste' same-sex relationships. One tornado near downtown Minneapolis where winds tore off part of the steeple at
Central Lutheran Church. 120 people were inside. Outside the church, strong winds ripped apart large outdoor tents and
scattered chairs and folding tables across the parking lot that were set up for the national Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America convention. The church was scheduled to serve breakfast to guests attending the event at the Convention Center next door.
ELCA approves homo sin:
Lutherans and Homosexuality, Piper:
God's judgment on the church:
I MEANT TO REFERENCE ZION'S CRY WEBSITE AS THE SOURCE ABOUT THE STORM HITTING LUTHERAN CHURCH.
I am surprised you didn't mention the tornado ripping the steeple off their church when they were meeting about this. Talk about a sign from God!
http://fratres.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/minneapolis-tornado-rips-lutheran-conference-on-gays-in-the-church-pics/
You can see what has happened in America and in the churches, because of the church teachings of massive lawlessness.
2 Peter Chapter 3 has come true about twisting Paul's scripture.
"Depart from me you workers of Iniquity"
The Greek word is ANOMIA, or WITHOUT TORAH.
America rejected 613 laws so now we have 4 million.
part of the great deception is that you are under grace and no longer have to obey Yahweh or Messiah. It is not just space aliens.
This is why Revelations says 3 times, Here are those that keep the Testimony of Yahshua and KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF YAHWEH.
Same reason first John tells us how we are saved in Chapter 1 and 5.
Mainstream church rejected the "Old Testament", and now we are being rejected by Yahweh here in America!
JUDGMENT IS COMING AND STARTS IN THE PAGAN SUN GOD WORSHIP CHURCHES!
The Christians remaining in the Lutheran church will either have to come out of it or conform and become corrupted. If those that remain protest this ruling and demand a biblical stance, they will be the ones disciplined, not the ungodly.
Indeed this is so so sad and disgusting at the same time. Our Father's heart has to be so sad and disappointed. The bottom line we either follow God and obey all that is written in His Word and press hard for holiness and righteousness OR we don't- there is NO gray area. The Lord has been bringing holiness, purity, righteousness, fruit of the spirit to my mind and heart and really drawing me closer and closer to lining up with His definition of these words the last month. I plan on seeing Him hopefully soon so that must be one of the reason.:)
This is especially grieving this time of year, when Jews are in the season of Teshuva, (40 days before Yom Kippur) This act is the exact opposite. This is the time of year when John the baptist declared to prepare the way of the Lord!
The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality
http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/1965_the_tornado_the_lutherans_and_homosexuality/
Surprise Tornado Strikes Lutheran Convention WHILE "Homosexuality in the Pulpit" Discussed!
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/aug2009/deborah822-13.htm
God took note...
http://minnesotaindependent.com/42379/minneapolis-pastor-tornado-was-a-warning-to-lutherans-on-gay-inclusion
Minneapolis pastor: Tornado was a warning to Lutherans on gay inclusion
By Andy Birkey 8/20/09 11:39 AM
Photo: Wikipedia
It was only a matter of time before the religious right would chime in to announce that a tornado that hit parts of Minneapolis on Wednesday was a warning from God that the Lutherans should not relax doctrine related to homosexuality. “Jesus Christ,” wrote John Piper, pastor at Minneapolis’ Bethlehem Baptist Church, “controls the wind, including all tornados.”
On the church’s blog Piper spells out the Bible verses that prove the tornado was God’s warning to the Lutherans to reject a vote to “agree to disagree” on the issue of homosexuality.
The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners.
The blind leading the blind...
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/130591/
Tornado hits ELCA convention; sexuality statement passes
A tornado touched down Wednesday afternoon in the south side of downtown Minneapolis, hitting part of the Minneapolis Convention Center where 1,000 Lutherans hours later approved a controversial new social statement on human sexuality.
While the Lutherans inside were debating a controversial new social statement on human sexuality, a tornado hit the outside of the Minneapolis Convention Center on Wednesday afternoon. A short time later, the assembly passed by an exact and needed two-thirds majority a controversial new social statement on human sexuality.
Nobody, including the Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, drew any connection between the circumstances. And the main thing: nobody was hurt when the tornado hit, Hanson told the 2,000 people gathered at the church's bienniel national assembly.
The tornado did damage across parts of south Minneapolis, including downing trees and lamp posts, but no injuries were reported.
Later, in the early evening, by a two-thirds majority, voting members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s national assembly approved the new social statement on human sexuality that provides background on an separate upcoming vote on approving gays and lesbians in committed relationships as clergy.
Although the issue of changing ELCA policy to allow gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as pastors has been the dominant theme leading into this national assembly, the social statement covers a wide range of topics, including human trafficking, prostitution, adultery, marriage, co-habitation and family.
It’s been praised both by opponents and supporters of changing ELCA ministerial policy to allow gays and lesbians in relationships to be ordained and called as pastors.
In May, more than 500 theologians and church leaders signed an “open letter” to the voting delegates of this week’s assembly, saying they were concerned about the “fidelity and future” of the ELCA.
According to a news release from the ELCA, the Lutheran CORE, (Coalition for Reform), organized the letter, which says parts of the new sexuality statement “clearly imply that same-sex blessings and the ordination and rostering of homosexual persons in committed relationships are acceptable within the ELCA. The teaching of the church will be changed.”
But an ELCA official said after the vote that the new statement appears to have wide support in the pews of the ELCA. Thirty-seven of the ELCA’s 65 regional synods - including the two synods bordering the Red River - passed resolutions earlier this year recommending that the new social statement be adopted by the national assembly, while only five synods passed resolutions opposing the statement.
On Friday, the assembly is scheduled to vote on whether to change ELCA policy to allow gays and lesbians in committed relationships to serve as pastors in congregations which choose to call them.
jred,
WOW no idea the lutheran denomination had become SO INFILTRATED!
but i mean, we all KNEW this was coming...the OLDER denominations will FALL first, because they have become more corrupted by TARES...
and regarding scoring one for satan...NEVER!...
THE BLOOD OF JESUS will NEVER lose its POWER!
Well written post. Thanks!
Christians are, in a sense, in a checkmate. From an earthly point of view we can't win for losing. If we follow the instructions in the Bible then we are called "haters," "bigots," and "hypocrites."
Jesus warned us to count the cost and foretold that we would be hated and worse. If He suffered then so would His followers.
I believe what we are seeing today is the testing of the churches. Will they choose Him or the world system? The Lord told us that "judgment beings in the house of the Lord."
Once the dust settles, there will only be a remnant remaining. So it has been in every generation and so it will be in ours.
So much for the 'Great Holy Ghost revival' before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
My Bible tells me there will be a 'great apostasy' in the last days. "They will not endure sound doctrine but will heap to THEMSELVES teachers having itching ears and shall turn away from the truth."
Satan loves religion and churches today are filled with tares. Especially in the pulpit.
How long will it be before our government shuts down Bible believing churches for teaching "hatred"?
Get ready, here it comes!
Its sad that they still voted to allow gay clergy after the tornado. They said the tornado formed near or right at the site of the church. If that ain't a message, then i don't know what is.
I love Jesus. I am gay. I have been celebate for 6 years, after offering my sexuality up to God. There still isn't a day that goes by that I don't acknowledge the lonliness that is a huge part of my life. I search the scriptures for some timy hope that may say that I am OK as I am - that my sexual inclination is OK with God. Sadly, I don't find it...Please, as you sit in judgement of the clergy that are brave enough to feel that they are loved by God just as they are, remember me, constricted by legalism, hermetic in life, hoping that someday this will all be worth it...
Jred, I pray that all is well
with you and your family. I miss your inspiring posts and will keep you in my prayers.
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