United Methodists: Practicing Homosexuality Doesn't Contradict Christian Doctrine

sermonindex May 24, 2015

The United Methodist Church leadership has voted to submit a proposal to the 2016 General Conference that would remove "prohibitive” language about homosexuality from the United Methodist Book of Discipline.
The proposal removes homosexuality and the performance of same-sex weddings from the church’s list of chargeable offenses. Under the proposal, United Methodist pastors would be able to perform same-sex marriages in churches.

The Connection Table group voted 26-10 with one abstaining to submit the proposal.
Bishop Bruce R. Ough, chairman of the Connectional Table, said the group had a "very thoughtful, respectful heartfelt discussion and earnest desire to discern God's will." ...

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MrBillPro May 24, 2015

Same sex marriage is a demonic ceremony, end of discussion.

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dolfan May 24, 2015

The same sex proponents perpetually speak of respect and discernment. It is a mockery that anyone would remain in fellowship with them when they say they arrived at their same sex affirmations through prayer, study of the Word and discernment.

sermonindex May 24, 2015

Well, I guess another denomination that care more about unsaved people than the Word of God. Shame. Just a shame.

Marriage is an institution that should represent Christ/church. Two men, two women, neither produce anything. I understand how others could look at this and say straight men/women don't always produce but most of the time they do. Gay men/women *never* do.

It's sad. Just sad.

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AbideinHim May 24, 2015

I believe that we are going to see more and more in the coming days of who the real followers of Jesus are.

Any denomination that is in agreement with a homosexual lifestyle has already lost it's way, and we should tell anyone that we know in those denominations to run for their lives.

This goes for the mega churches also that although they have not said that they are in agreement with gay marriage, they also have not come out against it.

It is sad that Ireland voted overwhelmingly to approve gay marriage, but this can be traced to the church. Around 50% of the churches in Ireland approve of homosexual marriage.

I thank God that the Southern Baptist Convention and Pentecostal Churches such as the Assemblies of God are taking a strong stand on marriage between one man and one woman.

In Louisiana, there was a vote to table the "religious freedom act" which would have protected preachers and businesses that would not cater to those who are pursuing homosexual marriage. The gay lobby has threatened to ban tourism from Louisiana because Governor Jindal, who is a strong Christian, has issued an executive order that would do the same thing as the religious freedom bill.

Every year there is a Southern Decadence event in New Orleans where thousands of homosexuals across the nation come to New Orleans to indulge in every foul act imaginable. Already, there have been several of these events canceled because hurricanes came in on the exact week that the event was planned. One intercessor had a vision of the city of New Orleans being destroyed. There was even a law passed in that city to arrest any evangelists that would witness in the streets during Southern Decadence.

It is high time for the Church to arise out of it's slumber and seek the face of God in humility and repentance. I thank God that there are many doing this now throughout the nation.

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AbideinHim May 24, 2015

Here is some good information on the stance that different denominations have taken on homosexual marriage:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominational_positions_on_homosexuality

sermonindex May 24, 2015

It should be noted for many of these denominations the american, and England branch accept homosexuality while other parts of the denomination does not. So just because the american part of the church does, will mean all the church accepts it, that is how some churches work in different jurisdictions.

sermonindex May 25, 2015

One could could vote to decide that the colour black is actually the colour white but that would not make it so.

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Man0fG0d May 25, 2015

They wanted to discern God's will? They need to repent and get saved. Whether or not Homosexuality is right or wrong is not a matter of what one thinks or what ones opinion on the subject is. The Bible says it plainly that if a man lies with a man as with a woman its an abomination.

Jesus confirmed the Bible definition of marriage in

Matthew 19:4-6 KJV
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, [5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? [6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The Bible also says in 2 Peter 1 that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. The Word of God is not to be interpreted by our opinion or set of beliefs, it is simply to be obeyed.

The Bible says again the God does not change, and that Jesus is the Same yesterday, and today, and forever. This means that it was sin when it was first wrote and it is still sin. To even consider blessing that which God has called abomination is to show ones lack of salvation and lack of faith in God.

A saved man or woman does not have an opninon regarding sin, they love the Lord and keep His commandments.

Praying for their salvation. Thanks for posting the article, may it stir us all to go the closet and pray, then take a public stand with the Word.

sermonindex May 25, 2015

"They wanted to discern God's will? They need to repent and get saved. Whether or not Homosexuality is right or wrong is not a matter of what one thinks or what ones opinion on the subject is. "

This is exactly the point, they need to repent and get saved.
Here is what they say on their website:
"In John Wesley’s balanced and rigorous ways for thinking through Christian doctrine, we find four major sources or criteria, each interrelated. These we often call our "theological guidelines”: Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. Let’s look at each of these."
Instead of "Sola scriptura " they are building on four criteria which they use as "guidelines" . They are not building on a firm foundation and are therefore sinking like many others. Unless we see a new Awakening we will see more and more such examples.

A few more thoughts: to build a "Denomination" is not the same as an "Ekklesia " . May be we are now starting to see the results.
God is not interested in big numbers, he often uses "mighty minorities " eg only 12 disciples.

Here is an interesting commentary about Romans 1 v 24 onwards:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
24. Wherefore God also””in righteous retribution gave them up””This divine abandonment of men is here strikingly traced in three successive stages, at each of which the same word is used (Ro 1:24, 26; and Ro 1:28, where the word is rendered "gave over"). "As they deserted God, God in turn deserted them; not giving them divine (that is, supernatural) laws, and suffering them to corrupt those which were human; not sending them prophets, and allowing the philosophers to run into absurdities. He let them do what they pleased, even what was in the last degree vile, that those who had not honored God, might dishonor themselves" [Grotius].

Has God's judgement already began ? Don't know, just found this very interesting.

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people". Colossians 3:23

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yuehan May 25, 2015

The real division has always been between the church (the body of Christ) and the world (including the false church), not between denominations.

The false church has never been the church, so to speak. Members of affected denominations would have to choose whether to stay or leave their denomination.

Denomination boundaries have been dissolving for some time now - both for real Christians, and those who aren't. As it becomes more apparent who belongs to Christ and who doesn't, I am positive that this will eventually lead to a more unified body of Christ - unity in love, and unity in truth.

sermonindex May 25, 2015

Ministries that embrace sin, so willingly, into their ranks will *not* last. John through the revelation of Jesus gave grave warnings to the seven churches, guess what, none of those churches stand today. God is very jealous to His Church. He want's a spotless bride, dipped in the blood of Jesus, not a prostitute.

I'm confident that God will remove each and every church, eventually. Let's pray for them but also take heed ourselves and within our respective churches.

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AbideinHim May 25, 2015

"The real division has always been between the church (the body of Christ) and the world (including the false church), not between denominations."

You are right about this for there are Christians in all denominations. Although God never instituted denominations, because denominations divided the Body of Christ.

A true Christian will not stay in any church where sin is practiced and condoned. There is false grace that is being preached that says that God loves the sinner and tolerates sin. It is really the same thing that the Apostle Paul had to deal with in the early church. "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound"?