Posted on 06/12/2008 6:13:20 AM PDT by shrinkermd
Hmmmm. Hijacked thread.
First let’s deal with the whole concept of how we should respond when tragedy strikes. From Luke 13:
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
And on the topic of why bad things happen, this from Romans 9:
14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”16It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
19One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ “21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
Next, let’s find out from 1 Corinthians 5 what “living up to the highest standards of Christian fellowship” means in the context of sexual immorality:
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
Sounds like some folks need to spend more time in the Word.
Yes, it’s rather regrettable.
Logical error. You're confusing cause with mechanism. Vehicular motion is also due to physics, yet doesn't (typically) occur except through intelligent action by a controller.
“You guys need some reading comprehension lessons, I think. Notice, I merely pointed out the timing of Katrina, and implied that it gives the impression of some correlation. I didn’t say that it necessarily was a specific act of God’s judgment. It might have been, or it might have been simply another act of nature. However, your arguments are extremely shallow and insufficient, as they stand.”
And your argument is much deeper? Have you considered going on the standup circuit?
Warren needs to take care that he is not worshiping a new “Lord”, that of the God of PC.
Matthew 7:21-23
21”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Apparently deeper than yours. I discuss theoretics and attempt a logical discussion of a "what if" scenario, and you come back with fluff.
Nice proactive shill piece for Barack Hussein. Oh, did I say Hussein? I’m sorry. That probably cheapens the debate. We shouldn’t inject religion, race or ethnicity into our decision.
Author manages to mention God, meth, homosexuality and prostitutes in such a way as to make sure Barry can’t be hurt at all.
“Apparently deeper than yours. I discuss theoretics and attempt a logical discussion of a “what if” scenario, and you come back with fluff.”
I’m merely answering fluff with fluff.
From what I've seen of you previously on FR, fluff is about all you're capable of anywise, so why should I have even bothered?
Just wondering why, say, NO getting hit because of a Gay Pride parade is a more valid speculation than Keesler AFB and Northrop Grumman shipbuilding being severely damaged because some deity hates the US Military? Or the Boy Scouts being hit (mind you, there were multiple killed by two different lightning strikes at scouting events a couple of years ago) because of their failure to allow gay scoutmasters.
The basic issue is the selective hypocrisy people exhibit around various disasters.
Personally, of course, I believe no natural disasters anywhere have the remotest connection to any supernatural deity.
It's a cause and effect situation. Verses 18-23 is the cause, 24 and following is the effect. God "gave them over". Homosexuality is a result of the type of sin in verses 18-23. It's a type of judgment in and of itself.
God's judgment is two-fold: here and now, and in chapter 2, the hereafter.
“The church doors should be open to all sinners (all of us have fallen short). However, the expectation should never be that sin will be condoned among a gathering of believers.
The idea, rather, should be that sinners invited into the church would be convicted of their sins, repent, confess and believe on Christ as their savior. Their repentance implies a turning away from their sins and that they would in the words of Christ: “Go and sin no more.”
Thank you, I completely agree. Everyone should be allowed in the House of God. So many times, Christians react toward gay people with an especially judgmental attitude. While homosexuality is most certainly a sin, many other sins are ranked up there equally with it, according to the verse below. There are many sitting on church pews guilty of many of the following:
Corinthians 6:9-10 – “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
However, if these preachers pander, preach a politically correct gospel, and deceive people into believing their sins are acceptable, they will be accountable to God on Judgment Day.
Okay, those who believe that God destroys cities because of sin have failed to remember the scriptures. God promised following the flood to not destroy mankind again. Because of the coming of Christ mankind has been reconciled to Christ so that we now can have a personal relationship with God. If we choose not to then we destroy ourselves.
Next.
Exactly. I would assume that all churches, and certainly all churches that follow Jesus, would welcome homosexuals every Sunday. I know my church would welcome them. We also welcome those guilty of adultery, and a broad range of otherwise imperfect Christians. I'm not sure why this would be news.
There is a difference between welcoming homosexuals, adulterers, Clinton-supporters, or any other group of sinners, and rewriting scripture or pretending that their actions are not clearly addressed in the Bible.A reformed tax collector once wrote:
[Matt 9:9-14] As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
Our powerful G-d also loves homosexuals, drug addicts, liars, thieves, tax-collectors, prostitutes, alcoholics, child molesters and murderers. He also loved Hitler, Idi Amin, and Stalin. He loves all of us and is no respecter of persons- so says His word. If he can love all of these people and show forgiveness when they repent from their sin, then we should show all these people love while they are still in their sin. Who are we to judge? I would hope that Rev. Warren advises these homosexual dads that they need to turn from this lifestyle to the Lord and then go and sin no more.
Rick Warren's proving himself to be an attention addict.
True. But he does condemn those who do not repent. The results of that condemnation are eternally catastrophic. GOD is not to be toyed with. I cannot judge a person’s heart, but He gives us instruction on sinful behavior. We are called upon to judge sin in ourselves and others. I don’t know what to think of Warren’s idea here. Only GOD knows his heart.
He's a Traitor to his Country.
Why does he have to make a political statement about homosexuality?
Just invite all dads and let’s have a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. Why do we have to emphasize and celebrate diversity with homoseuxal dads? why is this an important part of Father’s Day? Sheesh................
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