A few notes.
First, it looks like I was right to caution folks about the role of Gazette columnist Barry Noreen in this story.
Second, even if we account for the certainty that Ms. Assam is putting the best possible face on her side of the story, it seems quite clear that something really did happen at New Life, related to her role at the church and her homosexuality. I believe her claim that she was deeply hurt by the episode.
And finally, if we believe that even some of Assam's story is true, Pastor Boyd's quoted response looks less than forthright. (Remembering again that Mr. Noreen may not have provided full context, either in his questions to Boyd, or in his depiction of Boyd's response.)
The fact remains that she cannot claim to be “born again” and embrace/celebrate her sin. The choice is hers and not the churches.
I disagree. The columnist appears to have largely reported her words correctly. She's upset that her "private" words were made public, but it's not a reporter's job to help people keep their opinions hidden, or to clean up the mess that results when people talk trash about others behind their backs and get caught.
Second, even if we account for the certainty that Ms. Assam is putting the best possible face on her side of the story, it seems quite clear that something really did happen at New Life, related to her role at the church and her homosexuality.
I don't remember anybody EVER arguing differently here. Your statement is not equivalent to her charge that she was "clearly asked to leave" (although as she notes "not wirh words"). I think we all agree that she left the church because of her sinful actions, and I presume because her church refused to accept her sinful actions as proper. My church would accept a thief, but wouldn't allow them to think stealing money from the offering was appropriate behavior. And I guess if a thief was continually chastised for trying to walk off with the offering, they would probably feel like they weren't wanted. It's how sin separates us from God, and from our brethren.
I believe her claim that she was deeply hurt by the episode.
I agree with you; she clearly thinks her actions are OK, and is upset that people she cares about won't change their views and stop calling her actions sinful. I've known a lot of sinners who decide, rather than repentance, that what they are doing is NOT sin, and that the fault is with the church for thinking otherwise. They usually leave the church, and usually blame the church for "driving them off".
And finally, if we believe that even some of Assam's story is true, Pastor Boyd's quoted response looks less than forthright.
Again, I disagree. I believe some of her story is true; I believe most of her story is true, and even think she believes ALL of her story is true. And yet I see nothing in that story that in any way contradicts what the Pastor said. A church can welcome a sinner with open arms; but if they preach that the sinner's actions are sinful, no matter how much they show God's love, that sinner will feel driven away. It's the sin that does it, but the sinner, refusing to accept the idea of sin, blames others.
She never tells us what she wanted the church to do with her. Did she want to be allowed to teach Sunday School? I certainly wouldn't let her near children with her defiant attitude toward God and his commandments.
Here is a quote of what Boyd said:
"We welcome everyone at New Life," he told The Gazette. "We would never tell someone to leave because of their sexual orientation. Jeanne will always be a hero at New Life."Assam agrees that they never told her to leave: "Assam agreed Boyd and others never used the exact words that she was unwelcome." Instead, she insists they "made it clear". Nothing Boyd said is inconsistent with the church teaching that her ACTIONS of giving in to her lesbian feelings are sinful, and denying her certain privileges of the church because she is actively living in rebellion to God's word. (My church would deny her communion, not sure if New Life would do that or not).
So, to summarize, I don't see her words in any way backing up your assertions that the columnist is at fault, or that Boyd must be less the "forthright".
We can all agree that the Bible instructs the homosexual to repent and to not give any justification for homosexuality, or for the groups and political movements that openly flaunt and promote this sin as anything but an abomination.
If a person continues to ignore the Bible (after being corrected) and continues to give agreement, aid or comfort to those who openly promote the abomination of homosexuality, they should be confronted and ultimately shunned until they clearly repent.
A few notes.
First, it looks like I was right to caution folks about the role of Gazette columnist Barry Noreen in this story.
Second, even if we account for the certainty that Ms. Assam is putting the best possible face on her side of the story, it seems quite clear that something really did happen at New Life, related to her role at the church and her homosexuality. I believe her claim that she was deeply hurt by the episode.
And finally, if we believe that even some of Assam's story is true, Pastor Boyd's quoted response looks less than forthright. (Remembering again that Mr. Noreen may not have provided full context, either in his questions to Boyd, or in his depiction of Boyd's response.)
It does sound like the reporter was trying to stir things up a bit.
The impression I get is that both are putting some spin on their own versions of the story to show themselves in the best possible light.
The tell for me is that neither are being really very specific in exactly what was said.
Probably was a bit of an emotional exchange or events that neither side wants to go into details about, I would guess...
I just didn't like seeing what looked to me like Jeanne Assam's character being insulted and derided after her heroic act of confronting the armed man with the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle armed only with her 9mm pistol and saving all those people in the New Life church.
But then again, maybe heros are not perfect either. None of us are.
I hope that God intervenes and helps her get right with Him.