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Megachurch Leader Claims ‘Divine Wind’ Moved Him to Fully Accept Members Practicing Homosexuality
Christiannews.net ^ | 1/30/15 | Heather Clark

Posted on 02/01/2015 12:09:57 AM PST by Faith Presses On

NASHVILLE – An apostate pastor in the Bible Belt who leads the congregation that country star Carrie Underwood attends recently announced from the pulpit that not only can practicing homosexuals be members, but those in sexual sin can now fully serve in his church and will be allowed to “marry” at the facility.

“Our position that these siblings of ours, other than heterosexual, … cannot have the full privileges of membership, but only partial membership, has changed,” Stan Mitchell of GracePointe Church in Franklin, Tennessee announced earlier this month as some clapped and others sat silently in disapproval. “Full privileges are extended now to you with the same expectations of faithfulness, sobriety, holiness, wholeness, fidelity, godliness, skill, and willingness. That is expected of all,” he continued. “Full membership means being able to serve in leadership and give all of your gifts and to receive all the sacraments; not only communion and baptism, but child dedication and marriage.”

(Excerpt) Read more at christiannews.net ...


TOPICS: Charismatic Christian; Current Events; Evangelical Christian; General Discusssion; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: christians; homosexualagenda
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To: driftdiver

Carrie has made no secret of her support for gay marriage. You can Google it. Why would she be part of this church if she didn’t support it?


21 posted on 02/01/2015 3:28:01 AM PST by MagnoliaB
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To: MagnoliaB

You’re assuming she supports what he said.

She’s responsible for her comments and for what she does after she knows what he’s done.


22 posted on 02/01/2015 3:33:44 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: driftdiver

Here’s some scholarly theology from the Right Reverend Underwood:

“I definitely think we should all have the right to love—and love publicly—the people that we want to love,” she told The Independent. “It’s not about setting rules or [saying], ‘Everyone has to be like me.’ No. We’re all different. That’s what makes us special. We have to love each other and get on with each other. It’s not up to me to judge anybody.”

Babbling idiot.


23 posted on 02/01/2015 4:03:59 AM PST by heye2monn
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To: RichInOC

Probably from after he pulled out.


24 posted on 02/01/2015 4:09:06 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: heye2monn

Lovely, isn’t it ? He’s just effectively declared that there’s no such thing as sin. Why bother going to church at all ? Satan is loving this nonsense.


25 posted on 02/01/2015 4:10:29 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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To: heye2monn

So we should judge? We shouldn’t show love to all?

Of course God gave us the definition of marriage and we should obey.

Which means calling someone a “reverend” who has never called themselves such or earned it is bearing false witness.


26 posted on 02/01/2015 4:14:42 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: 98ZJ USMC

LOL! He’s got kamikazes crashing into his “big box church”. It just keeps getting wackier.


27 posted on 02/01/2015 4:24:17 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (When the hell do I get MY white privilege? I'm tired of busting my @$$ for a living.)
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To: MagnoliaB

It is our place to judge; John 7:24. The prohibition is on judging hypocritically.

The Scripture that is used the most to support the idea that Christians should not judge is Matthew 7:1, where Jesus says to His disciples, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” It’s one verse that many unbelievers can quote. Another popular saying, taken from John 8:7, is “He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone.” But when we read these verses in their immediate contexts, it becomes glaringly obvious that Jesus is not warning against every kind of judging but against hypocritical, self-righteous judging (see Matthew 7:1-5; John 8:1-11). In other words, a man should refrain from pronouncing judgment on those who commit the very sin in which he engages, for “with the judgment [we] pronounce [we] will be judged” (Matthew 7:2). This exhortation is similar to the point made by the apostle Paul when he asks, “Do you suppose, O man – you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself – that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:3). These verses are a warning against hypocrisy and, at the same time, an exhortation to right living.

However, hypocritical judging is the only kind of judging the Bible says that Christians should avoid. The Christian must “judge” or discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14)! We must make spiritual evaluations of the words and behavior of others, not to find fault, but to effectively guard our hearts against error and sin (1 Corinthians 2:14-15; Proverbs 4:23). In fact, immediately after Jesus warned His disciples against hypocritical judgment, He says, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs” (Matthew 7:6). How is the Christian supposed to know who the “dogs” and the “pigs” are unless he or she exercises discernment? Furthermore, Jesus warns His disciples just a few verses later, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16). This admonition is given not only with regard to “false prophets” but also concerning anyone who comes in the name of Christ but who, by his actions, denies Christ (Titus 1:16; cf. Matthew 3:8).

According to Jesus, this kind of judgment is considered “right judgment” (John 7:24) and is strongly encouraged. We are to be “as wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16), and wisdom demands that we be discerning (Proverbs 10:13).


28 posted on 02/01/2015 4:31:18 AM PST by Mechanicos (Nothing's so small it can't be blown out of proportion.)
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To: 98ZJ USMC

Hairy Carrie.


29 posted on 02/01/2015 4:32:23 AM PST by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
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To: Faith Presses On

Many a pastor at judgement will be shocked to hear - “I knew you not “ cast into the eternal hell. Just look at how many people will be lead astray by the works of pastors whom are false teachers. Case in point - Carrie Underwood - song Jesus Take the Wheel What the fame has gone to her head and she has lost sight of what the Bible teaches! How many other country singers go to that church and maybe that is why they are coming out as gay.The sad testimony to christian church is the ones that adopt false teachings to glorify themselves


30 posted on 02/01/2015 4:34:58 AM PST by hondact200 (Candor dat viribos alas (sincerity gives wings to strength) and Nil desperandum (never despair))
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To: Faith Presses On

When evil and false prophets take over, you simply find another church. Christians thought that Sodom died in the the uncivilized world a thousand years ago and they were wrong. Their power is rising again.


31 posted on 02/01/2015 4:38:13 AM PST by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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To: Faith Presses On

Ironic. “A reed shaken by the wind,” as Jesus termed it in Matthew 11:7.


32 posted on 02/01/2015 4:46:50 AM PST by txrefugee
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To: exnavy
.... the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (emphasis added)

33 posted on 02/01/2015 4:58:06 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: Gamecock

Suicide Dive Bomber Ping


34 posted on 02/01/2015 4:58:29 AM PST by DocRock (All they that TAKE the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52 Gun grabbers beware.)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER
He is truly leading his diminishing flock down the wide road that leads to hell.

The entire article did not have a single quote of his, that I recall, from Scripture. He merely talked about his own journey. Wicked.

Although hopefully soon this entire church will wither on the vine. (If they continue unrepentant, I think the Bible says something about being cut off.)

The church's attendance is not doing well. From the article:

Mitchell’s congregation continues to shrink since he first made the announcement two years ago that he was going to open a listening period over the issue. Two years ago, GracePointe had an average of 800-1000 members in attendance, and after he announced full inclusion for homosexuals this month, attendance went down to 673. Last week, it stood at 482.

Now, I guess it is possible the church will gain attendance as the acceptance of perversion is embraced in the culture.

I hope that is not the case. I hope people's lives are changed and they see their sin needs to be forgiven.

35 posted on 02/01/2015 5:03:43 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: Faith Presses On

...and a note to the journalist who wrote this: I don’t think 480 is a “megachurch”.


36 posted on 02/01/2015 5:07:15 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
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To: Catsrus

Carrie Underwood better run - not walk to the nearest exit


She is probably partly the reason for the change from anti God to more anti God..


37 posted on 02/01/2015 5:15:38 AM PST by ravenwolf (s letters scripture.)
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To: Faith Presses On

Another daughter of the harlot going into destruction.


38 posted on 02/01/2015 5:23:00 AM PST by ravenwolf (s letters scripture.)
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To: driftdiver

I had read somewhere awhile ago that Carrie had said she was fine with homosexuality, and who is she to judge. It sounds like she got that directly from the pastor.


39 posted on 02/01/2015 5:37:01 AM PST by JudyinCanada
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To: Faith Presses On

The pastor is homosexual/bisexual himself, probably, and will be coming out of the closet soon


40 posted on 02/01/2015 5:40:23 AM PST by dynachrome (Vertrou in God en die Mauser)
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