Pastor Brett Younger Stays
The members have voted and Pastor Brett stays. God is smiling I am sure. This Pastor was only showing unconditional love and in my opinion, did the right thing.
UPDATE: The saga continues at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. After controversy erupted over whether or not to feature gay couples in the church's 125th anniversary photo directory, a group of members attempted to oust pastor Brett Younger for leading the church in a liberal direction. They collected enough signatures to force the issue to a vote. But on March 9 the congregation voted to retain Younger. The vote was 499 to 237, giving the pastor a two-thirds majority. “We respect the will of the majority and pray for the congregation's healing,” Robert Saul, spokesman for the group that organized against Younger. But Saul warned of other consequences: “300 members have or want to leave because of the turmoil.” [Christianpost.com, 3/10/08]
posted by Keith at 9:51 AM
3 Comments:
I really hate to say this but you know, if 300 members think they want or need to leave because of this controversy, then that's 300 members who don't have the real Christian spirit in their soul. Love one another. It doesn't say to exclude this or that person for whatever reason -just to "love one another." All are created equal in Christ's eyes. Glad to hear the pastor won that battle now and keeps winning in the future too.
that's a tough one. i agree with jeni in that we are not to judge others and we are to reach out to the lost and show them Christ's love. however, there is clear Biblical instruction about dealing with fellow believers who continue in sin. to confront them in love, to do it with 2-3 witnesses, and if they refuse to turn from the sin, then they leave the fellowship. if you take Paul at his word in 1 Corinthians 5:11 "You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother, but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." he does admonish us to restore these believers gently Galatians 6:1 "Brothers, if someone is caught in sin ... restore him gently." I don't know if it is appropriate for a Christian CHURCH MEMBER who is blatently sinning - whether it's drunkeness or infidelity or homosexuality or whatever, the Bible is pretty clear.
it would take some serious one-on-ones with them, for example, i could see this conversation taking place by a loving pastor or deacon or other church member: listen, we love you, we want to show you Christ's love. we want you to worship with us. heck, we are all sinners; however, we can't just advocate your lifestyle. we can share our lives with you and you with ours, but as long as you continue living in sin - and i'd say the same thing to a heterosexual couple living together unmarried - we can't have you officially join our church.
I'd even consider having their picture in a "friends" section or if there was a section for nonmember attenders. but i gotta say, this is a tough one. but the Bible's pretty clear on how to deal with fellow Christians who are willfully sinning. what about the greed and stuff we're all guilty of, why do we look the other way at the sins we're "more comfortable with"? i dunno. but we shouldn't.
so, that is my argument. i do agree that we need to open our hearts and arms and churches to the gay community and any other community that is outside the Love of Christ. And we need to show it and Him to them best we can.
Actually, if I recall what happened, it was decided to put the photos in a different section. Something like group photos, outside of the "family" section.
I agree that sin is sin. We do not have all of the facts in this case though, so I can not make a judgment. I appreciate the comment though.
Peace!
Post a Comment
<< Home