| Poster | Thread | Oracio
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Whittier CA USA
| | Megachurch Leader Claims ‘Divine Wind’ Moved Him to Fully Accept Members Practicing Homosexuality | | 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.”
Mitchell, 46, claims that God moved upon him three years ago to begin rethinking his position on inclusion in the congregation. Heretofore, GracePointe had allowed those who identify as homosexuals to attend the services, but drew the line at serving in leadership positions or being “married” by the leadership.
- See more at: http://christiannews.net/2015/01/30/megachurch-leader-claims-divine-wind-moved-him-to-fully-accept-members-practicing-homosexuality/#sthash.PovRBCDC.dpuf
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Oracio
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|  2015/1/31 0:54 | Profile | dolfan
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Joined: 2011/8/23
Posts: 1727
Tennessee, but my home's in Alabama
| | Re: Megachurch Leader Claims ‘Divine Wind’ Moved Him to Fully Accept Members Prac | | We all saw this coming and it will keep coming.
Pentecostal denominations and churches are rife with homosexuals. We just have a lot of them. They are in their closets or barely so in many cases. But, the expressiveness of our churches and the abandonment of holiness teaching and culture is like a big ol' pretty flower to them. Pretty soon the American "evangelical" church will be as crazy over gays as we are already about everything else in the world order of things. "Divine wind" or whatever other spiritual nickname we give to the spirit of the age and our own lusts will keep leading us down this path.
This is what dominionism and amillenialism produces, too, by the way. The idea that the church will Christianize he world? Gays, divine wind and slouching to Sodom is that unfolding. If Jesus doesn't come soon, the church is going to save the world from Him.
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Tim
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| | 2015/1/31 9:46 | Profile | Oracio
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Joined: 2007/6/26
Posts: 2094
Whittier CA USA
| | Re: | | Quote:
this is what dominionism and amillenialism produces, too, by the way.
I was totally in agreement with you until that statement brother. Amillennialism has nothing to do with dominionism or the idea that the world will be Christianized before Christ's second coming. That's Postmillennialism. I am Amillennial and have strong disagreements with Postmil but still don't see how the Postmil view can contribute to homosexuality being more and more accepted among Christians.
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Oracio
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| | 2015/1/31 10:22 | Profile | Oracio
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Joined: 2007/6/26
Posts: 2094
Whittier CA USA
| | Re: | | Actually after rereading your statement and thinking about it more I can see how you would make that connection with Postmil.
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Oracio
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| | 2015/1/31 10:24 | Profile |
| | Re: | | I find the article a little rude. With words like, "An apostate pastor" and quoting 'marry' 'married' just because it's a homosexual union.
Just because a brother/sister may have different views, even 'critical beliefs' that doesn't entitle a believer to be rude to them. We are to love them, even if they die in their sin. We are to be a model to them.
Not name call. Not degrade. Not demean.
I believe the church is no longer in 'outreach mode'. They aren't seeking members. They aren't building relationships with unbelievers. They instead are being like the Pharisee in the story in Luke 18:9-14.
Sure, believers will 'fall away' but let's not be rude. Let's not fight fire with fire.
Let's agree to disagree. Let's shake the dust off. Let's stop taking these battles personally and be mature in Christ by demonstrating love.
P.S. I think Christian journalists should stop spinning this hate. Christians have a call to love. To show that Christ is quick to forgive, no matter how much sin someone is in. |
| | 2015/1/31 11:45 | | MrBillPro
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Joined: 2005/2/24
Posts: 3422
Texas
| | Re: | | Quote:
by LoveMeekHope
I find the article a little rude. With words like, "An apostate pastor" and quoting 'marry' 'married' just because it's a homosexual union.
Just because a brother/sister may have different views, even 'critical beliefs' that doesn't entitle a believer to be rude to them. We are to love them, even if they die in their sin. We are to be a model to them.
Not name call. Not degrade. Not demean.
I believe the church is no longer in 'outreach mode'. They aren't seeking members. They aren't building relationships with unbelievers. They instead are being like the Pharisee in the story in Luke 18:9-14.
Sure, believers will 'fall away' but let's not be rude. Let's not fight fire with fire.
Let's agree to disagree. Let's shake the dust off. Let's stop taking these battles personally and be mature in Christ by demonstrating love.
P.S. I think Christian journalists should stop spinning this hate. Christians have a call to love. To show that Christ is quick to forgive, no matter how much sin someone is in.
Great Post! Jesus loves all of us filthy rags right? why should we "hate on" anyone, aren't we called to be like Jesus?
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Bill
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| | 2015/1/31 11:49 | Profile | murrcolr
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Joined: 2007/4/25
Posts: 1839
Scotland, UK
| | Re: Megachurch Leader Claims ‘Divine Wind’ Moved Him to Fully Accept Members Prac | | Quote from article: We lost not only those who could bear the pain of partial inclusion no longer, we lost other brothers and sisters who were on the other side, who so deeply believed they knew God’s heart on this matter … as being opposed to any expression of mutual human sexuality other than theirs,” he stated before those gathered.
He misses the point those "opposed to any expression of mutual human sexuality" who left, left not because of their own viewpoint, but because the word of God which states we should not practice such ungodliness.
Just glad to see he has lost the status of mega church - his current attendance is down to 482, hopefully he will go financially bankrupt soon, as he certainly has proved he is spiritually bankrupt.
Edit:spelling
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Colin Murray
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| | 2015/1/31 12:08 | Profile | MrBillPro
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Joined: 2005/2/24
Posts: 3422
Texas
| | Re: | | But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. 1 Corinthians 5:11
Loving someone and associating with them is two different things, but it does say if they call themselves a Christian, if their not a Christian, then what? Lots of folks in the Church that are not Christians.
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Bill
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| | 2015/1/31 12:12 | Profile |
| | Re: | | Quote:
murrcolr said: hopefully he will go financially bankrupt soon, as he certainly has proved he is spiritually bankrupt.
Oh my. Why would you ever wish that upon anyone? Why? Christ never, ever, ever, wished destruction upon anyone. He wants them to change their ways. Wishing destruction upon someone isn't the way of Christ. We pray for those that persecute us. We bless them. If they are wicked/depraved, we plead the mercy/grace/love of God for their lives. Murrcolr, I encourage you, see the way of Christ. |
| | 2015/1/31 12:34 | | Oracio
Member
Joined: 2007/6/26
Posts: 2094
Whittier CA USA
| | Re: | | Quote:
I find the article a little rude. With words like, "An apostate pastor" and quoting 'marry' 'married' just because it's a homosexual union.
From what I understand an apostate is one who once held to sound doctrine but then departed from it, giving heed to doctrines of demons, which is what this doctrine of "inclusion" is.
It's like saying you can be a fornicator or adulterer or drug addict and be included in membership and enjoy the privileges that come with that. Jesus said unless you repent you will perish in your sins. You cannot cling to those sins and still think you are saved, period.
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Just because a brother/sister may have different views, even 'critical beliefs' that doesn't entitle a believer to be rude to them. We are to love them, even if they die in their sin. We are to be a model to them.
Wrong. The Word of God tells us to separate from and expose damnable teachings lest we become partakers with them. Those who believe strongly or teach this type of garbage and perversion are not to be called brothers or sisters, period. They are false brethren. Paul specifically mentions the term "false brethren" twice and the sad reality of false conversion is taught throughout God's Word as a warning. If you are entertaining such teachings as this so-called pastor preaches I'd warn you to examine yourself to see if you are truly in the faith.
It's interesting to note how this "pastor" keeps using the word "conversation" throughout his presentation. It's a key word among emergent false teachers and "Christians". They want us to be open to conversation, in hopes that we'll eventually be open to changing our views about sexuality and other issues.
Quote:
I believe the church is no longer in 'outreach mode'. They aren't seeking members. They aren't building relationships with unbelievers. They instead are being like the Pharisee in the story in Luke 18:9-14.
Sure, believers will 'fall away' but let's not be rude. Let's not fight fire with fire.
Let's agree to disagree. Let's shake the dust off. Let's stop taking these battles personally and be mature in Christ by demonstrating love.
P.S. I think Christian journalists should stop spinning this hate. Christians have a call to love. To show that Christ is quick to forgive, no matter how much sin someone is in.
Never fails, the same ole tactic of trying to label one a Pharisee when one preaches the truth of the Word of God without compromise, when one calls a spade a spade as did OT prophets, John the Baptist and our Lord and His disciples. Instead they want soothing messages of so called "love" and "unity" and "tolerance" and "acceptance" of all. "Can't we all just get along and sing koombaya?" they say.
"For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.-Ephesians 5:5-16
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Oracio
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| | 2015/1/31 12:46 | Profile |
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