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Sunday, 02 August 2009
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I Will NOT Speak to You If Your Christianity is Different
Original Revelife Post02 August 2009
I Will NOT Speak to You If Your Christianity is Different
I see so many people having problems with one another because of their Christian beliefs. So you're a Catholic? Oh man, then you have never really met Jesus. So you're a Christian Pentecostal? Oh, you must exaggerate when you go to church. I am honestly so done with hearing at my church that if you're not a certain type of Christian, then you are not saved and probably gonna go burn in the pot of flames.
Let's get some common sense people, from the man upstairs: In Mark 9:38-41, the apostles stopped a man that was driving out demons in Jesus' name, with the excuse that he wasn't "one of them." Jesus replied, "Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward." Doesn't that tell you a lot of things?
It made me realize that my pastor has no right to talk about any other religion that is under Christianity and point fingers saying, "Oh, you've never met Christ." How in the world can someone tell you that if you are a person who goes to church every Sunday, are involved in your church, and try to live your life according to the Bible as much as possible that you "are not a real believer."
I am pretty angry and upset at my pastor for not only that, but telling me that the way Catholics baptized people is wrong also. He referred to it as "sprinkling water and have a fancy party after." How can in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, be sprinkling water? Yes, I understand parents in a Catholic church tend to baptize their children at a very young age. But that gives him no right to call Catholics unbelievers and not real followers.
There is and will continue to be fake people in every type of Christian church. It's divided into 3 categories: the believers, the ones who want to believe, and the unbelievers. I think that everyone who believes with all their heart and soul that Jesus is their savior and trusts him automatically becomes a member in the God's family. If you refuse to emphasize differences and instead emphasize commitment in Christ, it would be much easier to feel comfortable with other Christian groups.
We are all made different, but if we believe in the same God, in the same bible, and keep ourselves on track, what is the big deal? Why do people want to keep on fighting and arguing? Read the Bible instead and learn from Jesus' steps; he's the truth, the light, and he will show you the right way of living.
Pastor Dan says:
The Bible is very clear when it instructs us how a person is saved. Romans 10:9 says: "...if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Furthermore, faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and not some sort of human work.
I have a big problem with somebody who presumes to judge another person's heart. When it comes to judging hearts, this is something that is impossible for us to do; this is God's responsibility. In 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 Paul writes: "My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts..."
It's just plain wrong for any human being to point a finger and say, "You're not a Christian," unless that other person has given clear testimony that they are in fact not a Christian.
But here's where the difference comes. Even though we cannot judge a person's heart, we can judge what a particular church or denomination teaches. That is their public testimony, and it is wide-open for all to see.
Here are some of the things that divide Christian denominations:
*The inerrancy of the Bible
*The virgin birth of Jesus
*The physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead
*Faith in Christ being the only way to heaven
*Homosexuality
*Abortion
*EuthanasiaThose are just a few that I could come up with right off the top of my head.
The most important question to answer is about the Bible itself, and how people view what it says. Is it objective truth, or is it subjective opinion? Traditionally, Christians have seen Scripture as being God's true inspired and inerrant Word. However the popular trend today is to look at Scripture and "weed it like a garden," so-to-speak. People keep what they like and ignore what they don't like. Therefore when somebody has this opinion, the Bible will be "truth" only insofar as they want it to be.
Let's look at some passages regarding the truth of the Bible:
1 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"
2 Peter 1:21: "For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
John 17:17 "[Jesus said] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
Furthermore, we are warned about "false teachers," i.e. those who teach contrary to the Bible.
Romans 16:17: "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them."
2 Peter 2:1: "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves."
Matthew 7:15: "[Jesus said] Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."
I Timothy 6:3-4: "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions"
God wouldn't have talked about this at length in so many places if he wasn't serious about it, and what kind of damage false teachers can do.
God gives us some very practical advice when it comes to this subject. 1 John 4:1 says: "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
You have an awesome responsibility here. You can challenge every teacher, every pastor, and every church body regarding the doctrine they teach. The Bible is the proverbial "yard stick" by which all church doctrines are measured. And if somebody is willfully and persistently teaching something that is contrary to the Bible, then they are to be avoided.
Don't ever use the excuse "Well, they know more than I do, so I won't say anything." That is a cop-out. You have a Bible, and you have a brain. Decide for yourself if you are being fed a diet of God's pure Word, or if it is being exchanged for human intellect and will. When false teaching is tolerated and believed, it puts a person's saving faith in jeopardy.
I definitely have problems with people who will make broad and sweeping generalizations, and say things like: "All Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, etc. are unbelievers who are going to hell." Jesus says in Luke 17:21 "...the kingdom of God is within you." The true church is invisible and is known only to God.
There are many things that don't matter, like the style of music, the method of worship, church architecture, and other outward things that are linked more with tradition and personal taste. When you find a Christian congregation that teaches and preaches God's Word in its truth and purity, and seeks to conform to it, then you have found a faithful gathering of God's people.
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The Falsehood of Semi-Pelagianism
Original Revelog Post:
1 August 2009
"God Does His Part, and I Do Mine." The Falsehood of Semi-Pelagianism
by Sean Norris of The Mockingbird Blog
Hey there glossary fans! This week I wanted to look at a term that sums up probably the most prevailing perspective on the human relationship with God in the world today. It is called semi-pelagianism.Semi-pelagianism is a mixed view of God’s sovereignty and human free will working together toward human justification. You may have heard it, or even said it, like this: “I'm meeting God half-way”, “We are co-laborers with God”, “God knocks at the door, and I have to answer”, “You need to get serious about your faith”, “Just surrender, and He’ll do the rest”, etc.
It is basically the mental compromise that we all make with the heresy of Pelagianism, which is the theological doctrine propounded by Pelagius, a British monk, and condemned as heresy by the Roman Catholic Church in A.D. 416. It denied original sin and affirmed the ability of humans to be righteous by the exercise of free will. Essentially, believing that you choose God as opposed to Him choosing you. “It’s up to you.”
It is a very easy belief to hold because it appeals to our sinful desire to be able to stand on our own two feet. We want to be able to have something to offer God. After all, it is a very uncomfortable thing to be told that we are completely helpless. So, since we want to give God His due, we allow for Him to be the one that helps us out, but we defend the idea that we have free will and a part to play in the justification tango.
The truth of the matter is that we are not free, however. This blog continually searches culture and life to show how we are in fact bound beings, that freedom without the cross is nothing more than an illusion or the result of mental gymnastics. Instead of being a tango between two capable parties, justification is more like Tom Petty's creepy, but great music video for "Mary Jane's Last Dance" in which he dances with the dead body of his love, Mary Jane. We are that dead body, and God lifts us up and brings us to life.
Pastor Dan says:
Here's an illustration that describes Pelagianism. It's not original with me, but I like it.
Situation: You are stranded out in the middle of the ocean.
Pelagian: God pointed the way to the shore and I swam to safety.
Semi-Pelagian (or synergist): God threw me a life preserver and I grabbed on, and he pulled me to shore.
What the Bible teaches: I had already drowned and was completely dead. God pulled me out, brought me safely to the shore, and breathed new life into me.
Here's a partial answer I gave to an earlier post, complete with Bible references that speaks to this topic. Why reinvent the wheel, right?
“Ask Jesus into your heart” (Intentional Christianity)
This is probably one of the worst theological statements you'll hear a Christian use. People have the mistaken notion that they are the ones who have asked Jesus into their heart, that they want him to take control of their life, and they have decided that he is the one to be their Saviour.
In Ephesians 2, Paul gives a very detailed description of our conversion. Verses 4-5 read: "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."
In 1 Corinthians 12:3 Paul also reminds us: "...no-one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit."
In John 15:16 Jesus says, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last."
And finally, Ephesians 2 8-9 says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast."
People seem to delight in crediting themselves for their own conversion and coming to faith. But the Bible clearly teaches that we are completely dead in our transgressions and sins, and therefore completely incapable of making such a decision. God the Holy Spirit is the one who works the miracle of faith in our hearts, and makes it possible for us to proclaim Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour from sin, and declare him to be the Lord of our lives.
For people to say that "they have made a decision to accept Christ into their hearts," is claiming personal credit for something the Holy Spirit has done for them. The only thing we have the power to do is to reject the gift of faith the Holy Spirit has given us. Paul warns us about this in Ephesians 4:30, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
So if you believe that you were the one responsible for asking Jesus into your heart, take another look and give God the Holy Spirit the credit he deserves.
Saturday, 01 August 2009
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An Epiphany: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Original Revelife Post:
01 August 2009
An Epiphany: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
More about worship in a bit. If you want a good article to keep you thinking about it, which I intend to do as well, you must try this fantastic piece on the hymn "Holy Holy Holy" and the doctrine of the Trinity.Meantime, I think I've just had an apostrophe. (“Epiphany, Smee!”) Whatever. Every once in a while I see things very clearly. This was one of those times. I was reading the comments on my previous post on worship, which were among the best I've received lately (thanks!). While I was thinking them through, I thought of this verse:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
And then I saw it.
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, NIV)
Here it is.The Gospel is the message that we should fix our eyes on Jesus.
Ministry is anything we do that helps someone fix their eyes on Jesus.
Worship is anything we do when our eyes are fixed on Jesus.
Sin is anything we do when our eyes are not fixed on Jesus.
Any other definitions are extraneous.
That’s all.
The old hymn puts it very well, except for one word:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.The wrong word is "dim." Perhaps the author meant that our problems, worries, and temptations that seem so large fade into insignificance when we consider the glorious grace of Jesus-- true enough, then. But in general the "things of earth," rather than growing dim, grow strangely and newly vivid in the light of the glory and grace of Jesus.
We have an entire cliche condemning the people who are "so heavenly minded they're no earthly good." But I've traveled all around the country and talked to people of faith from every background you can name, and I've never met a one whose problem was that they were so occupied with thoughts of God that they never gave a care about the world around them. I have, however, met many people who were so occupied with cares of the world around them that they never gave a thought to heaven. And I have met a few people, a precious few, who are so full of thoughts of heaven that they shine joy and love into the world around them. Apparently, it never works the other way, yet that's the way we're constantly warned against. I wonder why.
It works like this. When we "turn our eyes upon Jesus," and see the "light of His glory and grace" (not the fakey religious version-- the real one such as you get in the Gospels), some remarkable things start to happen.......Suffering becomes an opportunity to feel our closeness to God's constant care.You can insert your own examples here, because if you believe in Jesus at all, you've certainly had those moments of transformational clarity. What I'm saying here is nothing new, except perhaps for the phrasing. I can easily quote you lines from Scripture that support each of my points, and I look forward to hearing how you've seen this in your own life. All I'm suggesting is that we take those little moments of insight and make them the structure of the way we live.
...Nature becomes a work of art by a Master Craftsman.
...Boring theology becomes a chance to see Jesus with more clarity (or, if too stuffy, is cheerfully set aside).
...The Bible becomes a book that has Jesus in every line and grace on every page.
...That material thing we're tempted to ruin our life for becomes a worthless trinket that's going to wind up in the ash-heap anyway.
...A discussion about faith becomes a chance to make friends, not win arguments.
...Your neighbors become people you can love like Jesus would... or love like they are Jesus.
...That annoying person next to you (yes, that one) becomes someone who needs to be shown grace and forgiveness.
...That person everyone looks down on as a "sinner" becomes someone who can be turned into a saint.
...That person nobody likes becomes a person Jesus loves.
...That repetitive worship chorus becomes a chance to praise the Lord.
...The times when we feel weak are the times we know best that God is strong.
...The times when we feel strong are the times when we can laugh at ourselves.
It's not What Would Jesus Do? (TM). It's making everything we do start from Jesus and end in Jesus, and along the way, pointing to Jesus. it's "For me, to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21). It's "the summing up of all things in Christ" (Eph 1:10).
And this has a tremendous bearing on the way we approach worship. More on that later, if you're interested. Maybe even if you're not.
Pastor Dan says:
Thanks for the great post! Very well done, and very edifying. It's difficult for me to understand how some groups that claim some sort of Christianity can be anti-Trinitarian, especially if they've studied the Bible at all. The doctrine of the Trinity is so clear.Regarding the line from the hymn you mentioned: "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace," I think this is more poetical than anything. The things that have worldly allure and earthly glory are no match for the glory of Jesus Christ. In Luke 21:33 Jesus says: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Thanks also for the link to the excellent article about Reginald Heber's hymn, "Holy, Holy, Holy." I have it bookmarked, and I shall definitely use it in the future.
Thanks again for your words. I leave you with the often repeated words of 2 Corinthians 13:14: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
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Is the Church Forcing Me Into Idolatry?
Original Revelife post:
Friday, 31 July 2009
Is the Church Forcing Me into Idolatry?
I've been on a forced "time of rest." I have been very unhappy through it but have learned a lot. One thing I've learned is that the church, innocently enough, is forcing me to choose an idol to take the place of God and ministry in my life. It's a fact that I feel called to full-time ministry. I definitely believe there are many types of teachers and pastors in this world. Some are called to poor communities who can't pay and have to work and minister on their own volunteer time. Others are called to ministry part-time and work a part-time job as well, being paid for both or having a benefit, like free rent and utilities at the church parsonage. Others still are called to be full-time pastors who are paid and have their basic needs taken care of because their whole lives, 24-7, are devoted to ministry. I feel called to full time ministry.
To devote every moment of my life to ministry is a special calling. To be available at all times to all people, (with exceptions of course), is a HUGE calling that isn’t for anybody and should be taken seriously. I feel that my whole life needs to be an example to the lost and to those Christians willing to learn of Christ and the things He is trying to teach them through me, my life, and the things I am learning as I go. So what happens when you are called to that kind of ministry, yet the leadership at the church you feel called to says you aren’t ready yet to do ministry because you are feeling unfulfilled without doing that kind of ministry? If you are unsettled and unsatisfied with your life because you feel called to ministry and if God has given you a passion, anointing and release to do so but you aren’t doing it, are you bad? Is the desire for full-time ministry even a valid passion or is it a "crutch" that people use to just fulfill themselves?
By guiding someone called to this kind of ministry in that they should “be fulfilled in other things” before they can do ministry so the ministry isn’t a crutch, in order to qualify for the ability to minister, are you forcing them to place something else in God's place and the rightful place of full-time ministry in their life? (E.g. becoming a full-time stay at home mom and wife, getting a career started, or even just becoming a student again.)
Is the church right in telling me and others that we don't qualify for ministry if our heart isn’t fulfilled in just doing whatever the world has taught us to pursue to bring happiness? Or is it asking us to put an idol in the place of God to find fulfillment that will not last and ultimately takes people out of the will of God and leads to death?
Pastor Dan says:
The one thing that struck me the most in your post is your use of the words "I feel." It would appear that you are focusing mostly on your own personal emotions and feelings in this process. Even though pastors should have an active desire to serve God in the public ministry, there are proper ways to pursue this. Of course we have to start with what Scripture says in this regard, and do some serious self-examination according to it.
The office of the pastor is very necessary. Paul writes in Romans 10:14-15: "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus are key sections of Scripture to study for somebody considering the ministry. Paul was preparing these two young men to be pastors, so his words of instruction are pointedly directed to both those preparing for this office, as well as every pastor as he conducts his ministry.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 is something that requires some deep study and self-reflection. We read: "Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[pastor] he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap."
Then we look at Titus 1:6-9: "An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self- controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."
And finally, consider the words of 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Allow me to share my process of entering into the ministry: I started with a four-year undergraduate degree, with a focus on pre-theological studies. During this time, I took two years of Greek and two years of Hebrew. I also took other Christian and Bible courses, along with a normal load of acadaemics (English, Science, etc.). This was a requirement for me to enter into the seminary. Of special interest were the Greek and Hebrew classes, which are the languages of the New and Old Testaments respectively. We had to have a working knowledge of these languages in order to take the required exegetical and isogogical courses at the seminary. If we were to be faithful and accurate teachers of God's Word, we had to be able to read it in the original language. We were to never trust a translation of the Bible without being able to compare it to the Greek and Hebrew.
The seminary is a four-year graduate school. A great deal of time was spent in studying the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments. We also had classes in preaching, Christian education, counselling, symbolics, dogmatics, etc. We spent three years in a classroom setting, and one year as a student intern, where we served under a pastor in a congregational setting. When all this was done, we were interviewed in depth by the seminary faculty with emphasis on our Christian fundamentals, faith, and life. And once we passed that step, we were recommended for graduation (Masters Degree), and declared a candidate for ordination, and ready for a call into a congregation or the mission field.
This may seem to be a lot, but speaking personally I wouldn't have missed any of my schooling. It was all definitely worth it.
After graduation, my name was put on a list as one who had fulfilled all of the qualifications of a pastor. I had "studied to show myself approved," and I was ready to receive a call from a congregation. God, working through a particular congregation issued me a call, and so began my ministry 21 years ago.
As a pastor, I have the words of Acts 20:28 before me: "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."
In your case, I don't know what kind of preparation you have done, or are willing to do. But being a pastor involves a great deal more than grabbing a Bible and starting to preach. If you are serious about being a pastor, then you need to be serious about doing it right, and not trying to look for short-cuts. If you dedicate your life to serving Christ, then whatever educational preparation is necessary is also part of that life of service.
I have seen people go through the seminary in all stages of life, so one can never use the "I'm too old" excuse. There are also various positions in the church that don't require a seminary education; but the office of the public ministry cannot be short-circuited. Matthew 18:6 is a great warning for pastors that they need to do things right. Jesus says, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
So if you're serious about the ministry, then be serious enough to take the time and do it right. And don't waste your time begging church councils for a ministry position. God knows who you are and where you are, and he will provide a position for you where your talents can be best utilized for the good of his kingdom.
So do you possess all of the qualifications for a pastor? Not now perhaps, but in time maybe you will. Study what the Bible says about this, commit it to prayer, and explore the various avenues so that you too can "study to show yourself approved."
Friday, 31 July 2009
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Married By a Gay Minister: Is This Acceptable?
Original Revelife post:
Married By a Gay Minister: Is This Acceptable?
Excuse me while I dump my brain onto this page...
There is a gentlemen who I met through work who was recently ordained to be a minister, that I am considering asking to be the officiant over my wedding. A pretty simple choice...only he is gay. I'm pretty jumbled in the head over whether or not it is "right," on many levels, to have him marry me.
He's homosexual, which according to the book that guides my life, is a sin. BUT, no man or woman is without sin, even pastors and preachers, so if I'm looking for a sinless minister, that isn't going to happen anyway.
I almost feel uncomfortable asking him to marry my fiance and I, when he and his partner are, under law, forbidden to be married. Although I am Christian, I feel that marriage is a right that is part of a group of rights that all United States citizens are entitled to. It is not my place to judge whether or not that marriage is accepted under God, but it is my place as a citizen to advocate for equal rights for all people.
Is it right? Is it wrong? What makes it wrong if it is wrong? That he's homosexual? Ugh, I'm just so confused.
My fiance doesn't see a problem with having him lead our wedding. In all reality, does the officiant of the service, whoever he or she may be, have any bearing on the marriage? Marriage to me is a three way commitment between the man, the woman, and God, so would it even matter if I called a bum in off the street to marry us, if our vows between us and God are sincere?
Boooo to confusion.
What do you think? Would it be wrong for me to ask him to be the officiant at my wedding?
Pastor Dan says:
You definitely have some situations to work through in this situation; and in doing so, we have to look at the Bible as the final authority.
Any pastor who is openly homosexual is giving a strong testimony as to how seriously he regards the Bible, which clearly condemns homosexuality as a sin.
There are two things that stand out in your letter and the comments made. You said, "He's homosexual, which according to the book that guides my life, is a sin. BUT, no man or woman is without sin, even pastors and preachers, so if I'm looking for a sinless minister, that isn't going to happen anyway."
This is very true. Even the Apostle Paul recognized his sinfulness, as he writes in 1 Timothy 1:15-16: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."
So if you're looking for a "sinless minister," you'll never find one. There was only one sinless person to have ever walked the earth, and him they crucified.
This being said, there is a huge difference between a "repentant sinner" and an "unrepentant sinner." The repentant sinner looks at God's Word, sees themselves as sinning and falling short of God's glory, and asks for forgiveness for their sin. And then praying for God's help, they fully intend to amend their sinful life. They are honest with themselves, and see the sin in their lives for what it is.
The unrepentant sinner basically says, "I know that God's Word clearly shows that what I'm doing is a sin, but I don't care what God says; I'm going to do as I please."
Although a bit graphic, Hebrews 10:26-27 says: "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." And verses 30-31 continue: "For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.' It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Unrepentant sin is a serious matter that affects a person's whole life, and basically can destroy whatever shred of Christian faith a person has.
The second thing that caught my attention, was that someone pointed out that it is wrong to judge another person. The Bible verses above agree with that. However there needs to be a very sharp distinction about what we are judging. Are we judging hearts or actions?
When it comes to judging hearts, this is something that is impossible for us to do; this is God's responsibility. In 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 Paul writes: "My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts..."
But judging actions is a completely different matter. This is something we do all the time; for example we say things like murder, stealing, lying, etc. are wrong. Are we judging when we say this? Of course we are! But we are judging a person's actions, and not their heart. In fact, one thing the Bible does is judge actions, and we do the same according to it. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul writes: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." We could not "rebuke and correct" without having the Biblical basis for judging a person's actions.
In the case of having an openly unrepentant homosexual pastor perform your wedding, especially in a church setting, you are giving your tacit approval of his actions. Certainly he can perform a legal marriage, but so can a judge. If it were me, I'd opt for the judge and a civil ceremony before I'd compromise my Christian witness by having such a person perform my wedding.
My advice to you is to find a pastor who shares your Christian faith and the associated moral convictions to do your wedding. By having your wedding in a church performed by a pastor, you are recognizing God as the one who instituted marriage between a man and a woman in the first place, and you want him to bless your union and your life together. You want to establish your home according to Christian principles. Therefore everything connected with your wedding, from the vows to the music to the celebrant need to reflect that. Remember the words of Joshua 24:15: "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
May God bless your life together.
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I am the pastor of a small Free Lutheran congregation in Seward, Nebraska. You can find out more about me and my congregation by going to: http://www.mightyfortress.us


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