Comments on: Homosexuality and Your Church — Part Two http://sbcvoices.com/homosexuality-and-your-church-part-two/ Southern Baptist News & Opinion Tue, 22 May 2012 05:18:17 +0000 hourly 1 By: Homosexuality and Your Church Part Two by Thom Hunter :: Exodus International Blog http://sbcvoices.com/homosexuality-and-your-church-part-two/#comment-7387 Homosexuality and Your Church Part Two by Thom Hunter :: Exodus International Blog Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:37:01 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=2012#comment-7387 [...] last year.  Here is the second part of Thom’s message to the church (originally posted on SBC Voices Blog and posted here with [...] [...] last year.  Here is the second part of Thom’s message to the church (originally posted on SBC Voices Blog and posted here with [...]

]]> By: Stephen Black http://sbcvoices.com/homosexuality-and-your-church-part-two/#comment-7237 Stephen Black Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:27:02 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=2012#comment-7237 Thom you did a great job in writing these two articles! I would only add to the end of this quote: "Black thinks churches should be slow to act in disciplining, exercising patience and offering support." --> (rather the DUTIFULLY disciplining and quickly excommunicating using Matthew 18. If there is any sign of repentance in a person would should be very slow in turning a brother or sister over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh.) Like you quoted; we MUST err on the side of mercy! "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." I fear for many pastors who continue to operate in a spirit of self righteousness to quickly execute Matthew 18, especially if there is hope or signs of repentance. "If anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." "If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." How can anyone who is FULL OF LOVE and GRACE, be unwilling to be restorative especially in context of reaping judgment to themselves; and especially as leaders who should understand the greatness of the forgiveness they themselves have received through the KING OF GLORY's sacrifice on Calvary! GOD HELPS US ALL! Thom you did a great job in writing these two articles! I would only add to the end of this quote: “Black thinks churches should be slow to act in disciplining, exercising patience and offering support.” –> (rather the DUTIFULLY disciplining and quickly excommunicating using Matthew 18. If there is any sign of repentance in a person would should be very slow in turning a brother or sister over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh.) Like you quoted; we MUST err on the side of mercy! “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” I fear for many pastors who continue to operate in a spirit of self righteousness to quickly execute Matthew 18, especially if there is hope or signs of repentance. “If anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” How can anyone who is FULL OF LOVE and GRACE, be unwilling to be restorative especially in context of reaping judgment to themselves; and especially as leaders who should understand the greatness of the forgiveness they themselves have received through the KING OF GLORY’s sacrifice on Calvary! GOD HELPS US ALL!

]]> By: Thom Hunter http://sbcvoices.com/homosexuality-and-your-church-part-two/#comment-7159 Thom Hunter Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:59:42 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=2012#comment-7159 Jim, Thanks for your comment. It is difficult to achieve the right balance between recognizing that the person who struggles with homosexuality has a personal responsibility for his sin and also recognizing that this person is a part of the Body of Christ, and therefore deserves all the help and support we would afford to all the sinners among us. I have clearly taken the hard path and hurt myself and others in the process. It is my hope that God will use my failures to help others avoid that path . . . and encourage others to help them find freedom faster. Jim,

Thanks for your comment. It is difficult to achieve the right balance between recognizing that the person who struggles with homosexuality has a personal responsibility for his sin and also recognizing that this person is a part of the Body of Christ, and therefore deserves all the help and support we would afford to all the sinners among us. I have clearly taken the hard path and hurt myself and others in the process. It is my hope that God will use my failures to help others avoid that path . . . and encourage others to help them find freedom faster.

]]> By: Jim Pemberton http://sbcvoices.com/homosexuality-and-your-church-part-two/#comment-7156 Jim Pemberton Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:20:10 +0000 http://sbcvoices.com/?p=2012#comment-7156 This is a good series for more than one reason. We talk about righteousness and accountability, but our collective notion of how this is to be carried out is rather limited in our culture of privacy. There is a difference between telling someone what they need to to and actually helping them be the person they need to be in order to do it. Simply telling someone what they need to do requires an air of superiority, but little else. Helping someone be the person they need to be in order to do what they should do requires the humble sacrifice of precious time, the risk of social status (it's just not popular in most Christian circles to invest relational capital in people who have dire spiritual needs), and a deep commitment that few are willing to give. This is a good series for more than one reason. We talk about righteousness and accountability, but our collective notion of how this is to be carried out is rather limited in our culture of privacy. There is a difference between telling someone what they need to to and actually helping them be the person they need to be in order to do it. Simply telling someone what they need to do requires an air of superiority, but little else. Helping someone be the person they need to be in order to do what they should do requires the humble sacrifice of precious time, the risk of social status (it’s just not popular in most Christian circles to invest relational capital in people who have dire spiritual needs), and a deep commitment that few are willing to give.

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