Not long ago, Jonathan posted an article on his Twitter about a church is Texas being voted out of the Southern Baptist Convention because of "the church's perceived toleration of gay members."
Here are a few of the most important passages from the article...
"It took messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 23 only 30 seconds to sever a 125-year relationship with a prominent Texas congregation because of the church’s perceived toleration of gay members.
Voting in the opening session of their annual meeting in Louisville, the messengers chose overwhelmingly to dismiss Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth. They did so on a recommendation the convention’s Executive Committee approved, without dissent, the day before.
The recommendation did not specifically mention homosexuality. But that issue has been the backdrop of controversy at the church since late 2007, when a dispute arose regarding whether to include pictures of same-sex couples alongside other families in the church’s membership directory.
The decision is the first time the SBC has ejected a church for violating a policy prohibiting affiliation with pro-gay churches despite the congregation's contention that it was not in violation of the rule. [. . .]
In fact, the church decided to publish its membership directory 'with candid photographs of our members participating in many ministries and activities of Broadway,' she said. 'One of the factors in choosing this style of directory was our belief that it does not make a statement to anyone to indicate that Broadway has in any way affirmed, approved or endorsed homosexual behavior.' [. . .]
'We have not denied that we, like most other churches, have a few gay members,' the deacons’ letter said. 'We do not inquire about sexual orientation when people present themselves for membership. We do require their profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord followed by believer’s baptism.'
The deacons’ letter confirmed Swift’s statement that the church has not acted to 'affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior.'"
- Bob Allan and Marv Knox, Associated Baptist Press
You can check out the full article here if you so desire:
http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4172&Itemid=53So why was this church kicked out of the SBC? Did they claim being homosexual wasn't sinful? No. Did they endorse homosexual preachers or leaders? No. They simply welcomed homosexuals with love and grace and allowed them to appear in their directory!
There are a few Baptist church directories sitting around my parent's home, and if you flip through them, here's what you'll find: hypocrites, gossips, gluttons, thieves, alcoholics, selfish people, greedy people, violent people, apathetic people, lazy people. All of which is apparently okay in the eyes of the SBC, but as soon as one openly gay person pops up "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Now you've gone too far!"
Obviously, reading the article made me sad and lose even more respect for an organization I didn't exactly hold in high regards in the first place. But now there is even more reason to mourn. The Chapel Choir from this Texas church, Broadway Baptist, (which largely consists of teenagers) desired to come along side Cumberland's Mountain Outreach program, which helps build homes for impoverished families in the Appalachia area, and help out for a short time this summer. But Cumberland, in it's infinite wisdom, decided such disgraceful heathen should not be allowed in the dorms.
You can read the whole article here:
http://www.thetimestribune.com/local/local_story_190083705.html but it's basically summed up in the first two paragraphs...
"After uninviting a Texas church’s chapel choir from participating in University of the Cumberlands’ Mountain Outreach program, UC officials are keeping mum on their reasoning.
Broadway Baptist Church’s pastor, Brent Beasley, said UC officials told him that Broadway’s tolerant stance toward homosexuality was the reason its chapel choir could no longer stay in UC’s dorms or help build and repair homes for local disadvantaged families this month."
- Adam Sulfridge, Times Tribune
My friend Clark from school posted a link to the Times Tribune article on Facebook and got a lot of people talking. I'll include bits of the conversation here...
Clark: I don't think that a church choir should be turned away from building houses for poor people in appalachia simply because their church includes gay people in their church directory.
Me: This is so ridiculous. Clark, you make an excellent point. I agree with you 100% that a church that welcomes sinners (God forbid) should absolutely be allowed to help build homes for poor people. We're all struggling with some sort of sin. People who curse, steal, talk down to others, view pornography (even those who do such things and don't consider it sinful, like homosexuals)- sure, they're all welcome in UCs dorm, but not if your a member of a church that welcomes gays.
I mean, I can understand not allowing gays to attend the school, but these people (a majority of whom I would assume aren't gay) just want a place to sleep while they help people get a roof over their head.
But if memory serves, this church was recently voted out of the Southern Baptist Convention for the love they've shown to the gay community, and God forbid UC step on the toes of anyone in the big, bad Baptist convention.
Gregory: kudos Spencer...agree totally.
Karline: definitely kudos Spencer
Lucas: Spencer, I think you miss the point. If you examine this issue closer, the reason the church was voted out of the SBC was because it openly accepted gays into its church rather than love them in a manner obedient to the Word of God, which essentially tells us to love the sinner but hate the sin. The church in Texas was not upholding that, but rather sending a message to the gay community that it's okay to be a homosexual, which it is not. A church simply cannot convey that kind of message to its congregation, or it is going against something the Bible speaks plainly about. And our school, with our policies that uphold Biblical teaching, followed suit with the SBC, not in fear of standing against them, but in honor of God's Word and steadfast faith as Christian leaders.
Now please don't misinterpret me: Love homosexuals just as you would love liars, murderers, alcoholics, drug addicts, etc. But with any of those you or I have listed, love them as Christ would love them
Karlina: Lucas, question: how do you know what the congregation is taught in within its organization? how do you know that they don't hate the sin, but by allowing them into the church, they are welcoming them and teaching them the right way to walk? how do you know? every gathering that preaches the True Word should welcome all, especially the sinners, so that the True Way can be shown. get it?
Clark: Lucas- according to the church, ""We are not a church where homosexuality is a defining issue. While we extend hospitality to everyone — including homosexuals — we do not endorse, approve or affirm homosexual behavior.""
Me: I was about to ask the same question, Karlina.
Oh, no, I get the point, Lucas. The point is that the church long ago stopped making people it's first priority and started making being "right" it's first priority.
I don't really have a problem with the adage "Hate the sin, love the sinner." But I do have a problem with the fact that UC and the SBC seem to draw the line on what sinners are okay to love and which are not. How is what UC did to this church showing any love? How is what the SBC did showing love? Is our definition of Christ-like love "we'll tolerate you but you can't be part of our organization until you change"?
In the Gospels it says Jesus "reclined" at the table with tax collectors and prostitutes and homosexuals. To me, that means they were able to be comfortable around one another- laugh together and enjoy one another's company without every conversation having to be "So, you know you need to change, right?"
Lucas: Clark: they only claimed not to affirm their behavior. They did not say that they don't disapprove of it.
Part of loving sinners, Spencer, is to show them that they are living in sin and that they have an option to change. That is the whole point of loving them, to show them what is in store for them if they accept the love of Christ. But they cannot walk in their sinful ways and in the ways of the Lord. Man cannot serve two masters.
Me: I get what you're saying, Lucas, but how can we expect to enter into a loving relationship with sinners if we don't let them in the building? By welcoming them in, this church is allowing for a better opportunity for gays to enter into a friendship with Christians who can lead them to Christ. As Christians, we can't constantly yell at gays "God hates your lifestyle!" then expect them to want to hear about God's love and grace. It's just not gonna happen.
And I understand that at the same time the church can't bend and fold on it's own moral standing. You said the church says it does not affirm the gay lifestyle, but it does not expressly disapprove of it. Well, it's just common sense that if you don't affirm something, you disapprove of it. Why are we raising such a fuss about semantics?! I grew up in a Baptist church, and no where in our church bylaws did we list all the sins we disapprove of. Since when does a church have to do all that in it's documentation?
This whole debate is actually still ticking away, though all debate really seems to do is cement each side in their own opinion.
I would like to end this whole thing by simply saying...
Dear Gay Community,
The Church owes you a great apology. We have discriminated against you, cursed you, fought you, and made little effort to actually listen to you, love you, and show you grace. I am sorry.
And though there are those out there who are still ignorant and, like the hypocritical Pharisees Jesus lashed out against, care more about moral superiority than loving people, we can only hope and pray that they see the error of their ways.
I will not tip toe around this issue. I believe being gay is a sin, but you are welcomed at my table any time. And not because I want to change you, but because, as a fellow human being, you deserve my genuine friendship.
I assure you, there are many Christians out there who will love you for who you are.
Don't let a few bad seeds spoil your opinion of all of us.
Let's start the conversation and end this yelling match.
All my love,
Spencer
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