The following comes from a March 15 Christian Post article by Anugrah Kumar:
The Elder Board of San Francisco’s largest evangelical church, City Church, has announced that the megachurch will end its practice of preventing LGBT people from becoming members if they are unwilling or unable to practice lifelong celibacy.
“Our pastoral practice of demanding life-long ‘celibacy,’ by which we meant that for the rest of your life you would not engage your sexual orientation in any way, was causing obvious harm and has not led to human flourishing,” Sr. Pastor Fred Harrell writes in a letter “on behalf of the Board and for the Gospel.”
The pastor cites social science research, saying it points to “skyrocketing rates of depression, suicide and addiction” among the LGBT people. “The generally unintended consequence has been to leave many people feeling deeply damaged, distorted, unlovable, unacceptable, and perverted,” he says.
“We believe the thrust and focus of the gospel is the breaking down of former boundaries of exclusion and the expanding of the welcome of Jesus to all,” Harrell goes on to say.
“For so long this has been a ‘case closed’ kind of issue for evangelicals,” he comments. “Scholars and leaders who have previously been united in their interpretations are coming to different conclusions. This does not mean that your view must change, but it does counsel humility with how we each hold our views. Given the status and variety of these opinions, what has become clear to us is that there is no longer clear consensus on this issue within the evangelical community.”
“For all members, regardless of sexual orientation, we will continue to expect chastity in singleness until marriage,” Harrell concludes.
As with all Protestant congregations, these is no authority and there is no sacrament of confession. The voracity of the sexual mores of this group’s members and potential members have left the elders weak and defeated. Too bad for them all, unwilling to honor God’s truth in word and deed.
It seems that “City Church” should also believes in FORNICATION for all the unmarried,
and ADULTERY for the civilly divorced – to insure against “people feeling deeply damaged, distorted, unlovable, unacceptable, and perverted”.
Appears there are no moral teachings in the “City Church” for the unmarried.
After all they would be DISCRIMINATING in favor of homosexuals, and would not be INCLUSIVE for the majority of un-marrieds who are expected to refrain from sexual activity – if they don’t treat all singles the same.
(Homosexuals are only about 2% of the population, while all other singles boost the population to about 50%.)
Does City Church use any kind of Bible?
Or do they simply ignore teachings that are not in accord with relativism and immoral activity.
I don’t really care. Let them do as they illogically please. It is their free will choice.
Well, Jesus did say that NOT MANY will be Saved. Mt 7:13-14; and Lk 13:23-28.
Has anyone thought that the “skyrocketing rates of depression, suicide and addiction” may be due to the lack of God in their lives ?
And insisting on their own will, rather than God’s will?
This is what happens when anyone mainly focus’s on themselves and their sexual fantasies. These sexual fantasies become an addiction.
The very self centered have “skyrocketing rates of depression, suicide and addiction”. “ME” and “MY” and “I” desires become the most important things in their world.
There have been homosexuals back in Genesis.
So what has caused this so-called INCREASE in “skyrocketing rates of depression, suicide and addiction”. Now that sodomy is publically accepted by many Protestant faiths, what is the issue ?
They purchase homes together, name each other as Executors and beneficiaries, etc. This is what is new.
Just like not giving an addict more addictive drugs if you want to cure him, you do not give a homosexual more sodomy.
The temptation of Same Sex Attraction is not a sin.
Acting on that temptation is the mortal sin of sodomy, as is fornication for all other singles.
If someone truly loves another of any sex, he will want him or her to get to Heaven for eternity, not go to Hell for sodomy – mere sexual pleasure through the eyes of a homosexual.
JOSE very well said!
“Selfish love makes us unappreciative and ungrateful because we attribute all we have to our own shrewdness. And what is the evidence? Our ingratitude, shown in the sins we commit every day. Gratitude, on the other hand, is proof that we are attributing to God alone all that we have.”
“Those who see themselves not selfishly but for God, and who see God for God (as he is supreme eternal Goodness and is deserving of our love), when they contemplate God in blazing, consumed love discover the image of the human person in God. And they discover themselves, God’s image, in God.”
both quotes from by St. Catherine of Siena
No room for sodomites, or fornicators, or adulterers, or, well, you know, whatever it says in the Bible.
Not certain what kind of “evangelical” church this is, but check with Rev. Franklin Graham about this — he is a pretty good Protestant.
Sure there is unhappiness among the catamites — they insist on having sex the way that they want. And, they want you to like it. There is also unhappiness among heroin addicts, and self-mutilators, and wife beaters, lots of people.
If you are going to try to change things, Francis and Pals, do so in the open. Say that the Church was wrong for centuries and centuries. But do not give us the “mercy” crap. Mercy is what the father showed to his penitent son — you know, the Prodigal one — when he came home and confessed that he was not worthy to be called his son. What would have happened it he had come home with his harlot of choice, and simply demanded more money with which to entertain his Babe-of-Choice? Likely something far different would have resulted.
Time to find a small, Traditional, Catholic Church in the countryside. Leave the Vatican for the pagans (and leave off giving them any money).
Repentance, and the resolution not to sin again – is a REQUIREMENT for God’s Mercy.
Yes MAC, I agree. God’s mercy is there for all. We need to start using the power of suggestion with encouragement of the truth. A human soul is, a person created in the image of God, should not label themselves with the name “homosexual ” if they are not practicing but instead if they are freely choosing to be chaste, to walk with Christ and carry his cross, then acknowledge that its human flesh is suffering with same sex attraction but why condemn them by suggesting that they can not change, why suggest that they will always be a homosexual even when they are no longer acting it out. Its rare, yes.
The truth will set us all free, and depending on ones sins, not all comprehend what the truth is, with now this society enabling all who suffer with same sex attractions, now they are proud and arrogant and selfish, self centered. God have mercy and help them!
“We’ve been deceived by the thought that we would be more pleasing to God in our own way than in the way God has given us.” By Catherine of Siena
No big surprises here; darn it, it’s just too HARD to remain celibate, even though there are many who choose to do so for the sake of the Gospels and their counsel to stay the course. Courage, among others, would counsel just that. And it’s not that it’s hard per se to fight the Same Sex feelings, it just doesn’t FLY with the increasing temptations from the World, Flesh and Devil. One might suffer from one’s peer group in staying in a state of Sanctifying Grace ALL THE TIME. But that’s what we’re counseled to do by our Judeo-Christian Faith, in a lot of cases, specifically, the Catholic Faith. But we who are Roman Catholics have Sacramental Confession to help and heal us on the paths of our life. And CAVING to the World and the Flesh won’t go far in helping to stop these urges to abandon the Natural Law. But, after all, this IS an Evangelical group making this decision to abandon the celibate life; they are in error. From the get-go.
This Protestant church, can hardly be called “Christian!” I don’t think that true Christians, with painful life problems, are incurable, hopeless victims of depression, and finally, suicide! How about mourning widows and widowers, in that church, of all ages? Or spouses of loved ones who have suffered serious accidents, illnesses, or war injuries, and post-traumatic stress? How about mourning married couples, who have lost a child, due to accident or fatal illness?? How about terrible job and financial losses?? Life is not always easy— but Christ is the only one, who can lead you to total happiness and success, ultimately!! I clearly remember, when young, priests who would often say— “when the going gets tough– the tough get going.” (In other words– grow up!) It is only when we humbly and respectfully OBEY GOD, that our lives can find true happiness! And our true happiness– is always to live for Him– not for ourselves! Excuses to lead a sinful life– will only end in a horrible fate!
An interesting gospel. Not the gospel of Christ, but perhaps they consider Christ and the narrow path outdated. There is a wider road and this church has chosen that wide path. Does it lead to eternal life? Or…does it lead to eternal unhappiness? Time will tell. Unfortunately, woe to those who would mislead the sheep.
I always figured the evangelical churches in this country would roll over on this issue once the society changed. It is depressing to see it happen in real time though.
I spend a fair amount of time in San Francisco and have never heard of this church. But one thing about the story seems right:
“…skyrocketing rates of depression, suicide and addiction…” These are clear signs of personality disorder.
Why am I not surprised? This”church” is like the 600 pound man who is being provided with all the junk food that he wants, by the spouse who loves him so much. She indulges all his desires,while she is surely killing him.
Good example Hosemonkey!
Quote from Pope Francis:
On Argentina’s gay marriage bill:
“Let’s not be naive: this isn’t a simple political fight, it’s an attempt to destroy God’s plan. This is no mere legislative bill. It is a move by the father of lies to confuse and deceive the children of God.”