It is actually reported
that there is sexual immorality among you, ...
And ye are puffed up,
and have not rather mourned,
that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1 Corinthians 5:1,2
"The Netherlands Union Conference has advised all churches in the Netherlands to "fully commit themselves to ensuring that LGBTI individuals feel safe in the church." In addition, NUC leadership says it would
"strongly advise against any steps to revoke the membership of LGBTI people, given the unsafe environment this would create in churches."
This statement was agreed after the recent General Conference vote to adopt guidelines for "responding to homosexual and other alternative sexual practices."
"There is a great deal of discussion about sexuality, and specifically LGBTI individuals (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, intersex), [what is "intersex"?] at this moment.
Although we acknowledge the biblical ideal of a monogamous, heterosexual relationship, we continue to emphasise that it is an ideal. The basis of Christianity is that all people fall short of God's ideal; this is why we require God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice. This leads to the conclusion that we, as Christians, must welcome all children of God – who all fall short of God’s ideal – into our churches with love.
We advise the churches in the Netherlands to fully commit themselves to ensuring that LGBTI individuals feel safe in the church. We would strongly advise against any steps to revoke the membership of LGBTI people, given the unsafe environment this would create in churches." AdventistOnline
Uhmmm....
1) Where is the "Love"? Telling people living in SIN that it is O.K.? Again, where is the "Love"?
------ ...the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Ezekiel 18:4
------For the wages of sin is death;
Romans 6:23
2) As for allowing openly LGBTI into the Church, will open adultery & fornication be next? God lumps ALL sexual immorality (adultery, homosexuality, fornication, bestiality, lust & rape) into the same category & condemnation.
------And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.
Jude 1:7 NLT
------Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Leviticus 18:22
3) "UnSafe Environment"? What kinda psychobabbel is that? How is rejecting from the Church rolls those living in open sin "Unsafe" for the Church? //// Hey---how 'bout protecting the "whole lump" instead?...just saying.....(the "lump" being the Church)
------It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you,
1Corinthians 5:1
------Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1 Corinthians 5:6
4) Did Paul welcome ALL who desired to join the Church into the Church? --OR-- did Paul have some standards-especially when it came to deviancy?
------Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.
1 Corinthians 5:7
------ ...that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1 Corinthians 5:2
5) As for hiding behind CHEAP GRACE as an excuse....allow me to point out that GOD sets the BOUNDARIES & when we step outside of them we call it SIN. That is why He gives us His grace & forgiveness for---BUT---He also expects us to step back inside those BOUNDARIES which is called SANCTIFICATION.
------Neither do I condemn thee:
John 8:11 JUSTIFICATION
------go, and sin no more.
John 8:11 SANCTIFICATION
6) Study 1 Corinthians 5. It is how Paul felt about sexual immorality in the Church. Replace the immorality with any when you read it---such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bestiality, etc. Then try and claim the Netherlands Conference made the right decision.
------I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.
Jude 1:4 NLT
------When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,....as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19,21