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News: Baptism of Homosexuals in the Baptist Church

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Angie Miller, Apr 27, 2003.

  1. Angie Miller

    Angie Miller New Member

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    Any thoughts???????? :eek:

    Baptizing gays might get church expelled

    excerpt: A Concord church faces expulsion from the Cabarrus Baptist Association for baptizing two gay men.

    The Rev. Steve Ayers of McGill Baptist said many in the congregation knew the couple from Kannapolis was gay when the baptism took place at the service March 16. He said the ceremony marking a believer's acceptance into the church -- and into a life devoted to Christ -- was held because it's not up to him or the church to decide who deserves salvation.

    "I think salvation is between them and God," Ayers said Thursday. "I'm not going to exclude anybody from God's kingdom. Our business is to love and follow his (Jesus') example. That's all."

    But the Rev. Randy Wadford, missions director for the association of 78 churches, said baptism is only for those who agree to repent of their sins, whatever the particular sin might be. "It's understood that when a person comes to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior," Wadford said, "a conversion experience occurs, and repentance takes place in the life of a person."

    In a closed session Monday, Wadford said, the association will consider withdrawing McGill Baptist's membership. In a letter Wednesday to the church, the group said: "It (homosexuality) is a sinful lifestyle - the Cabarrus Baptist Association must take a stand against any of our churches supporting or condoning this lifestyle. To allow individuals into the membership of a local church without evidence or testimony of true repentance (a turning away from the old way of living) is to condone the old lifestyle."

    READ FULL STORY: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/5712195.htm
    TOP

    [ May 22, 2003, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Squire Robertsson ]
     
  2. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    Cabarrus? Concord? Is this in North Carolina? Is the Cabarrus Association SBC? If so, I'm not at all surprised. Sounds like a church that might do well to explore affiliation with the Alliance of Baptists.

    Baptizing homosexuals? Next thing you know they'll be baptizing sinners!

    Not sure what the topic has to do with the war to liberate the Iraqi people, though.

    Haruo
    who doesn't know the men and won't therefore comment on their penitence
     
  3. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    I don't believe homosexuality is a lifestyle per se, and I don't believe it is a sin per se, so this Rev. Randy Wadford's statement leaves me quite unconvinced, but it does look to me as if his statement means that churches can be disfellowshipped for baptizing fat people who are not on (and sticking to) a practically life-threatening slimming regimen, etc., etc. Slippery slope.

    Haruo
     
  4. Angie Miller

    Angie Miller New Member

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    :D OPPS I posted in the incorrect spot! So sorry!!!! I was just so happy I actually got it to Paste over for my first time I guess I forgot WHERE to paste it! Silly!
     
  5. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    What exactly DO you believe it is, per se??? :confused:
     
  6. Angie Miller

    Angie Miller New Member

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    Oh it's a sin alright! :eek: Not one worse then another but it is a sin. And it is a lifestyle that one chooses.
    I used to believe that it was inate. :confused: But not anymore! I have a very close family member who is a Homosexual. He was saved as a teen and knows the Bible and the life Christ would have him live, yet he allowed broken heartedness to lead him to this lifestyle. Breaks my heart! [​IMG]
    Love in Christ, Angie
     
  7. C.S. Murphy

    C.S. Murphy New Member

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    I will move this to News affecting Baptists.
    Murph
     
  8. Angie Miller

    Angie Miller New Member

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    Thank you for moving it. I apologize for the inconvience.
    :( Angie
     
  9. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Any thoughts????????

    If we stop baptizing sinners, there wouldn't be anyone to baptize.
     
  10. j_barner2000

    j_barner2000 Member

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    so if I go to the church and say baptize me... but I fully intend to continue in me sin... did Jesus not say, "your sins are forgiven, go and sin no more." I thought that we were to repent of our sins when we are saved. Ummm I left a lot of the obvious ones right then and there. And as the Holy Spirit filled me, He dealt with many more. He is still dealing with sin today in my life. But the obvious sins, which are called out in the Bible ... Homosexuality, lieing, stealing, murder are called out and need to be dealt with I think.
     
  11. Anthro

    Anthro New Member

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    I am still hoping to hear your reply, Haruo.
     
  12. KPBAP

    KPBAP Member

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    Here is the recent BP article-CONCORD, N.C. (BP)--A North Carolina Baptist church may be removed from its association for baptizing two homosexual men.

    The Cabarrus Baptist Association will meet April 28 to discuss the possible expulsion of McGill Baptist Church for baptizing two homosexual men in March, The Charlotte Observer reported.

    The controversy centers on whether the men were repentant before they were baptized, Cabarrus director of missions Randy Wadford told the Observer.

    "It's understood that when a person comes to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, a conversion experience occurs, and repentance takes place in the life of the person," he said.

    But McGill Baptist Church pastor Steve Ayers said churches should be more inclusive.

    "I think salvation is between them and God," he told the newspaper. "I'm not going to exclude anybody from God's Kingdom. Our business is to love and follow [Jesus'] example. That's all."

    Wadford wrote the church recently, saying, "It [homosexuality] is a sinful lifestyle. ... The Cabarrus Baptist Association must take a stand against any of our churches supporting or condoning this lifestyle. To allow individuals into the membership of a local church without evidence or testimony of true repentance is to condone the old lifestyle," the Observer reported him as writing.

    My question and concern is how much evidence is required and who is named "judge" of the repentance?

    Also an audio response is at the church in question's website. http://www.mcgillbaptist.com/sermon/
     
  13. donnA

    donnA Active Member

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    Isn't that supose to be repentant sinners, repent meaning to turn from your past sin? If they are still homosexuals and have no problem with that,a nd are not going to turn away from it, then they shouldn't baptized, they haven't repented. You don't repent, be baptized and see no reason to stop those sins, just keep on sinning the same old sin, on purpose, just becasue, nope thats not repentence.
     
  14. Charlesga

    Charlesga New Member

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    Here's my question: if we choose not to baptize one category of sinners(which we all are), what about others? Should we not baptize those that continue to overeat after their conversion? or continue to lie? or continue to gossip?

    I know many people that are saved and members of the church...been baptized...that do these things, I'm guilty of them at times. How can we decide the sins and lifestyles that make it impossible for someone to be saved and those that are not? Isn't that what we are trying to do here?

    Just curious.....
     
  15. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    if we choose not to baptize one category of sinners(which we all are), what about others? Should we not baptize those that continue to overeat after their conversion? or continue to lie? or continue to gossip?

    My point exactly. Repentence is between the one being baptized and the Lord. We should leave it there and not play middle man.
     
  16. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    This is a portion of what I would say; while it doesn't address the issue of the intrinsic sinfulness of homosexuality, it does address the issue of the mediacy of Christ, and the notion that it is ridiculous to demand repentance of someone who has not become convicted of sin in a particular connection. I have no doubt that the same principle applied with respect to certain practices inherent in human slavery as practiced by Southern Baptists 150 years ago.

    Personally, I believe that homosexuality per se is morally neutral; that it is generally an orientation that is not "chosen"; that it may be lived out in lifestyles ranging from extreme promiscuous irresponsibility to either celibacy or lifelong reciprocal and exclusive consecrated monogamy ("a rose by any other name..."). I believe that "practicing" homosexuals are just as apt to be born from above and to exhibit the gifts of the Spirit as anybody else (including we who are overweight) is. I've known many such. And I believe the churches mutilate the body of Christ when they exclude such people. Acts 8 & Acts 10 are apposite.

    I don't believe (Jude notwithstanding) that the particular sin of Sodom (and Gomorrah?) was homosexuality (homosexuality and homosexual rape are two quite distinct categories; the latter is frequently engaged in by heterosexuals) but rather inhospitality (of which homosexual gang rape is an extreme expression) to strangers and to the marginalized (widows and orphans).

    These are my beliefs, prayerfully considered in the light of Scripture and observation/acquaintance.

    Haruo
     
  17. ras

    ras New Member

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    I don't believe homosexuality is a lifestyle per se, and I don't believe it is a sin per se, so this Rev. Randy Wadford's statement leaves me quite unconvinced, but it does look to me as if his statement means that churches can be disfellowshipped for baptizing fat people who are not on (and sticking to) a practically life-threatening slimming regimen, etc., etc. Slippery slope.

    Haruo
    </font>[/QUOTE]I don`t know what kind of BIBLE you read,if you read one at all. GODs infallible word (KJV) teaches that homosexuality is very much an abomination.
     
  18. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    I don't believe the KJV is necessarily any more infallible than any other Bible (but chacun à son propre hérésie as the French say). I read a variety of translations, and occasionally try my hand at the original languages (though not to date the original autographs!); I don't see that the KJV teaches anything appreciably different on this subject than any other version, though its use of the mediæval Catholic misnomer "sodomite" is, unintentionally I think, misleading.

    I note your presumably uncritical use of "abomination" here; the question was not abominations but sins. Most fundamentalists (among whom I presume you are to be numbered?) seem to me to confuse the two, or perhaps to assume (on what grounds I'm not sure) that "abomination" is merely "sin, but worse".

    I think one of the main problems I have in discussing this sort of thing with you Bible-bound folk is that I see the Bible as teaching among other things the need to go beyond the Bible. This is what I see from Abraham to Moses to Jesus to Peter; that the Spirit of God is constantly exploding the limitations of what had appeared to be set in stone. I say that when God has cleansed a homosexual couple's relationship we ought not say "unclean". I say that based on my understanding of the Bible as it intersects with my understanding of the homosexual Christians I have been blessed to be acquainted with. This understanding of the Bible is derivable as easily from KJV (for those who can follow it) as from any other version.

    Haruo
    not KJVO, but not anti-KJV either
     
  19. Angie Miller

    Angie Miller New Member

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    I don't know, I tend to fear the word abomination maybe a wee bit more then sin. Not much mind you but when GOD says I HATE these things, well frankly I am scared man! RUN and RUN fast and hard!!!
    As for the statement made above about going beyond the Bible to learn more, I don't need to go anywhere else. That is why I go to Bible Studies, Seminars,Sunday School, and listen to Sermons among other things. I don't believe that God changes the "rules" as we grow more sinful in our nature. It is in STONE and it won't ever change, just as HE will never change.
    We can't change the Laws of God as we see fit, it just does not work that way.
    Love in Christ, Angieinstlouie
     
  20. Angie Miller

    Angie Miller New Member

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    Also my thoughts on Homosexuals being Baptized are somewhat mixed. On one hand I see where God specifically says, DON"T DO THAT! I mean lead a Gay lifestyle that is. So wouldn't someone who does face a judgement from God for baptizing them.
    On the other hand, is Homosexuality worse then any other sin? I mean what if it was a huge deal if I was a horrible gossip and my Pastor Baptized me, and it made the papers. How dare he do that. I mean I would probably still gossip and that would effect the Church and fellow Christians. So what's the difference. But on the other hand do I want this around my children? Well NO! I don't know it seems to be a difficult one to call.
    Love in Christ, Angieinstlouie
     
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