News: American Baptist Church Opens for Philadelphia Gays

Here's the contact information in case anyone is interested in reminding them that sins are responsible for nailing Christ to the cross. I suggest emailing them scripture that supports what you say.

http://www.abc-usa.org/direct/foundation.htm

 

I think that GLBT-focused churches are a questionable step in the gradual process of ending the exculsion of homosexual Christians from full participation in their faith communities (as I think their pastor realizes). I think it is healthier to simply build an inclusive church, without focusing the ministiries on a particular people group.

Joshua

 

"Man-centered, affirming" doctrine says "let everyone be a part of the body of Christ, putting off the old man is not necessary... God L O V E S you..."

But God says...

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

 

Please don't send messages to addresses in this link. This is the page for the American Baptist Foundation. (Our financial savings organization). They wouldn't have the slightest idea what you are talking about.

Send any complaints to the church itself. ABC churches are fully autonomous. The ABC/USA has a resolution in disagreement with this church.

Also, I seriously doubt if email complaints from non-ABC individuals would be all that well receive frankly.

Timothy Bonney, Pastor
First Baptist Church (ABC/USA)
Rushville, Indiana

 

Wow... why is that?

 

Wow... why is that? </font>[/QUOTE]As I said before, our churches are autonomous. Each congregation makes its own decisions under what they believe is the guidance of scripture and the Holy Spirit. We don't let other ABC congregations or individuals tell us what to do. Why would we allow someone of some other group to tell us how to run our church?

You'd hardly be open to the local Methodist pastor or Catholic Priest writing a letter to your church complaining about Baptism by immersion would you?



Because of the local control of Baptist churches, we react rather differently to outside instruction than would more structured churches with Bishops, Elders, etc.

Timothy Bonney, Pastor
First Baptist Church (ABC/USA)
Rushville, IN

 

I say good advice and Godly Wisdom should be listened to despite its source. I think one of the biggest problems most churches today face is that people don't listen to each other. Sadly this world has trained many people to be gods unto themselves. "Test all things, hold onto the good"

-Chris

 

Homosexuality is a sin. The real difference between this sin and other sins is the way a part of our society denies that it is sin. Would the ABC or any other even super-liberal group open a church embracing the lifestyle of those practicing adultry? how about bestiality? To make a church to make sinners more comfortable in their sin is wrong.

 

"Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." - Matthew 24:11

False prophets/false pastors preaching that what God calls detestable (an abomination) is now OK with God; that God has changed His mind, when God Himself says He does not change, is clearly a sign of the end times! Those who lead others astray will be held accountable by God's perfect righteousness.

Come Lord Jesus!

 

John,

What I don't understand along those lines is - from a baptist perspective, there is less false teaching now than several hundred years ago. Sure, there are the false teachers who say homosexuality is a sin or that women should not be ordained (had to throw that in there ); but we all agree that false teachings like salvation through works/the Church, Christian support of slavery, Christian opposition to interracial marriage, etc. have been corrected. Even fundamentalist baptist churches are more "liberal" on these issues than what was normative for Christianity 50, 100, 500 years ago.

Joshua

 

Joshua,
How can you deny that the Bible is absolutely clear that men having sex with men and women having sex with women is a sin? I can't see how you ignore this Biblical truth. Truth is not cultural. It applies to all people.

 

I agree that good advice should be listened to. But, you need to realize how much trash email that churches get off the net. I've been sent notes from supposed missionaries in Nigeria that have been proven to be scams. I've been sent notes from persons of other churches saying that my church is apostate because we don't do what their church does, including one Church of Christ group that doesn't believe in paying clergy.

You are welcome to send the note but, they won't know you from Adam and are likely to consider the note to be Spam. Churches that choose to take controversial stands know they will be critisized.

Its amazing all the good news releases about ABC missions I've seen this week. But, its the one news release about one church in 6000 that is doing something controversial that always makes news discussions and news boards.

I'm not saying I agree with the church. I don't.

Timothy

 

Murph,

I'm not holding my breath - but it will happen. Even Southern Baptists are no longer bibilical literalists on issues of slavery, and women's rights. It'll happen with homosexuality as well.

Joshua

 

Psalm 5:1 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee. 11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

 

Can you throw it back out? The God I serve who inspired those scriptural words is not a false teacher.

Gina

 

Timothy,

I'm sure there are many Godly people within ABC. I havent written anyone yet, but if I do I'll try to find the specific church that is going gay. I agree that that one church has cost you guys a lot of bad press. I'd venture to say that it will probably do ABC alot more harm than good, unless ABC decides to cut them loose. Any word on if that's in the works?