The Pope feels it is above his pay-grade to be judging gays seeking the Lord. With this I agree!!! :wavey:
However, once they find the Lord and receive His absolution [Catholic term for forgiveness], I stand on the Word of God that [take your pick of the version you choose to live and die for]:
New International Version "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
New Living Translation "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!"
English Standard Version "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
New American Standard Bible "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
King James Bible "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Regardless of the version, or what language this Scripture is in, the truth of the fact remains the same:Those who have come to Christ, received the forgiving Grace of the Father, and been born-again, are new Creations, and all things, including their perverted love for same-sex relationships, is over, capoot, gone, finished, ended, to be no more!
We are called to deal (judge those) with sin in the church (1Cor6). The Pope is being a hypocrite setting Himself up above God because of his sanctimonious piosity. God has commanded to deal with those who sin in the church and the Pope is basically claiming he is too holy for such a thing. Using his understanding, as long as a priest is seeking God even though he is a pedophile he should be left alone.
This is a VERY dangerous Pope.
To follow your belief then you have to discipline those who commit all sins.
Gossip
Gluttony
Greed
Abuse of the body through alcohol, smoking, etc.
Abuse of spouses or children
Cheating on taxes
On and on and on ... who would escape discipline?
Sure does CTB. But a lot of folks in the Church and on this board don't see it that way because the homosexual offense is not their thorn.
They lusted, told lies, gossipped, unrighteously judged, etc, before they were saved and continued to after they were saved and made into a new creation.
But for their pet sins, they are firm that the ones who did that before they were saved shouldn't do those things again.
Is it no wonder that Jesus says "To love your neighbor as yourself"?
You sure have a lot of "catholic" beliefs for a Baptist. Just sayin. Even your little quote in the upper right hand corner is a"clue" as to your RC leanings.
There is a RC program on the local catholic network called "the Journey Home". Hmmm. Makes me wonder.
The assumption that the Antichrist is going to be a far left, liberal. Just something to consider, globally, a far right, fundamentalist would go over much easier and find a greater audience.
Possibly. But again, he's the AntiChrist. Trying to pigeonhole him as liberal or conservative when it comes to his politics or demeanor just doesn't seem to make much sense.
He's the AntiChrist.
Who cares if he's gay. He's the AntiChrist.
Who cares if he's anti-abortion. He's the AntiChrist.
He'll be whatever serves his purpose to spread his evil.
Incorrect. This pope, like John Paul II, is leaving the judgment up to God. True, we must call to account those who are believers who live in sin. However, our judgment is not eternal, only temporal, and their sin does not affect their salvation. Their reward? Yes. Their salvation? No.
All who believe will struggle with sin.
The ability to deal with that sin comes from the Holy Spirit.
The forgiveness of that sin comes from Christ.
The eternal consequences of that sin comes from God.
But a believer is not condemned, regardless. Thing is, we don't know who is a true believer and who is not. We can guess, but we cannot know. That is why our judgment is for this world only, not the next.