|
Title: Boston Baptists offend for the sake of the gospel Post by: Soldier4Christ on August 21, 2007, 01:19:45 PM Boston Baptists offend for the sake of the gospel
For 30 years, a church in downtown Medford, Massachusetts, has been choosing to use its front signboard to address people's consciences through what some call "offensive" and "divisive" messages. But the church's pastor says, though controversial, the messages are more about the congregation being salt and light than agreeing with a world that may have a sinful perspective. New England Baptist Church Pastor Thomas Michael says he is used to it -- new messages getting approved and posted about once a week, and a time or two in six months, getting a strong reaction from the public. "Some congratulate us for taking a bold stand that most churches don't take; and others, of course, are offended," he shares. Messages such as "New Orleans: Natural disaster or God's anger with sin?" -- "If we didn't abort our children, the U.S. wouldn't have to hire illegals" -- and "Homosexuality is sin" are the kind that locals find "disturbing," "offensive," and creating "dissension," according to an August 9 media report on the Boston Globe's website. Michael says the church is not intentionally trying to get people angry at them, but to remind them that "salt," which the Bible uses to describe believers, is also an irritant as well as a preservative. "That was his challenge: that salt [also] can be an irritant [as well] as a preservative, [and] that believers are left here to speak out for truth and righteousness," the pastor states. "Jesus, when he was here on earth, he was controversial, as we know. He's the one that said [as part of the Sermon on the Mount] we should be salt and light in this present, dark world." Michael believes the Christian's job of speaking out for truth and righteousness is not always what the world wants to hear, but must be done to warn them of sin -- however, he says so few do it, the ones that do are seen as out-of-step with the community thinking. Title: Re: Boston Baptists offend for the sake of the gospel Post by: ibTina on August 21, 2007, 05:08:22 PM Quote Michael believes the Christian's job of speaking out for truth and righteousness is not always what the world wants to hear, but must be done to warn them of sin -- however, he says so few do it, the ones that do are seen as out-of-step with the community thinking. AMEN!!!!!! Title: Re: Boston Baptists offend for the sake of the gospel Post by: Def on August 21, 2007, 06:05:33 PM Boston Baptists offend for the sake of the gospel Yes thank you and good night ,Let us remember who we are the salt and the light of the world..WOOPI GLORY SET APPART TO ADORE THE LIVING GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.count yourself lucky that i can not express myself in picture form,Pastor Roger byebye...in Jesus Def() :)For 30 years, a church in downtown Medford, Massachusetts, has been choosing to use its front signboard to address people's consciences through what some call "offensive" and "divisive" messages. But the church's pastor says, though controversial, the messages are more about the congregation being salt and light than agreeing with a world that may have a sinful perspective. New England Baptist Church Pastor Thomas Michael says he is used to it -- new messages getting approved and posted about once a week, and a time or two in six months, getting a strong reaction from the public. "Some congratulate us for taking a bold stand that most churches don't take; and others, of course, are offended," he shares. Messages such as "New Orleans: Natural disaster or God's anger with sin?" -- "If we didn't abort our children, the U.S. wouldn't have to hire illegals" -- and "Homosexuality is sin" are the kind that locals find "disturbing," "offensive," and creating "dissension," according to an August 9 media report on the Boston Globe's website. Michael says the church is not intentionally trying to get people angry at them, but to remind them that "salt," which the Bible uses to describe believers, is also an irritant as well as a preservative. "That was his challenge: that salt [also] can be an irritant [as well] as a preservative, [and] that believers are left here to speak out for truth and righteousness," the pastor states. "Jesus, when he was here on earth, he was controversial, as we know. He's the one that said [as part of the Sermon on the Mount] we should be salt and light in this present, dark world." Michael believes the Christian's job of speaking out for truth and righteousness is not always what the world wants to hear, but must be done to warn them of sin -- however, he says so few do it, the ones that do are seen as out-of-step with the community thinking. Title: Re: Boston Baptists offend for the sake of the gospel Post by: Shammu on August 21, 2007, 08:06:18 PM AMEN!!
|