Title: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Strangedays on January 18, 2008, 03:19:44 PM :-X
I know this makes no sense but I have been really disturbed about my participation at my church now that I discovered that our choir director is in a gay relationship and living with another choir director( who will be giving a concert at our church next month.) They have been kind of sloppy about keeping their life together secret and I just sense a scandal brewing. I know I am a grown up and this shouldn't disturb me to the extent it does, but our church has made its position on gay marriage very clear, and I feel this one man is making the church leadership seem like a bunch of hypocrites. I never could settle in my mind how I felt about homosexuality (whether or not is was a sin) mostly because I just didn't want to think about it. I don't like to judge people harshly and I'm not sure I believe being gay is a choice. But in this case I feel there is so much deception, and real selfishness. I felt for some time that he was taking his resentment toward the church for its position on gay marriage out on the choir ... its all rather complicated, but I do feel the choir and the congregation and worship have suffered as a result of this double life. I quit the choir because I couldn't take it anymore. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Soldier4Christ on January 18, 2008, 04:00:31 PM The Bible is quite clear on this subject. Homosexuality is a definite sin. It is an abomination to God and it has no place in the church except for those involved in this lifestyle to come to the Lord in full repentance. Homosexuality is a choice and it is a choice to be in sin against God.
By being silent on the matter that church is indeed supporting it and as a result I would have to say something about it, put a stop to this atrocity or end up leaving that church to wallow in it's own sin. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Brother Jerry on January 18, 2008, 05:39:55 PM I would be either leaving or asking that director to leave.
Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Shammu on January 18, 2008, 07:40:31 PM I agree with both Pastor Roger, and Brother Jerry. I myself, would tell the choir director, he must step down as Pastor Roger stated above. Homosexuality is a abomination before God.
Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination. You need to bring this to your Pastors attention, TODAY. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: nChrist on January 18, 2008, 11:58:40 PM Hello Strangedays,
WELCOME! (http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/tlr10/357/welcome.gif) First, I sincerely hope that you enjoy Christians Unite, and we're happy to have you with us. I totally agree with the truth that you've already been given. This is not you judging, rather GOD already judging from the Old and the New Testaments, and GOD giving a BOLD proclamation of what is an ABOMINATION in HIS Eyes. HIS WORD could not be clearer on this subject in numerous portions of Scripture all over the Bible. There is nothing to question or debate because GOD has already spoken very bluntly on this issue. This is simply calling evil what it is: EVIL! Love In Christ, Tom (http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/tlr10/mine/mine037.jpg) Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Strangedays on January 19, 2008, 12:04:05 PM The problem is that this person was so very dedicated to the church. He was always there working - people didn't think he had a life at all outside of the church. The whole time I'm fairly sure he was living with this person, only a few people knew... nevertheless his tireless service was real.
When the issue of gay marriage came to the forefront politically, I believe he started distancing himself, and then "leaving hints". I truly feel that he was probably one of the most hard working, dedicated people the church ever had on staff. To me it is not so black and white because I care about all of the people involved, they are like my family. I care about this person and feel awful for what it most have been like to sit through those sermons. What bothers me most is that people are divided into those who know and those who don't. Those who know, I feel, are patronizing those who don't. Since when do we need to be protected from the truth? Is that not the ultimate hypocrisy? Worst of all it is hard for me to imagine that our head Pastor, who preaches that the lifestyle is not acceptable to God, and that Gays can reform, doesn't know. How can he not know? Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Soldier4Christ on January 19, 2008, 12:34:38 PM First I want to say that we must be careful not to work on appearances or hearsay. We must stand on facts for many lives have been ruined over assumptions. This subject should be very "black and white" for Christians. There is no doubt what the Bible tells us and it does not matter the supposed "dedication" of the person. If the person is indeed living such a life then that persons dedication is a fabrication designed to cover their guilt.
You say that you care about all the people involved. Is it not most important to care about the work of the Lord? Having such an example in the church for others to see is a hindrance to God's work. It is in fact condoning sin. Christians tat sit back and do nothing or say nothing is the reason that we have so much sin in the world today. It is the very reason that our children are being indoctrinated in the public schools in homosexuality, abortion and the many other sins that are being taught as being normal. It is allowing our children to be led astray, to allow them to turn to such a lifestyle also. A lifestyle that will lead them to everlasting misery. Should we now sit back and also allow this to invade our churches. If we truly care then we will tell the truth instead of burying it. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: nChrist on January 19, 2008, 12:51:16 PM Hello Strangedays,
First, I agree completely with Pastor Roger. If members of the congregation are sure of this, the pastor should be informed and confronted. If the appropriate thing isn't done, your church will suffer an increasingly negative impact that won't go away. If this is condoned, it would be the first step in allowing the devil to control part of the church. It could also lead to a situation where this was a church in name only and a place where evil is called good. By the way, silence is also calling evil good. A group of members who know about this should schedule an appointment with the pastor, inform him completely, and see if he does the right thing. If not, it would be time to find another church. It would be different if this person didn't have a leadership position in the church. All people should be most welcome to come and listen to the Gospel of the Grace of GOD. I realize this won't be pleasant to deal with, but this situation has the potential to do tremendous damage to the LORD'S WORK at your church. At present, this situation is like a cancer that is growing with the potential to destroy. Love In Christ, Tom Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable GIFT, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Forever! Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Strangedays on January 19, 2008, 02:14:01 PM I already feel as if tremendous damage is being done. I feel damaged. My spirit is broken. This is one of the most painful experiences I have ever had because I want to trust these people and I look to them for guidance... and they seem like complete frauds.
On the one hand I feel no one (even in ministry) is spotless... I would not be one to "cast the first stone" so to speak. On the other hand - if people had a position other than what we claim as our doctrine they should have spoken out rather than "play the game". One of the women who has known about this all along is same person I have often heard judging and putting down members who have not been raised in the church. It makes me think that being raised "in the church" is like being in some kind of a privileged social club where there are all sorts of unwritten rules ... but very little integrity. I think these kinds of things are the reason so many don't go to church anymore. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: nChrist on January 19, 2008, 03:06:12 PM Hello Strangedays,
Please remember that the ONE TRUE CHURCH is not a building made with human hands. It is THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, and it is NOT of this world. Only true believers in CHRIST are MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. There aren't any of man's labels or tags on THE ONE TRUE CHURCH, and CHRIST HIMSELF is the HEAD OF HIS CHURCH. There aren't any perfect or Holy men, and this is why we depend on the Righteousness of CHRIST - not our own. Sin and the devil is no longer the master in the life of a Christian, but this does not mean that Christians are perfect. The difference is that Christians feel guilty when they sin, and they don't continually wallow in the darkness and stench of sin. Christians will be perfected in THE BODY OF CHRIST, but that won't happen in this short life while we occupy a flesh and blood body of corruption. GOD will also give us a glorified body like the one of CHRIST at HIS appointed time. Please recognize the difference between a Christian stumbling from time to time and a lost person enjoying the wallowing of the pit and refusing to come out. There is hypocrisy in man and reason to distrust man, BUT our Trust and Faith is in JESUS CHRIST - the LIVING GOD! JESUS CHRIST is perfect, Holy, without hypocrisy, and completely worthy of all TRUST! Our trust and faith is NOT in a building made by humans, and it's certainly not in humans. We must remember these ULTIMATE TRUTHS. Love In Christ, Tom Ephesians 1:18-23 NASB I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Strangedays on January 19, 2008, 03:11:48 PM I would appreciate any prayer support.
Thank You. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Soldier4Christ on January 19, 2008, 03:23:33 PM My prayers have been with you since your first post here.
Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: nChrist on January 19, 2008, 03:27:42 PM I would appreciate any prayer support. Thank You. You and your church will be in my prayers also. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Shammu on January 19, 2008, 03:40:46 PM You can add my prayers too.
Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Def on January 19, 2008, 03:43:49 PM i will be praying for you.
ask and you will receive in Jesus 's name the resurected Christ head of the chruch of God "The Holy Spirit" Son of the living God. Love in Jesus Def. Title: Re: Distressed and disturbed Post by: Def on January 19, 2008, 03:48:20 PM Hello Strangedays, AMEN!!WELCOME! (http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/tlr10/357/welcome.gif) First, I sincerely hope that you enjoy Christians Unite, and we're happy to have you with us. I totally agree with the truth that you've already been given. This is not you judging, rather GOD already judging from the Old and the New Testaments, and GOD giving a BOLD proclamation of what is an ABOMINATION in HIS Eyes. HIS WORD could not be clearer on this subject in numerous portions of Scripture all over the Bible. There is nothing to question or debate because GOD has already spoken very bluntly on this issue. This is simply calling evil what it is: EVIL! Love In Christ, Tom (http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i160/tlr10/mine/mine037.jpg) YES! YES ! YES! JESUS SAVES GLORY GLORY GLORY |