The mainstream media wants you to believe that a conservative evangelical church deep in the Bible belt has refused to bury a Gulf War veteran because he was gay. Some in the Christian media want you to believe that the church hasn’t shown the love of Jesus to a dead man’s family. Neither is anywhere near the truth.
Here are the facts. High Point Church, a non-denominational church in Arlington, Texas, had been praying for Cecil Sinclair after Cecil’s brother, Lee (the only member of the Sinclair family who was a member of the church) requested prayer for his brother who had been awaiting a heart transplant. When Cecil Sinclair’s health became critical last week, the family called a staff member from the church to be with them at the hospital. In the hospital, in the moments immediately following Mr. Sinclair’s death, the family asked the staff member if the church would be open to holding a memorial service for their loved one. The staff member assured them the church would be available to help the family in any way appropriate, a response any pastor would give in that situation.
Cecil Sinclair was not a member of High Point Church, yet this church selflessly and sacrificially ministered to his family in the wake of his death, preparing and delivering food for the family and one hundred relatives and friends, along with many other expressions of kindness. The church offered to produce a video retrospective of Mr. Sinclair’s life for use during the memorial service. When the family provided the pictures to the church it was then that the church learned of their intention to make the memorial service a celebration of Cecil Sinclair’s gay lifestyle. One of the photos provided by the family “showed a man with his hand touching another man’s genitalia,” along with other inappropriate photos, according to a statement on the High Point Church website.
The family also requested that “an associate of an openly homosexual choir” officiate at the service and that the homosexual choir sing during the service. “It became clear to the church staff that the family was requesting an openly homosexual service at High Point Church – which is not our policy to allow,” the statement on the church’s website said. After initially agreeing to host the memorial service, the church informed the family it could not do so based on the direction they were taking service. The church then secured – and paid for – another location for the memorial service, which the family declined. The church also produced the memorial video without the inappropriate photos.
High Point Church did not refuse to host the funeral of a gay man, as is being widely reported in the mainstream media. The church refused on biblical principle to allow a celebration of the homosexual lifestyle in its sanctuary, a decision most theologically sound churches would make under similar circumstances.
It’s not surprising to me that the mainstream media would misrepresent the facts. But the response of some in Christian media has been even more disappointing. High Point Church and its leaders are being accused by Christians of not showing love to the family by not hosting a celebration of his gay lifestyle. I suppose visiting Cecil in the hospital, sitting with his family after he died, preparing meals for the family, paying the rent on an alternative venue, and producing an appropriate memorial video don’t qualify as “showing love” to the family? Others are calling it a “missed opportunity” for the church to reach out to the gay community. Still others have suggested that because homosexuality is a sin like any other sin, the church’s decision not to host a gay man’s memorial would prohibit it from holding memorial services for anyone because, after all, we are all sinners.
These people are missing the point. The church did not refuse to host the memorial service because Cecil Sinclair was gay. They refused to host the memorial service because the family was turning it into a celebration of the man’s sin – his homosexual lifestyle. Churches and ministers bury sinners every day. But we don’t highlight their sin on the big screen while we are doing it. We exalt Christ. We proclaim the gospel. And we celebrate the triumph of the cross over sin and death, none of which the family had in mind for Cecil Sinclair’s memorial service.
High Point Church’s principled and biblical decision was the right one, as is evidenced not only by just how unpopular it is with the main stream media, but also by the knee-jerk and ill-informed response of today’s culturally-savvy, but biblically illiterate Christians.
Listen here to Paul’s interview with Pastor Gary Simons of High Point Church.
Does anyone in here believe that the deceased’s mother would send porn to a church?
Has anyone considered that the reason the family accepted the offer from High Point was because of the deceased’s brother. I sincerely hope he has not been traumatised by High Points treatment of him and his family in their time of need as I am afraid he will be.
I’m not surprised the family told High Point to keep their money. Especially after Simons used an analogy to MURDER (not adultery/divorce) to describe their opinion of Mr Sinclair. (Wasn’t that loving quote from Simons issued in the local paper on the day of his funeral?). After that analogy, I’d be surprised if the family felt High Point was not praying with them, but AT them.
The Gay Mens Chorus? In my opinion, they’re about half as racy as Pat Boone. Besides, do you think that they were going to get up there and do some ‘Last Temptation of Christ’ opera? At a funeral?
Besides, I don’t know why High Point is upset with the press coverage. Apparently they are proud of everything they did/said. What are they so mad about? That someone would actually talk to the family and print their side of the story along with High Point’s? So why are they upset that other people are judging them because the judge others? So some secularists called them bigots? Well the secularists doing that name calling aren’t claiming to be moral arbiters and didn’t compare a dead veteran to a murderer in the local paper because he was in a Gay relationship.
Paul, I’m glad you are on this chat. Why did you leave out the Murder analogy from your article while you enthused about all of the pastoral care given to the family by High Point? Why was that?
Proverbs 26:4 “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him”.
26:5 “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit”.
Somethimes ther is not too much to say!
Hudson,
What does Ted Haggard have to do with the principled stand this church took? As far as I know, High Point Church has no connection with Haggard’s former church. It was Gary Sinclair’s family that wanted to put his bedroom on display, which indicates an obsession with his bedroom. Such a display would be inappropriate for both homosexual and heterosexual public memorials.
No one at HPC condemned Gary Sinclair. They rightly chose not to allow a public display of sin. There is a major difference between that decision and condemning a homosexual. Re-read what I wrote about the selfless and sacrificial way this church served this family in Christian love.
Is there a Ted Haggard at this Church? It seems like the clergy is overwhelmed with self-hating homosexuals and pedophiles. Why are they so obsessed with what others do in their bedrooms? Why is homosexuality elevated to such a lofty concern when eating pork is not? The Bible contains all kinds of archaic notions that are not acceptable in a 21st Century society. There is only one explanation as to why the clergy chooses to ignore the biblical advocacy of parents having their disobedient children stoned, but promote the clear condemnation of homosexuals. That explanation is that it appeals to the bigotry of the ignorant masses who put money in their collection plates.
Is is so sad to see that people that consider themselves Christians deny God’s word.
See, the Bible itself contains over 2,000 claims that like: “Thus said the Lord”. If all of those are lies, then why even bother listening to what it has to say?
The truth, however, is that Satan attacks the church in the same way it has always did:
Gen. 3:1b “Did God actually say….”
I have had enough of people that are not sure of anything, except the fact that they are unsure of everything.
If God did not reveal himself and His will, then we are lost.
But He did reveal Himself and His will, and we can’t claim ignorance.
It is my belief that the Bible was written by men of God , not the pen of God. It has caused as much pain as blessings.
I really appreciate the manner and spirit with which Mr. Pearson has expressed himself and his opinion that is reflective of many of us in the body of Christ regarding the situation.
YOU GO SIR. U WORK FOR GOD AND TRUTH NOT FOR MAN AND LIES. U KEEP UP DOING THE REAL TRUTHFUL WORD AND WORK OF GOD, IF U DONT THEN U BECOME A HYPOCRITE. THEY JUST WANT EXCUSES FOR THEIR EVEL BEHAVIOR. THAT IS SATAN FOR U. KNOW ITS HARD AND HEART BREAKING AND TIREING, BUT GUESS WHAT?? U WILL GET MORE CROWNS IN HEAVEN MAN. THIS I A WONDERFUL THING U R DOING. IF U DID NOT DO IT LIKE THIS, U’D BE A LIER, CHEATER, THIEIF, NONBELEIVER AND SATANTIC WORSHIPER ADN I’;D NOT LIEK U AT ALL. THANKS FOR BEING FOR GOD AND LAWS AND MORALS AND TRUTH AND JESUS AND REAL BIBLICAL TEACHINGS. GOD BLESS
Don,
The last word of course will be had by God.
May God bless us all with discernment and wisdom that his will be done.
Love,
Roy
Oh, it’s not just the title. There’s also the fun little insults by all the Good Christians in the comments sections, followed by the whole passive-aggressive I’m-praying-for-you-and-I-love-you tripe. It’s a great scam the religious right has developed. Be as hateful as you want, and blame it all on God. Spew nastiness at people, then convince yourself it’s really “love” with a cheap little “I’m praying for you.” But hey, what do I know? It’s possible God is actually fooled by your little charade. After all, you appear to have fooled yourselves. Good luck with that. Meanwhile, those of us who aren’t always trying to convince ourselves of our own righteousness are out actually living, as perfectly as our imperfections will allow, the ideals you so shallowly pretend to.
“it’s the economy, stupid” was meant to make the point that people were missing the point. “It’s the lifestyle, stupid” was meant to make the point that people were missing the point. But because I’m not interested in UNCECESSARILY offending, I changed the title.
Boo – You use an anonymous email address originating from Atlanta. If you are so committed to what you advocate, why is it necessary for you to hide?
High Point Church certainly LIVED their Christian values by serving the family of this deceased veteran. Re-read the article, and this time don’t do it selectively, focusing only on a title you found offensive.
“Here at this blog we are making it our aim to please GOD, and while we don’t won’t to unecessarily offend anyone, we have necessarily offended you because you refuse to hear truth.”
Which you define as calling people stupid, then nuking it to pretend you didn’t. You and I seem to have quite different ideas of the truth. (I’m also not from Atlanta.)
It’s just funny that the people who are always ranting the loudest about Christian values seem to have the hardest time living them. Ss I recall Jesus had a rather dim view of such people. Something about them being whitewashed tombs full of corruption or some such.
Boo,
I don’t know how you define “proper Christian behavior” down there in the Atlanta area, but from what I have seen so far – as the moderator of this site – it has been the anti-Christian, pro-homosexual lobby who has displayed irreverant, blasphemous, and vulgar behavior both at this site and in response to the same article at Townhall.com.
There is nothing improper about Christians behaving in accordance with the truth: “I rejoiced greatly when I found of thy children walking in the truth, as we have received commandment from the Father” (2 John 1:4).
Here at this blog we are making it our aim to please GOD, and while we don’t won’t to unecessarily offend anyone, we have necessarily offended you because you refuse to hear truth.
Paul
Good point!
Because for all the ranting about proper Christian behavior on this site, y’all sure have an aversion to acting it out. Don’t apologize for bad behavior, just make believe it never happened. I think Jesus commands that in one of the apocryphal gospels- the Gospel of Hyppocriticus, or something like that.
“Wow. Way to pull a 1984 on the title, stupid.”
And it’s important to point this out, why?
Wow. Way to pull a 1984 on the title, stupid.
Craig, I praise God for your assessment of my life, which proves that I am on track and you, my friend, are still lost in sin. May God draw you to Christ, grant you true eternal life, and open your understanding to His word and His character. I do not wish to debate with you, you may have the last word, God have mercy on your soul….
In Matthew 19 Jesus affirmed that God from the beginning created us MALE and FEMALE for the purposes of sexual relationship. Jesus never affirmed anything other than MALE and FEMALE sexual unions. To suggest that Jesus would approve of homosex because he never condemned homosexual unions is to ignore the TRUTH that the ONLY unions He ever condoned were those between MALE and FEMALE.
Why do you focus on what Jesus DIDN’T say when you clearly can see what He DID say?
I find it shocking that some who profess the Christian faith ask the question “Where in Scripture did Christ Himself condemn _________ (usually homosexuality)?”, when all of Scripture is God’s Word, not just the words in red letters in most bibles. The entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation and the 64 books in between, are ALL God’s words.
Chuck
Read John I , the entire chapter. Then answer these question.
Who is the Word that was in the beginning with God, and who is God, and then who was the Word that became flesh.
Now read II Timothy 3:16
Now answer this question, Is the Word, God according to John I? If so, is ‘all scripture’ given by God, according to II Timothy 3:16? Here in is your answer, all scripture originates from God, who is the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among. But of coarse your question is not prompted by a sincere desire to know, I suspect, is it?
You are correct by saying that the Lord knows what to do. He does and he did. He gave us His written Word which you have already attested to its validity by quoting it as a authority.
Sorry, but apparently you also just disagree with God on this subject.
Who do you suppose will win?
Can anyone please tell me where in the Bible that Jesus Christ, [in his own words], said anything that condemned homosexuality? I know about the numerous things he did say such as, judge not, lest ye be judged yourselves.
I know what the Old Testament really says about this subject and I know about your misinterpretation of those Mosaic laws. If we are to live according to the Mosaic law [ and not under grace], I would like to remind all of you that you have sinned and have forgotten to follow all the other numerous commands which pertained to those Mosaic laws. If you want to see which ones you do not follow go back to the Bible and read in Deuteronomy and Leviticus and see about all those other hundreds and hundreds of laws which you do not keep. [Make sure that you keep telling yourself that we do not live under the Law but by the Grace of Jesus]. You have chosen to pick and choose the two laws that, [according to your interpretation], condemns male homosexuality just to justify your hatred of gays and your other bigoted ideas about anyone who disagrees with your mandates. There are no Mosaic laws that “condemns” sex between two females. I’ll bet you didn’t know that! So what have you got to say about lesbianism?
You are always harping about the “gay agenda”, [whatever that is]? I think you should be more concerned about your own sins, prejudices and bigotry and leave the rest in the hands the Lord. He knows what to do.
The first time Jesus cleared the temple in John 2, the disciples mentioned the Psalmist saying “Zeal for your house will consume me.” Jesus revealed in that passage his desire for the House of God to remain a holy place.
The next time Jesus came to the temple to find it being defiled was in Mark 11 and on this occasion he stated “My house will be called a house of prayer…”
Thank you High Point for keeping the point clear!
Difficult for Whom? I Corinthians 5:21;
Roy
The issue is about the “sin”, you are correct . If the “act” of Jesus was against the acts alone why the personal condemnation by Jesus of “hypocrites”?
Jesus is capable of love and condemnation at the same time. And as far as I have read in these posts, the condemnation is against the sin and its promotion. Could your disagreement be with the rejection of this particular sin? Paul Edwards gave a fitting reference to Romans 1, which you blew off, but stills it refers to the participants in this particular sin as “reprobate”, and as to giving them over to it.
Your position at best is difficult, if not outright rebellious.
Although you quote some scripture you also wrest the scriptures to your destruction.
This is my final volley you may have the last word.
May God bless you with discernment and wisdom.
Don
Don, Jesus was fully man and fully God. Another difficult concept to get ones mind around. There is a whole theological arguement over the idea of the possibility that as fully man Jesus could sin. Rather like the question how many angels can sit on the head of a pin. If Jesus was fully man, it would be meaningless unless he had the traits of a man, and men from time to time get mad.
Turning over the money changers tables was an act against an act, not against those who were perpetraing the act. Jesus loved the money changers enough to turn the tables over and show them their acts were not acceptable. Jesus was fully God however, and God can make those decisions. We are not called to judge or condemn people. We are called to discernment for our lives and our actions.
We are carrying on a mostly civil discussion of different understandings of the teachings of Christ. Paul and James had similar differences of understanding. Jesus calls us all to what he wants from our lives. When he calls a person to the Ministry clearly that is a calling that has a responsibility to be clear about His Word.
When Ministers set themselves above God by making rules that are not of God, then there will be woe onto them.
In Matthew 23 Jesus is setting up his leadership of the Church on earth. It is Christ who is the head of the Church and Woe to any who do a list of things – hence the repeating of the Woe seven times. One of those things was “for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” It is an injucntion against Misiters that preach that which is not of God and call their followers, as did the Scribes and Pharisees, to follow them and not “suffer” them to enter into the true light.
Jesus wants us to give over our lives to his Love so we may sin less and become perfect. That perfection will not be on earth, but it begins here. Paul tells us that as a child we do childish things. When we are of the earth and focused there we do earthly things like judge and hate. When we are of the Spirit we focus on the Spirit and allow Jesus Christ to lead us. We come to Church for Fellowship and Worship. No Church is asked to impose Dogma. When a Church offers the Good News of God’s Love in the Life of Jesus Christ, they have given the greatest gift that can be given. Through Love and Fellowship a person finds their path to yeilding their life to God and his Love. From there it is between a man and God as to what is right for him.
If we are truly yeilded to God we still err and sin. When we condemn people and cast them away we run the serous risk of blocking the path to Christ and for that we shall have to account for. That does not separate us from God’s love or salvation, but unless we ask for forgivness of such acts we are partially and of our own mind separated form God. To me that is as much Woe as any man should ever want – to be self-separated from the Love of God.
Like the poor, on earth, Sin is ever amongst us. No sin is greater or lessor than any other and stones need not be cast by any but the sinless. To my accounting the only one that should have a stone in his hand Is Jesus Christ. He carries not a stone but a Rock, and that Rock is Love.
Roy
Was it “love” at the temple when he over turned the money changer’s tables? Was it “love” when he spoke. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”, seven times in Matthew 23?
He did display disgust for sin.
Dennis, Paul was not “condemning the immoralities plaguing the corinthian church”. He was condemning their behavior. Christians have a hard time with Paul because he speaks of a complex world. We are man and spirit. We aim to live without sin yet in the flesh are doomed. That duality is a bit more than the black and white, goodand evil world most Christians want. As evidenced in just this series of posts people can find hatred in the Word.
That happens when we try to determine what is right for other people. Please find me a passage where Jesus tells us to tell others how to live their life. We are to spread the word of Jesus’ Love for all mankind, saint and sinner. We are never to judge.
Paul had the task of fathering an infant Church where religions of the day were filled with temptation for New Christians. Then there were the issues where just being human presented the temptation to fight among other Christians about unimportant vestiges of the Old Law.
Our only marching orders give by Christ himself are to Love. We are on our own incapable of Love. We yeild to his will and in his Grace he give us Love. We are bound by his second commandment to then share that Love freely. Churches want to make rules. Jesus gave us only two: Love your God and Love your neighbor as you Love yourself.
God is Love and what is not of Love is not of God.
Paul Edwards shows his total inability to hear any discussion but his own. Paul I challenge you to quote one “hateful thing” that I said in my comment. Disagreement is not hate. I know and understand that God is Love. It is repeated over and over in the four gospels. I can read just as well as you. It also says that what is not of Love is not of God. Paul in Romans does not write about what we need to tell others, he is talking about how we deal with ourselves.
God can be obsessed with Love or himself as he has three parts. When he walked the earth all he did was talk about Love. When God walked the earth all he did was accept everyone as they were and let Love heal them. There is no Hate in anything I have posted here. If you find hate it may just be that it in yourself.
And I’m praying for you.
Hmmm.
Look into your own hearts. Mine is fine.
Who said anything about being homosexual?
Hmmm. Judgement? Pre-judgement? Rushing to judge? Placing yourself in the role of God and Jesus yet again?
By the way, since my grandfather was a preacher, I’ve read the whole book, many times.
Your particular focus and interpretation is the key to your displeasure, rather than your contentment.
And Laura?-Your a mess.
Craig,
I speak to you as a former homosexual, no longer in bondage to that perversion, and want you to know that Jesus Christ will set you free from you bondage. I KNOW FIRSTHAND AND WHEN I WAS STILL LIVING THAT LIE, THE WHOLE TIME I KNEW DEEP IN MY HEART IT WAS WRONG!!! People need to understand God’s absolute holiness, such a holy God cannot and will not allow homosexuals into His kingdom. This sin and all sins must be punished according to God’s word and His righteousness. For those who refuse to repent, even though God loves them, they WILL face the judgment of God because of their disobedience. I commend these folks at this church for standing firm in the faith. “This gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing”….
Craig,
Who said anything about prefering you dead? Seems like it is YOU who is asking your god to kill me. It never ceases to amaze me how those committed to the homosexual agenda reflect on others the hate in their own hearts.
How have I “twisted the word of God”? Have you read Romans 1? How do you interpret it?
Awe, isn’t it precious how you twist the word of God to your own pitiful interpretations.
Over the years, in my own families Baptist church in Texas, I heard many times about a key aspect of our faith.
Never, Ever consider yourself to be the equal of God or Jesus.
However, with every written word, statement and moral interpretation you falsely claim to have inherited the right to judge and condemn.
It is sad what your doing to our wonderful faith. I wish many of your followers who are lost and deluded could see what God is really about, and not what you want it to be for your own benefit…
I pray every day for you. A simple prayer-God-please take care of those that would prefer me dead. Amen.
Roy
At what point then does the church say anything about anything? If loving someone is only offering encouragement and kind words then what was Paul doing condemning the immoralities plaguing the corinthian church. If you want to be honest here then read the preceding 13 chapters of 1 cor. God is love and He also is the Truth.
D Sprague
Ben
“Who is the real enemy here?”
You have nailed the only important question to be asked.
When we have the correct answer to this, then it all becomes crystal clear.
One final question; Who is able to defeat “the real enemy”?
Now we have the question and the answer.
God bless you brother.
Roy writes: “How do those who call themelves Christians square their obsession with sin wth God’s “obsession” with Love?”
The same way Saint Paul did in Romans 1. We love the sinner enough to tell them the truth. The truth of God’s word is our judge – not the opinions of any man or church. And God’s word condemns SIN – in all of its varieties. The sin of homosexuality is not the greatest sin. But homosexuality has been made into a god to be worshipped by radical gay activists. “I will have no other gods before me,” Jehovah said.
God isn’t obsessed with “Love.” He IS love. God is obessed with His glory. And nothing that would have taken place in that memorial service would have put the spotlight on God. High Point Church made the right decision, as evidenced by the hateful reaction of posts like yours.
Love is patient, love is kind,
Love does not insist on its own way.
Love bears all things, believes all things,
Hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
– I Corinthians 13:4-8
Jesus walked the earth for us. His life more than his death defined Jesus, but current religious expression too often emphasises only his death. Early Christians did not use the cross as a symbol, they used a fish. That is a more fitting expression of the example of Christ. He called us to be fishers of men.
The modern mega-church build large edifices more like Yachts than fishing boats. Those who are drowning in the sea of life are ignored and rejected.
High Point does not dave one person, does not heal one soul. That is done by Jesus. He said “I am the way”. High Point, New Hope, Lakewood, and all the rest are servants of Christ and have lost their way to the degree they think that they have any right to judge anyone. Yet they do.
You “hate” the sin and love the lover. Sin is of the earth and man belongs to God. When you reject the man, you reject God.
You love to throw scripture around, but scripture is rather like statistics, you can make it mean anything you want. Jesus when dealing with the religious establishment of his day knew this so he spoke in very simple terms.
It seems that homosexuality is the greatest sin a person can commit today. When asked about which of the commandments was the greatest, Jesus said simply that there are but two commandments, Love God and Love thy neighbor as thyself.
God does not ask High Point to Monitor sin in others. God does not ask High Point to separate themselves from the world of sin. God asks High Point to do what he has asked us all to do. Love.
We are given Gods Love through His Grace, and we are to give as freely of that love as it was given to us, It is not some treasure to hide and hoard. Through the act of submission in recieveing his Love and letting flow through us to others who do not yet know his Love, we are healed.
Sin is of the earth and Love is of God. We are to focus on God not the earth. We are to focus on Love not on sin. Like Christ we are to love all people not cast them away. If you have Christ in you heart and his love abounds in you no sin has power over you – not your sin or the sins of others.
No was the wrong answer for High Point to have given. I am a bit confused about the awful consequences of having pictures of men hugging men and and kissing each other. The disciples did that. Just as with anyone pictures of intimate acts of arrousal are unacceptable for any sexual preference in public, not just church.
So a gay man is given a service and his gay friends come and celebrate his life, how does this act of Love diminish the Church? It is not like the service was going to be held during the main worship service(s). Everyone who walks in the door to High Point is a sinner and no more or less a sinner than the next person. Everyone who stands in the Pulpit is a sinner, no more or less than anyone else. How do those who call themelves Christians square their obsession with sin wth God’s “obsession” with Love?
Jesus said that as you have done to least of these so you have done to me. I guess homosexuals in 2007 are about as “least” as you get in the Chruch’s eyes. If Jesus were to send word that he was coming and he had a man who was dying with him. If he said that by the time he got there, a service would be needed so He could bury this man. Would you turn either man away? Or would you start justifying in you mind how restrictive Jesus would be in how the service would be conducted.
If He were as restricitve about who gets his Love, we are all in a lot of trouble. Thankfully High Point is not Representaive of Jesus, just of a group of men who have decided they are the way.
C Rooker
I was always fascinated by people like you. Why does the homosexual community need the church’s approval? Why the need to even have a memorial service in church? Why the need to have a religious service at his funeral? Why the need to be a Christian service?
I would think that out of all religions, a homosexual person will avoid Christianity because its teachings clearly call her/his lifestyle immoral.
So why do you feel the push the homosexual agenda into Christian churches?
Who is the real enemy here?
Let me say it plainly, even if everyone on the earth would agree with that lifestyle, the fact still remains that homosexuality is immoral. And you know what, most of them if they are honest will admit it.
Our God is a God of grace and He is able to forgive anyone who repents (regardless of how many sins or what kind of sins he/she did). But make no mistake, our God is Holy, and He is not playing around with sin. The wage of sin is death…
C Rooker,
Hate speech?? Really? You speak of putting a muzzle on Christians and you call us hateful?
As Paul pointed out, the church offered to pay for another venue, fed all those who attended, and also put together a video without the materials they found objectionable. That’s hardly hate.
We’ve come to a point in this country where disagreement has been equated to hate. If that is truly the case, and you truly feel that way, then I pray if we ever see “hate speech” legislation pass in the future, that it also holds your feet to the fire.
Soli Deo Gloria
Paul, C Rooker speaks for a segment of the homosexual population — the radical activist wing — that truly wants to silence speech to advance the “gay” revolution. That is anti-freedom and un-American. Most Christians have no clue as to the totalitarian impulses of the homosexual movement. As one homosexual activist put it, the struggle between legal “gay rights” and religious freedom (to oppose homosexual behavior) is a “zero-sum” game. Maybe it will take Christians being thrown in jail in this country for believers to wake up in this nation. For more info on the homosexual agenda, see Americans For Truth’s website at http://www.americansfortruth.org. Terrific piece, Paul!
C Rooker,
And everyone here at the God and Culture Blog feels YOUR love, as well. You obviously didn’t take the time to actually read what this church as done to express the love of Christ to this family. You are blinded by your own hate. We’re praying for you and we love you.
Paul
It is your idiotic assumptions that High Point was acting so called christ like. You christers area all the same. You are filled with hate and wish retarded prejudicial ideas! I hope this country follows places like Europe and puts a muzzle and collar on your hate speech in America. You have no right to continue with this line of thought!
Our God is Holy, Holy, Holy!
God is pretty clear in His word: Homosexuality is a sin. It is not “The Sin”. It is one among other sins, but it is still a sin.
As a church we are called to be the salt of the world, not the sugar.
We are not here to please people; we are here to please God.
Acts 5:29 “We must obey God rather than men”
And God is not on the fence on this issue. The church had to make a decision: go with God or with men. They made the right decision.
God bless them!
The church was in the wrong. The church’s leaders behaved rudely, thoughtlessly, callously, duplicitiously, and without kindness.
What would Jesus do?
Certainly not break his word to a grieving family and throw them out of his church.
A poem often quoted by the late G.B.VICK.
Sin is a monster of such dreadful mien;
To be hated, need but be seen,
But seen to often, face to face;
It is first despised, then pitied, then embraced.
Another one not attributed to any one in particular.
Sin will always;
take you farther than you had wanted to go,
cost you more than you were willing to pay,
keep you longer than you had planned on staying.
There is pleasure in sin, but only for a season.
The High Point Church was correct.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.
Now this is refreshing!
Eddie G.;…… Me too!!!! …….. Well said!
And such were some of us, BUT we are washed (clean), we are sanctified (set apart..purified), and we are JUSTIFIED (just as if we had never sinned), in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Can it get any better than this?
Gloriously saved 35 years ago, and I still haven’t gotten over it.
“Oh the wonder of it all”.. just to think, that God loves me!!!!!
Now sings my soul..HOW GREAT THOU ART!
Leaning on Jesus
Leaning on Jesus
Safe and secure from all alarms!
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation,” Hebrews 2:3
Indeed; there will never be a sweeter story! It is WONDERFUL!
Well said Paul.
The basic fact here is that salvation is not to those who are in themselves righteous, but those who have recognized their sin, and repented (changed). If this man’s family instead wanted to celebrate his sin, I commend the church for their rightful stand in not celebrating that which is an afront to God.
As Pastor John Samson wrote: “When we commit a sin, at that moment our desire to sin is greater than our desire to obey Christ. I think that is the most haunting thing about the sins I commit. That at that particular moment when I sinned, the sin was more appealing to me than obeying my Lord. This is the godly sorrow I believe, that works repentance.”
A church should not take part in celebrating those times in any of our lives when we loved our sin more than our Lord.
I have to agree with this decision not to allow this perversion to take place, even at such a time as this. I lived a homosexual life for 14 years, then God opened my understanding. I repented of this perversion, and submitted all of my heart to Jesus Christ. God’s word is black and white, and those who live a homosexual life will be judged according to His word. The body of Christ cannot compromise for the sake of tolerance. To allow pictures that promote this lifestyle, and homosexuals to sing during the service is unacceptable in a bible believing, bible teaching church. This decision was made by this church not because they didn’t care about this man, but because they love the Lord Jesus Christ and are not willing to compromise, as this world does, for the sake of all getting along. When God reveals Himself to you through His word, you will begin to understand how a Holy God absolutely hates sin and doesn’t grade on a curve. Jesus says it all in Luke chapter 13: “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Sorry Deana but you missed it. Jesus may have hung out with the sinners but did not commit, or condone those sins or the sinners. He did tell them though (if they REPENTED of their sins) your sins are forgiven now go and SIN NO MORE! He most definetly did not tell them to go ahead and keep living the life you were living(a sinful one) BUT, to give up your life and follow HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have decided to follow Jesus, I am an ex drunk, ex drug addict, and sinner of the worst kind and now I go back to those people to tell them Jesus loves you and wants to take you out of this life style of death and destruction and give you new and everlasting life.
No, it’s the hatred, stupid. High Point Church showed us that it doesn’t follow the teachings of Jesus. I seem to recall that Jesus was regularly excoriated by the “religious” of his time for hanging out with publicans, prostitutes and other notorious sinners. He was accused of being a partier and drunkard!
You can babble on all you want about High Point Church’s “principles,” but in end, the church came up very short when compared to what Jesus did and taught. (Cf. also the parable of the Good Samaritan if you need to relearn “who is my neighbor?”, just in case you’ve somehow forgotten.)
“Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” High Point Church FAILED miserably. The justifications I’ve read here are simply appalling. It’s justifications like yours that have just about ensured I’ll never darken the door of a church in the future. This “principled stand” is just a cover for hatred of this generation’s scapegoats, just as prior churchy generations vilified people who drank socially and went to bars, got divorced, were women who weren’t content to be homemakers or people of a darker skin tone than was acceptable to the congregation.
–Deana Holmes
mirele@sonic.net