From time to time we publish messages sent directly to us in regard to a blog we have published. On June 12, we published a blog titled, Renton Pastor: "Radical Shift On Same-Sex Marriage," regarding Pastor Leslie Braxton of New Beginnings Church in Renton, Washington, telling his congregation to rethink same-sex marriage and saying he has made a "radical shift" in his own thinking on the subject.
He said during his Sunday morning sermon, "I am a student of Moses and Paul, but am a follower of Jesus." He told his congregation that because Jesus didn't directly address same-sex relationships or marriage, he now supports it on the basis of the Golden Rule, etc.
I received this response from Pastor Darrell Elliott at the Neighborhood Church in Bellevue and have permission to publish it.
Gary,
What the pastor from Renton failed to realize or acknowledge is that if Paul is unreliable or unqualified to give moral counsel, he is then equally unqualified to give us instruction on doctrine. If that were so, then we, the Christian Church, have no doctrine of Grace. Jesus never uses the word in any of His teachings referring to God’s unmerited favor. So, according to the pastor's line of reasoning, if Jesus does not teach it directly, we have no responsibility to adhere to it. Therefore, no doctrine of ‘salvation by grace alone’ exists. Paul was also a sold out follower of Christ, I Cor. 11:1, and is the scripture writer (2 Peter 3:16) who was used by God to develop the blessed doctrine of GRACE.
If our pastor friend were a follower of Christ, he would acknowledge this as true.
Jesus also employs the Greek term ‘pornea’ to describe sexual immoral activity as a violation of marriage sex. Pornea, is a broad descriptive term which includes homosexual behavior in the Lexicon. He does address it. However, in the Greek/Roman culture Paul was ministering to, homosexual sex was much more prevalent. The Hebrews had the prohibitions from the law the gentiles had no such prohibitions.
Darrell Elliott
Senior Pastor
Thank you, Pastor Elliott.
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Active. Be Blessed.
Darrell Elliott - You may have the title of Senior Pastor but your ignorance indicates that you have little competence for the position. The issue has NOTHING to do with marriage - and your interest in other people's perverted sexuality is, of course, contrary to Paul's clear teaching that we are to think upon the things which are pure. Your job is NOT to judge the world - that is God's job (ICor5:12,13) but for some reason you choose to run the world as opposed to God. This is the action Satan has chosen - the God of this world. The spirit that is leading you is evident by these very facts.
ReplyDeleteSincerely
In the Lord Jesus Christ
Patrick
You are right, we are not to judge the world. This situation involves someone speaking as a pastor, advocating behavior which is forbidden by God. This is precisely the people we are called to correct, those spreading false doctrine within the church. Wolves in sheep's clothing. I would say your ignorance is showing Patrick, look it up in Scripture. We will not be silenced by those without discernment. Jesus spoke directly to the woman at the well about her "perverted sexuality" and she was a Samaritan. He told the woman caught in adultery to "go and sin no more" and she was clearly "of the world". Open a book on fundamental logic before accusing others of incompetence and attempting an apologetics in an open forum.
DeleteMuch love in Christ
Craig in Lacey
Craig in Lacey
Dear readers,
ReplyDeleteI find it appalling that Christians would even debate this very clear teaching in the Bible. Jesus made it clear that a man should leave father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh in marriage. The passage goes on to refer to the wife as a "she" - not another "he." Romans Chapter 1:27 says, "...the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemingly." If we pick and choose what is true in the Bible, then none of it is reliable. Please know that anything ordained by God brings forth life. Two people of the same sex cannot produce life. If every human became a homosexual, the human race would become extinct (let's not get into modern scientific schemes because even doing that, it takes a man's sperm and a woman's egg). Please don't relinguish the truth.
Dear readers,
ReplyDeleteI am appalled by the fact that Christians are debating the morality of same sex marriage. Jesus made it clear that a man (he) shall leave father and mother and cleave to his wife in marriage. His wife is referred to as a "she" - not another "he." So Jesus made the meaning of marriage crystal clear. It also says in Romans 1:27, "...the men leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly..." If we start picking and choosing what part of the Bible is true, then none of it is reliable. Anything God ordains brings forth life. Two men or two women cannot produce life. If every human became a homosexual, the human race would become extinct (even with all the scientific discoveries, it takes a man's sperm and a woman's egg). Please fellow Christians, let's not forsake the simple truth of the Word of God.
Shirl thank u for that. I go on to say it is absolutely despicable to even argue against one another and pretend Christ is with u. Newsflash... He's not with that. God is sure about what He said and what He said. He doesn't change the words He has spoken. Love good and hate/abhor evil. Don't get so caught up that u forget there is a devil pulling strings behind the scenes... even in this discussion. Be alert. Be born-again.
ReplyDelete