tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8836896535723994796.post7186088287792419356..comments2021-02-01T18:38:42.718-08:00Comments on Not A Shouting Church: The church and gay youthPastor Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07507435243055962825noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8836896535723994796.post-17257088614013348392010-02-23T14:48:21.366-08:002010-02-23T14:48:21.366-08:00When I attended a Welcoming Church seminar about o...When I attended a Welcoming Church seminar about one year ago, I too was confronted with the obvious pain and rejections suffered by LGBT individuals. It was an easy step to reach the conclusion that LGBT people should consciously and intentionally welcomed in Church.<br /><br />However, it is easy to say that we don't want to shun and reject people, but welcome everyone instead. But what does it really means to be welcoming? What is it that we are welcoming people to. This is a discussion that needs to be conducted openly, honestly, and respectfully because it hits on some core theological issues. <br /><br />The immediate (and controversial) question is Christianity's treatment of non-heterosexual people. But it seems to me that the discussion goes beyond that. Most specifically for me, how to interpret and apply scripture to my life and the life of the Church. <br /><br />A previous post made here by a guest blogger asked the questions "Who should we stone next?" In his question, he highlighted the fact that there are many portions of the Bible that could easily be taken at face value and used as a "standard of conduct" in today's world. However, most of us eat pork with no hesitation, we no longer stone people for infidelity, etc. We no longer interpret those passages in the way the Old Testament Israelites did. <br /><br />Like it or not, openly accepting and embracing LGBT people into the Church is a change in how many have traditionally interpreted and applied Scripture. <br /><br />Such significant changes raise questions of how to know which changes are consistent with Scripture and which are not. In the absence of an answer to this question, it is natural for a person to feel that "their" Christianity is being taken from them and made into something foreign. Or that someone else is "forcing" an uncomfortable agenda onto them.<br /><br />Here at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, we have learned through recent and continuing experience that change can be exceptionally healthy and scary/unnerving at the same time. What is painful and scary for some is liberating for others. This is a time of great opportunity for the Church to support each other while we all "wrestle" with our faith and our God regardless of individual/congregational "positions" on LGBT issues. Here's hoping (praying) that is what will happen.Erickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02336058833427966308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8836896535723994796.post-36882853444160732322010-02-23T10:30:03.935-08:002010-02-23T10:30:03.935-08:00What splendid and wise words. Thanks so much Paul....What splendid and wise words. Thanks so much Paul. Please know you are indeed very much missed by Trinity yet we couldn't be any prouder of you! Thanks be to God for Pastor Paul also!Kevin Lotzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04055556456671810992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8836896535723994796.post-31225498177657678522010-02-22T17:01:23.964-08:002010-02-22T17:01:23.964-08:00Great commentary. Thanks. I see you are having the...Great commentary. Thanks. I see you are having the same video problems that I was with my blog.Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08732955876428732569noreply@blogger.com