DENVER – The auditorium lights turned low, the service begins with the familiar rhythms of church: children singing, hugs and handshakes of greeting, a plea for donations to fix the boiler.
Then the 55-year-old pastor with spiked gray hair and blue jeans launches into his weekly welcome, a poem-like litany that includes the line “queer or straight here, there’s no hate here.”
The Rev. Mark Tidd initially used the word “gay.” But he changed it to “queer” because it’s the preferred term of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people invited to participate fully at Highlands Church.
Tidd is an outlaw pastor of sorts. His community, less than a year old, is an evangelical Christian church guided both by the Apostle’s Creed and the belief that gay people can embrace their sexual orientation as God-given and seek fulfillment in committed same-sex relationships.
See story at Yahoo: Evangelical church opens doors fully to gays.
I don’t consider the church in the news item above, part of The Church.
The new testament Church heeded Christ’s command to go into all the world and preach the gospel, and “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16)
We are to make disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28)
Today’s Church body throws the doors open to every false doctrine and teaching, as well as including unregenerated sinners into their fellowship. Just as bad, new believers [in need of correct bible teachings and disciple-ing] are told they can continue in their sins and still be a part of the Church fellowship; These things should not be folks.
Read a portion of Justin Martyr’s letter: notice the order in which things were done, concerning the welcoming of a new believer into the fellowship of the brethren.
Justin Martyr, from his First Apology (155 A.D).
Originally addressed to the Roman emperor in defense of Christianity, Justin’s description gives us a window into the early Church;
“How we dedicated ourselves to God when we were made new through Christ I will explain, since it might seem to be unfair if I left this out from my exposition. Those who are persuaded and believe that the things we teach and say are true, and promise that they can live accordingly, are instructed to pray and beseech God with fasting for the remission of their past sins, while we pray and fast along with them.
Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are reborn by the same manner of rebirth by which we ourselves were reborn; for they are then washed in the water in the name of God the Father and Master of all, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. For Christ said, “Unless you are born again you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.”
Now it is clear to all that those who have once come into being cannot enter the wombs of those who bore them. But as I quoted before, it was said through the prophet Isaiah how those who have sinned and repent shall escape from their sins. He said this: “Wash yourselves, be clean, take away wickedness from your souls, learn to do good, give judgment for the orphan and defend the cause of the widow, and come and let us reason together, says the Lord. And though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them as white as wool, and though they be as crimson, I will make them as white as snow.”
After thus washing the one who has been convinced and signified his assent, [we] lead him (*then*) to those who are called brethren, where they are assembled.
They then earnestly offer common prayers for themselves and the one who has been illuminated and all others every where, that we may be made worthy, having learned the truth, to be found in deed good citizens and keepers of what is commanded, so that we may be saved with eternal salvation.
Related, as far as the original (biblical) purpose of The Church, meeting places, or gatherings (for Christians) I’d like to repost a video.
The article by Justin Martyr was very long. They certainly had a lot of time on their hands and discipline to develop long treatises in those early Church days of yester year!
The nine minute youtube illustrates the reality we are in and must pay attention too and be onguard against.
Here is the Truth from Paul’s Word that cleanses us from all filthiness of sin and unrighteousness. Take to heart these verses as they speak to the issues initially opened up here in this article today and the errors of that church pastor, Rev. Mark Tidd and his people who agree with his teachings.
1Co 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,
1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
There truly is none righteous. We each have a “bent” and one bent is no less dangerous or disasterous than another.
God judges all sin, even the slightest sin equally with the most extreme.
There is One alone set apart to Whom we must turn to be cleansed and washed and sanctified and justified.
To Him we ought too turn to every morning and during the day and at night now that we are part of His Church.
It makes no difference to God “what” “bent” you are.
What He can do with your bent is utterly miraculous.
The Apostle goes further in the next Epistle to the Corinthians writing these Words:::>
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
2Co 5:15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
2Co 5:16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2Co 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
2Co 5:19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
I would say, “take heed” to Who Christ is and focus on this discipline from Him becoming His disciple daily.
The spirits of this age want you to focus on your particular “bent” getting your eyes off Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
The Spirit of Grace and Mercy and Truth wants you to focus on Christ and your regeneration by the Holy Spirit!
I would end with these Words of Scripture the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus:::>
Tit 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
Tit 3:2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Tit 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
Tit 3:4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
Tit 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Tit 3:6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Tit 3:7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Amen!!
PJ,
Thanks for posting the video. Great message and presentation!
Grace and peace be with you.