.........

[ChuckBob]

With the current make up of the SCOTUS  don't think the state regs as to forcing churches would pass 1st Amend muster.

Warrior Princess, sometimes we are called to a place or a job for a season. I think that is what has happened in your case. That doesn't make the changes any less painful but I hope it helps. When my spirit is troubled the only place I can find solace s the wilderness. I think we may share that trait. Get out for a bit you'll feel better.


ChuckBob

thank you... .. we are actually planning a hunting trip this week.... ....  right now the way the law is... and the way i understand it... the only person or entity that;s totally protected is the pastor or member of clergy himself....... no member of clergy can be required to officiate over a wedding he does not agree with......... but in the original language of the law there was no such exemption... and under that even pastors would be required to perform weddings for gays regardless of what they believed............. i;m sure they knew that wouldn;t pass muster so they reworded it and added some new language even exempting churches if the weddings they performed fit certain criteria..... and the criteria pretty much said if you provides services for any wedding for any reason and take payment for it.... then you must also provide those same services for same sex couples that request it.....

but anyway... i;m definitely getting out and up in the mountain rainforest this week.... there will be kalua pork in the freezer by this time next sunday....

Be careful and good hunting! May your arrows fly swift and true.

ChuckBob

 

[ALAYMAN]

And if Christians are persecuted, then how is that a "bad" thing?

If persecution is something that brings blessing, why are we complaining about it?

A little eisigesis goin' on here Smellin'.  Is there somewhere in Scripture that we are commanded to pray for or seek persecution?  Our reaction to persecution ought to be to trust the Lord to use it for his glory, but to imply that we ought to seek to be martyred/persecuted is like saying that we ought to revel in imprecatory prayers.

(General statement and not directed toward any individual.) As Americans, we have many choices. I do not criticize aleshanee for her choice and perhaps I would have made the same one if it were in my shoes. The overall picture that is disturbing to me is this:

1. We complain about that which could possibly bring glory from God and try to avoid it.
2. We have made the church into a corporation and want to defy legislation that affects corporations.
3. At times, we hide our personal discriminations in the cloak of religious behaviors. (Should gay people be allowed to make purchases at church cafes?)

In essence, we want governmental approval so as to avoid taxation but don't want it when it comes to our choosing who and who not to do what in our congregation. Being of Libertarian bent, I am opposed to government dictating what individual churches should do. However, we have created this Frankenstein monster which has run amok and criticize those that are trying to destroy it when they are the ones living in fear.

Christianity ought to be the FIRST place discriminated people should turn to for support rather than the first place to attack. The fact we are seen as a position of conflict proves how much we have strayed from the teachings of Christ and His command to love our enemies. Like the Priest and Levite, we are afraid of defilement in worship by allowing ourselves to "touch the unclean" when we should be lending aid. Oh, and abandonment is not equivalent to aid, IMHO.

So where do we stand? Vote as God leads and love as God has commanded, which means loving those that persecute us.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.  Contrarily, the further we drift from the Lord the less blessings there will be.  I don't look forward to corporate cursing.  I'd rather we repent and glorify God by obedience, rather than become an example like Tyre, or Sodom.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.  Contrarily, the further we drift from the Lord the less blessings there will be.  I don't look forward to corporate cursing.  I'd rather we repent and glorify God by obedience, rather than become an example like Tyre, or Sodom.

You mean the flat Tyre?

3 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. 4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers; I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.

 

[ALAYMAN]

You mean the flat Tyre?

<rimshot>


Don't tell me.  You'll be here all week, right?

 

[Binaca Chugger]

didn't read through every post - wanted to comment on the OP:

Aleshanee, you made the right decision. It is difficult to recognize your own church as a place of such intense immorality and having to leave your fellowship of Christian friends is not fun.  bravo.