Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

Why? If you were doing your job of telling them it's a sin and there's something better for their lives then maybe they'd be saved.

You can't have it both ways -- you either own up to your calling and how you feel about homosexuals and try to reach them or stop saying anything at all.

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

She's painting the church with a broad brush.

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

Why is it that when an alcoholic husband comes to church for the first time after years of prayer by both the wife and the church, there is shouting and joy. But when the homosexual grandson of a parishoner shows up, everyone tells their kids to stay away? When the alcoholic husband has a bad night and gets drunk, and asks forgiveness; we put him on the prayer chain. But when the homosexual grandson falls backwards we say, see he was only here to infect our youth??

I have seen and heard this many times. When I was young it was fine to pray for my mom who was a binge drinker, but my uncle who was gay, i was told had committed the unpardonable sin, blasphemed God and had no hope of redemption.

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

Gee, why does the devil need to attack the church?

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

Why do you?

ha ha....lighten up. :razz

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

:thumbsup

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

Actually, just telling them what they do is sin and there is something better for their lives almost never works.

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

Margie, I'd say that I don't feel personally responsible because we have been very adamant with our kids about treating people with kindness no matter who or *what* they are. Our kids know what sin is, but knowing that someone is sinful doesn't give them leave to beat the sinner over the head with the truth.

And you know the kind of people who lead our church! :) There's no way PD/SD or KT/PT would ever endorse being rude or mean to someone because they're homosexual. It's simply not necessary to be mean in order to share the truth with people.

Furthermore, the types of situations in the news go beyond even basic mockery; they are acts of cruelty on the parts of ignorant, malicious young people, and IMO those perpetrators should be dealt with through the legal system. My personal theory is that bullies learn that kind of behavior at home.

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

I think it's a valid question, actually. I hope we aren't raising children in the church who are taught to treat homosexual sinners differently than adulterous sinners. I hope we aren't raising children who would have a cup of coffee with a chronic liar, but would look with disdain upon a lesbian.

What you create is a culture where mistreatment of a certain type of sinner is acceptable and even viewed as humorous.

WWJD? Not that, I'm pretty sure.

EVERY sinner needs a positive encounter with Christ. e.g., they need positive encounters with Christians. Positive influence does not equal acceptance of sin, no matter how some would love to twist it that way.

Berk,

Do you ever hear snide remarks, disdainful or disgusted comments or name calling from Christians about homosexuals? I do. I've known Apostolic children to use the "f_g" word, which is completely off limits as an obscenity as our home. Where do they learn that it's acceptable to use that kind of terminology? Mostly from their parents.

Re: Do you feel at all responsible?
 

No... only on AFF.