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Presbyterian General Assembly Considers Same Sex Marriage |
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Prayer-Soldier writes "
On 6 Jul 10, OneNewsNow.com posted an Associated Press article which reported that the “General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will consider redefining marriage to include same-sex couples and allowing ministers to perform same-sex weddings.”
According to the Courier-Journal.com, “The Louisville-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) would become the largest denomination in the nation to allow same-sex marriage if it follows a recommendation made Tuesday by a church legislative committee.” The report also related that, “another church committee, gathering for the church's weeklong legislative General Assembly in Minneapolis, recommended the church begin ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians.”
The Courier-Journal.com report speculated that given the committee recommendations would require changes to the church constitution, a ratification vote among regional presbyteries would be needed to achieve the change. The report noted that the regional bodies have repeatedly rejected gay-ordination proposals, but the margin of defeat continues to narrow.
The committee recommendations appear to be seeking to align the church constitution with secular political correctness and changes in the moral course of society rather than considering the inspired scripture of God. The debates, however, are sure to engage discussion of the meaning of scripture such as Genesis 2:20-24, which states, “The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: 'This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken.' That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.”
The debate may also include discussion of the meaning of Romans 1:16-32, where Paul stated to the Christians of Rome, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The one who is righteous by faith will live.'
“The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.
“As a result, they have no excuse; for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes. Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity.
“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper. They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. They are gossips and scandalmongers and they hate God. They are insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious toward their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know the just decree of God that all who practice such things deserve death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”
In a related article, the Courier-Journal.com pointed out that the membership of the Louisville-based Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has fallen by 50% since 1965 and lost nearly 3 percent of members from 2008 to 2009. The reasons indicated in the report for the decline included, low birth rates and aging ranks along with liberal trends in theology, sexuality and politics.
The report quoted Rev. Parker Williamson, editor emeritus of the Layman, a conservative Presbyterian publication. Parker said, "As a denomination moves away from its biblical confessional stance, it leaves people wondering, what does this church stand for?"
The 6 Jul 10 Courier-Journal.com report related, The Episcopal Church allows the ordination of gay clergy and the blessings of same-sex relationships, but not as marriage rites. It also noted that Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, United Methodist, Mormon and other larger denominations hold to the traditional view that marriage is a sacrament between a man and a women and consider homosexual activity as sinful behavior.
[If I were the evil one, seeking to separate the children of God from their Creator, I would wrap deception in layers of truth so falsehood is well disguised. Through bits of words and twists of meaning, I would seek to confuse them. I would tempt them with pieces of knowledge so they think themselves wise in their own understanding. And so it began in the garden and will continue throughout the existence of man. We should not be wise in our own estimation, rather, ask Him for wisdom and understanding so that we are protected from the wolves in sheep's clothing.
If I were the evil one, seeking to separate the children of God from their Creator, and deception was not enough; I would use their weaknesses against them, tempt their leaders to sin, sow divisions amongst them so they would not follow His commandment to love one another and I would send false prophets to confuse them in their faith. Through these means, souls would certainly be lead astray. -- Prayer Soldier]
Cited Articles and Posts
OneNewsNow.com (6 Jul 10)
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Business/Default.aspx?id=1078584
Courier-Journal.com (6 Jul 10)
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100706/NEWS01/7060361
Courier-Journal.com (5 Jul 10)
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100705/FEATURES10/7050334/Presbyterian-Church-U-S-A-membership-down-half-since-65-peak"
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Posted on Wednesday, July 07 @ 00:39:01 MDT by admin
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