I would just like to point out that Pastor Andy does not give one scriptural reference! NOT ONE! This is the direction that the majority of the Church of Christ seems to be heading. Let's be Christians without the bible. Well I say Wrong!

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Pastor Andy says:
We are a Bible church, and as the scriptures would never affirm a gay
relationship as good and acceptable to God, neither would we.

But he never points to where in the Bible it specifically states that Homosexuality is a sin.

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9Or (K)do you not know that the unrighteous will not (L)inherit the kingdom of God? (M)Do not be deceived; (N)neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor [a]effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will (O)inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (New American Standard Bible)

9realizing the fact that (A)law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and (B)rebellious, for the (C)ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and (D)profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10and (E)immoral men and (F)homosexuals and (G)kidnappers and (H)liars and (I)perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to (J)sound teaching, 11according to (K)the glorious gospel of (L)the blessed God, with which I have been (M)entrusted. 1 Timothy 1:9-11 (New American Standard Bible)

I believe there is this mistaken notion that people with homosexual tendencies don't have a choice and that isn't fair and God is wrong and unjust to judge them. But it is very plain that homosexuality is sin. But the problem I believe is that it is a very recognizable sin. So people are very plainly confronted with the problem of sin through this particular and very plain sin. That is when we find people either confronting it or trying to cover it. You see, other sins aren't that obviously plain. They aren't a black and white issue. Take the sin of pride. Pride is a very very serious sin. But you don't hear people saying... well I was born with pride and I don't feel that I have a choice whether or not to be prideful, so God is unjust to punish me.

So in a nutshell, what I'm trying to say is that ALL sin is equally as bad and it ALL leads to death. Sin is what is wrong with us, Sin is what we need to address and Sin is what we need to constantly battle with. But people do not want to confront their sin. People hate sin, they don't want to talk about it or deal with it. So naturally we have a tendency to run away from it instead of confronting it and being convicted by it. I'm sorry, I've heard many arguments from liberals for the more pragmatic, less convicting, just focus on the love of Jesus as our Saviour approach. I don't agree with it. It's not edifying, it's autonomous and it never truly helps anyone.

I believe that Gospel must be proclaimed with conviction. The truth of the word is what allows the Holy Spirit to effectually work in the hearts of sinners.

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17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." 1 Corinthians 1:17-31 (New King James Version)

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1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 2 Timothy 4:1-3 (King James Version)


Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16