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Megachurch Pastor Comes Out Of Closet

Boo Radley said:
Ahhh, but what does that mean? Eating too much will lead me to distruction. Sounds like a warning many could make today. ;)
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Hehehe, it is actually much simpler than that. In context we know exactly what he is talking about...

Matthew 7:13-20 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

It is clear we are to follow the law as set down, and not listen to false profits.
 
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^ The trick is discovering who are the false prophets and who are not.
 
Your Star said:
^ The trick is discovering who are the false prophets and who are not.
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There is no trick to this. The passage I posted tells you how...

Matthew 7:15-20 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

It is pretty simple.
 
Blackdog said:
There is no trick to this. The passage I posted tells you how...

Matthew 7:15-20 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

It is pretty simple.
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Like I said that's the trick, recognizing them.

I wouldn't consider this pastor a false prophet, but other people may, nothing is ever so cut and dry.
 
Your Star said:
Like I said that's the trick, recognizing them.

I wouldn't consider this pastor a false prophet, but other people may, nothing is ever so cut and dry.
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It is very cut and dry. No profits are alive today, not one.

He is not one and never was, he is just a man. Do you understand what a profit is according to Christianity?
 
Blackdog said:
It is very cut and dry. No profits are alive today, not one.

He is not one and never was, he is just a man. Do you understand what a profit is according to Christianity?
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I assumed you were talking about the pastor in which the thread is about, if not my bad. And if your talking about a prophet as in one who predicts thing's that happen, then my point is moot. But if you mean prophet as in someone who preaches about religious doctrine, then I'll stand by my statement.
 
Your Star said:
I assumed you were talking about the pastor in which the thread is about, if not my bad. And if your talking about a prophet as in one who predicts thing's that happen, then my point is moot. But if you mean prophet as in someone who preaches about religious doctrine, then I'll stand by my statement.
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I was talking about the pastor insofar as following the narrow path and interpretation of the Bible quote. I never implied he was a profit or other than what he is. My response was to to Boo Radly, and you must have missed the point.

No biggie.
 
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Blackdog said:
Hehehe, it is actually much simpler than that. In context we know exactly what he is talking about...

Matthew 7:13-20 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

It is clear we are to follow the law as set down, and not listen to false profits.
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Which laws? Pork? ;)

Certianly murder isn't something we should do. But homosexuality, for example, is not listed as a law anywhere. Amny different rules are discussed or suggested at times, but manyb have gone by the wayside as times have changed and the reason they were invoke has become unneeded.
 
Boo Radley said:
Which laws? Pork? ;)
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No. And you know that is incorrect for any reasonable person.

Boo Radley said:
Certianly murder isn't something we should do. But homosexuality, for example, is not listed as a law anywhere. Amny different rules are discussed or suggested at times, but manyb have gone by the wayside as times have changed and the reason they were invoke has become unneeded.
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Yes it is, by Paul directly. And Jesus set down the law for marriage directly. Just because they do not use the modern term for it means nothing really. You are trying to change the word for your own benefit rather than glorifying it. This goes against everything Jesus taught.

Now are you going to respond to my actual point or continue with stepping to the way side?

Going to have to wait my friend, I need to run out.

So God bless and I will respond later on.
 
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Blackdog said:
No. And you know that is incorrect for any reasonable person.



Yes it is, by Paul directly. And Jesus set down the law for marriage directly. Just because they do not use the modern term for it means nothing really. You are trying to change the word for your own benefit rather than glorifying it. This goes against everything Jesus taught.

Now are you going to respond to my actual point or continue with stepping to the way side?

Going to have to wait my friend, I need to run out.

So God bless and I will respond later on.
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Actually, Jesus didn't. He merely said not to destroy someone's marriage. He acceptedthe current version of marrigae, but did not say we could not define another version. Though I honestly didn't see your more recent links connected to that one.
 
Boo Radley said:
Actually, Jesus didn't. He merely said not to destroy someone's marriage. He acceptedthe current version of marrigae, but did not say we could not define another version. Though I honestly didn't see your more recent links connected to that one.
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Jesus makes it very clear that those who follow Him and aspire to His Kingdom have an obligation to obey and uphold God's law. He is saying that we cannot diminish from the law of God by even a jot or tittle (sermon on the mount.) This is in direct contradiction to your statements.

'God made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.'

Notice he did not say...

"God created them male and male. For a man shall leave his father and be joined to his husband, and the two shall become one flesh"

Not to mention what Paul wrote. People seem to take what he/she wants from the Bible, and leaves the rest if it does not agree with the secular view. This is wrong according to scripture.

Paul was a true profit, and his word was God's law and he clearly (as you mentioned) states which is which. You can ignore it, and follow the worldly path, but as I have shown, that is not correct according to scripture.

I guess we are done as you have yet to answer or reply to the scripture I posted, or address my answers other than to say you don't agree with no evidence.

So I will agree to disagree and not hijack the thread any longer.

Have a good one.
 
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Boo Radley said:
Which laws? Pork? ;)
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The problem with this is that the dietary laws of the Old Testment were specifically repealed. There is no contradiction in that. Nothing in the Bible, to my knowledge, states that sexual sins are suddenly ok. :)

...just wanted to correct you on that point. Carry on. :peace
 
theangryamerican said:
The problem with this is that the dietary laws of the Old Testment were specifically repealed. There is no contradiction in that. Nothing in the Bible, to my knowledge, states that sexual sins are suddenly ok. :)

...just wanted to correct you on that point. Carry on. :peace
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All of the Old Testament laws were repealed with the new covenant with Christ.
 
Your Star said:
All of the Old Testament laws were repealed with the new covenant with Christ.
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Why not just say it: sin isn't a sin anymore. this "sin" is now a figment of God's imaginition, because we feel like better christians that way. :rolleyes:
 
Your Star said:
All of the Old Testament laws were repealed with the new covenant with Christ.
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That's only partially correct. Most Old Testament laws were all repealed with the exception of those that were reiterated in the New Testament, sexual immorality being among those that was not lifted. Certain things in the Bible are just hard-line nonnegotiables. Basically, the laws that were lifted were related to the sacrificial/covenant relationship that God made with His Chosen People.
 
Your Star said:
All of the Old Testament laws were repealed with the new covenant with Christ.
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No. The Law was fulfilled, not repealed. We, who believe, live under grace. The Law is not done away with though. Just our relationship to it has changed.

The book of Romans deals with this tension very explicitly, and even instructs what to do when there is no clear scriptural direction given (Chapter 14), though there is much clarity on this issue under both covenants.

It is clear to me through the Old and New Testaments, and via the Holy Spirit who lives in me that I must avoid sexual immorality. And it is difficult for every man I know... this can be a lifelong struggle. It is also clear that sex with my own gender is not something that brings glory to my creator.
 
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Your Star said:
All of the Old Testament laws were repealed with the new covenant with Christ.
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That's like saying Verizon retracted the bill when you paid it (btw Verizon ftw kthxbylol)
 
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danarhea said:
Kudos to Jim Swilley for disowning hypocrisy and being honest, not only to his parishioners, but to himself as well. Yes, Jesus loves gays too. He only hates hypocrites.

Well done, pastor, and God bless you.

Article is here.
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This is a pretty long thread, but has anyone pointed out the irony that while gays can't get married he's a gay who can marry straight couples?
 
samsmart said:
This is a pretty long thread, but has anyone pointed out the irony that while gays can't get married he's a gay who can marry straight couples?
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Wow you're right, he should be kicked out of the church immediately. That would fix it.
 
DarkWizard12 said:
I don't know many gay people that can marry a woman, much less, father 4 children...I guess at most, he could be bi.
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My mom's best friend was gay. Everybody knew it, but they all thought that it was a sin, and he 'lost the battle'. They had three children. They were together until the day he died.
 
Blackdog said:
Jesus makes it very clear that those who follow Him and aspire to His Kingdom have an obligation to obey and uphold God's law. He is saying that we cannot diminish from the law of God by even a jot or tittle (sermon on the mount.) This is in direct contradiction to your statements.

'God made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.'

Notice he did not say...

"God created them male and male. For a man shall leave his father and be joined to his husband, and the two shall become one flesh"

Not to mention what Paul wrote. People seem to take what he/she wants from the Bible, and leaves the rest if it does not agree with the secular view. This is wrong according to scripture.

Paul was a true profit, and his word was God's law and he clearly (as you mentioned) states which is which. You can ignore it, and follow the worldly path, but as I have shown, that is not correct according to scripture.

I guess we are done as you have yet to answer or reply to the scripture I posted, or address my answers other than to say you don't agree with no evidence.

So I will agree to disagree and not hijack the thread any longer.

Have a good one.
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What you write above seems more you reading your view into those words. Those words are not as clear as you think. He speaks to a majority, but does nto go as far as you do in your assumption. You may be right, but you may also be wrong. After all, if as many believe homosexuals are born with that predisposition, then they too were created by God. As God also states in Gen. 2:18 that it is not good for man to be alone, we should not expect the homosexual to suffer needlessly.

I don't mind a little diversion now and again, so thanks for the effort. But we do disagree. ;)
 
theangryamerican said:
The problem with this is that the dietary laws of the Old Testment were specifically repealed. There is no contradiction in that. Nothing in the Bible, to my knowledge, states that sexual sins are suddenly ok. :)

...just wanted to correct you on that point. Carry on. :peace
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We can pick others. And if you're reading, I say the Bible says nothing about homosexuality. The sin notion is either linked to pagan rituals or added, like in Romans, by King James. I gave a link for an overview of this, buit a more complete look might require going to a library and reading books written on this.
 
This is not necesssarily all that noble. This guy lies somewhere on the scale from gay as hell to bi-sexual to a testerone monster. You cannot do much to change where you end up on that scale but we certainly have choices in sexual behavior. I seriously don't think everyone needs to explore the gay and hetero side of that equation to be fulfilled in life. I wish things would have been different for him when he was younger but he made a commitment and if he could live with it for 21 years it was still his choice to continue the commitment or not. If he now plans to have sex with men then indeed coming out publicly was necessary in his position. But if he planned to continue to live according to the teachings of his church it is irrelevant.
 
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