Ministries to poor children and impoverished families via the Richmond Baptist Association are drying up at an alarming rate. Why? Because one of our churches ordained a gay man. The association (filled with churches that did not agree with the decision) choose to honor their congregational autonomy, not removing them from membership. So dozens of churches - representing a quarter-million dollars - removed their support for the association (to make a stand). The result of the stand means that a camp that shares the gospel with inner city children...and four inner city centers that care for poor families...and social ministries that care for the homeless...and evangelical ministries that share the gospel...and (on and on) ARE now being threatened. Why? Cause making a stand means more than being Jesus to people in serious need. Reminds me of the recent decision by World Vision which Caleb Miller addresses here. What gets me is that some of the churches ordain divorced people to the diaconate and clergy positions. If we want to proof text, there is more passages I could exegete to vote their removal. In fact - there are people who represent all of the seven vices listed in scripture who are serving as ordained pastors and deacons in each of these churches, but nobody is pulling out because of them. I have always found it interesting how churches love preaching against the sins of those around the block and down the street...but NEVER will accept preaching against the sins of those on the third pew up from the foyer in their own congregation. Thats one reason I do not spend a bunch of time preaching against anything. The gospel of grace calls me to preach good news. I have seldom met people who are unaware of their faults, failures, and foibles. There are a bunch of people out there in the world and in the church who are unaware of Gods loving grace and inclusion through Jesus.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 18:55:26 +0000
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