Post by Clipper on May 12, 2024 12:18:15 GMT -5
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We went out to eat with two other couples to celebrate the birthday of one of the group. One of the couples goes to a non-denominational Christian fellowship and the other couple are faithful long time members of a local Methodist congregation. Somehow the conversation drifted to a religious issue that was troubling the Methodist couple. The Methodist woman mentioned a brewing unrest of some of the members of their congregation following the changes to LGTBQ issues and she was in a total panic at the prospects that at some point the Bishop may send them a LGTBQ or gay pastor or that the pastor might perform a wedding for two same sex individuals. The Methodist church doesn't call or hire their pastors. They are appointed and assigned by a Bishop. Their church had become sharply divided between the conservative and the liberal believers.
ON the other hand the "born again" couple that attends a non-denominational Christian Fellowship has a much more hands off view of the issue. They believe in minding their own business and worrying about their OWN souls. They don't judge others or take a stand on such issues, other than to believe that if being gay is a sin or abomination, it is between the gay person and God. Their church seems to be much more inclusive and much less judgmental. Their view is that it would only be an issue if the children were being taught something in Sunday School that was against their own beliefs and that they found offensive. In that case they said that however sad it might be, it would be their prerogative to work around it or move on to a different church that was more in line with their beliefs. I might also mention that in their fellowship a pastor is hired by the congregation and they have the opportunity once a year to vote to keep t he present pastor or to call for a new pastor. Seems that it must be a stressful process for the pastor who has to survive that annual process, in hopes of being retained and not having to find a new congregation and job.
Myself? I have to agree with the Christian Fellowship couple. For me it all comes down to accepting change or just moving on to a church more in line with your personal beliefs. It is my theory that if you don't like what you are hearing in church, just tuck your bible under your arm and move on.
If God demands that we participate in organized religion or subscribe to an established doctrine I guess I will be going to hell for sure. I have a deep belief in God. I also have a deep belief in the power of prayer as a result of a personal and truly life changing, life saving event that took place back in 1976.
I have slowly learned to avoid entering into serious discussion about religion for the most part. Now if I can only get a handle on politics and learn to avoid THOSE discussions my life will be much more peaceful.
Kathy and I just sat and listened for the most part and thank goodness the discussion was brief before moving on to other subjects of conversation.
We went out to eat with two other couples to celebrate the birthday of one of the group. One of the couples goes to a non-denominational Christian fellowship and the other couple are faithful long time members of a local Methodist congregation. Somehow the conversation drifted to a religious issue that was troubling the Methodist couple. The Methodist woman mentioned a brewing unrest of some of the members of their congregation following the changes to LGTBQ issues and she was in a total panic at the prospects that at some point the Bishop may send them a LGTBQ or gay pastor or that the pastor might perform a wedding for two same sex individuals. The Methodist church doesn't call or hire their pastors. They are appointed and assigned by a Bishop. Their church had become sharply divided between the conservative and the liberal believers.
ON the other hand the "born again" couple that attends a non-denominational Christian Fellowship has a much more hands off view of the issue. They believe in minding their own business and worrying about their OWN souls. They don't judge others or take a stand on such issues, other than to believe that if being gay is a sin or abomination, it is between the gay person and God. Their church seems to be much more inclusive and much less judgmental. Their view is that it would only be an issue if the children were being taught something in Sunday School that was against their own beliefs and that they found offensive. In that case they said that however sad it might be, it would be their prerogative to work around it or move on to a different church that was more in line with their beliefs. I might also mention that in their fellowship a pastor is hired by the congregation and they have the opportunity once a year to vote to keep t he present pastor or to call for a new pastor. Seems that it must be a stressful process for the pastor who has to survive that annual process, in hopes of being retained and not having to find a new congregation and job.
Myself? I have to agree with the Christian Fellowship couple. For me it all comes down to accepting change or just moving on to a church more in line with your personal beliefs. It is my theory that if you don't like what you are hearing in church, just tuck your bible under your arm and move on.
If God demands that we participate in organized religion or subscribe to an established doctrine I guess I will be going to hell for sure. I have a deep belief in God. I also have a deep belief in the power of prayer as a result of a personal and truly life changing, life saving event that took place back in 1976.
I have slowly learned to avoid entering into serious discussion about religion for the most part. Now if I can only get a handle on politics and learn to avoid THOSE discussions my life will be much more peaceful.
Kathy and I just sat and listened for the most part and thank goodness the discussion was brief before moving on to other subjects of conversation.
