Tag Archives: traditionalist methodist

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Can Same-sex Marriage Be Consecrated by the Word of God and Prayer

UMC Split

 

Lubber OpinionLubber Opinion

The views and opinions expressed by this lubber do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the crew. Reader discretion be advised. – Staff

 

Hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron, forbid people to marry. For everything God created is good. Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:3, 4-5

If nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, then can same-sex marriage be consecrated when bathed in the word of God and prayer?

If clergy—who are ordained, set apart, and elevated above laity, consider a couple to be united in holy communion—then on what grounds could a believer possibly object to the wedding of a same-sex couple?

Finally, is it hypocritical for heterosexual believers who live in ungodly ways to prevent same-sex couples from marrying?

With these few verses to Timothy, the Apostle Paul seems to suggest that those in the church of Ephesus needed to check their own spirit before preventing others from marrying. Do these verses support same-sex marriage? 

Once a can of worms is opened, it’s hard to put the little ones back in the can.

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Hold Onto That Loving Feeling

UMC Split — Can the UMC Denomination Avoid Divorce?

Lubber OpinionLubber Opinion

The views and opinions expressed by this lubber do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the crew. Reader discretion be advised. – Staff

 

“I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” – the words of Jesus from Revelation 2:4-5

The church in Ephesus started out well enough, but over time it fell out of love. With whom or what, Jesus does not say, but we might suspect it is the Lord himself. Christ is, after all, the groom and his Church, the bride. Perhaps he sensed those in Ephesus had lost that loving feeling.

In chapter four of his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes: “Live a life worthy of the calling you received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is but one body and one Spirit. Speak the truth in love.“

Paul went on to say: “So I tell you, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do. In the futility of their thinking they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more. Therefore, put off falsehood and speak truthfully, for we are all members of one body. Speak only what is helpful for building others up. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Be imitators of God and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us.”

“Among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or greed. These are improper for God’s holy people. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.”

Later Paul wrote these words to his spiritual son Timothy. “The goal of [my] command is love. Love comes from a pure heart. Love comes from a good conscience. Love comes from a sincere faith. We know the law is good if one uses it properly.” What Paul did not say, but which he may have hinted at with his command to love is this: “The law is good if one uses it properly in LOVE.”

“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 15:15

Our calling is to proclaim the Gospel of God and the core of God’s good news is redemption. Christ saves us from sin, error, and evil. This is why he came and died.

Love first, love second, love last. Knowing about sin, reciting a list of sins, never saved anyone. Only the love of God as shown through the sacrifice of his Son saves.

Avoid sin, yes, but never avoid loving others. Be perfect as Christ is perfect and as much as it depends on you, live a life worthy of the calling you received.

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Christian Owner’s Manual: Advice from and Acts of Jesus

Mark Chapter 10

Mark Chapter 10“Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.” Mark 10:17

Jesus looked at the rich man and loved him. Mark 10:21

Jesus found nothing but leaves on the fig tree because it was not the season for figs. “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” The next morning the fig tree was withered from the roots. “Have faith in God! I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go! Throw yourself into the sea.’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” Mark 10:13-14 and 20-23.

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Christian Owner’s Manual: Advice from and Acts of Jesus

Mark Chapter 9

Mark Chapter 9After six days Jesus went up on a high mountain. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. There appeared with Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. A voice came from within the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:2,3,7

Jesus gave the disciples orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until he had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9

“How long shall I stay with you?” Mark 9:23

“How long shall I put up with you?” Mark 9:23

“Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mark 9:23

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me.” Mark 9:37

“No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me. Whoever is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:39-40

“In hell their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. Everyone will be salted with fire. Have salt in yourself and be at peace with each other.” Mark 9:48-50

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Christian Owner’s Manual: Advice from and Acts of Jesus

Mark Chapter 8

Mark Chapter 8Jesus gave thanks for the seven loaves. Mark 8:6

Jesus gave thanks for the few small fish. Mark 8:7

Afterward the disciples picked up seven baskets of broken pieces. Mark 8:8

“Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees.” Mark 8:15

“Do you still not see?” Mark 8:17

“Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:21

“Are your hearts hardened?” Mark 8:21

“Do your ears fail to hear?” Mark 8:21

“Don’t you remember?” Mark 8:21

“Get behind me Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Mark 8:33

“Whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Mark 8:35

“What can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:37

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Adam will be ashamed of him.” Mark 8:38

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Christian Owner’s Manual: Advice from and Acts of Jesus

Mark Chapter 7

Mark Chapter 7“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” Mark 7:8

“You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions.” Mark 7:9

“Nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean.'” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”) Mark 7:18-19

“What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within a man’s heart comes evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside a man and make him ‘unclean.'” Mark 7:20-23

Jesus entered a house and did not want anyone to know it. Yet, he could not keep his presence a secret. Mark 7:24

The mother of a girl possessed by an evil spirit begged Jesus to drive out the demon. Mark 7:25-26 “For such a reply,” said Jesus, “you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” The woman went home and the demon was gone. Mark 7:29-30

Jesus put his fingers into the ears of a deaf man. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. Jesus looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh, said, “Be opened!” And the man’s ears were opened. His tongue was loosened. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about him. Mark 7:33-37

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Christian Owner’s Manual: Advice from and Acts of Jesus

Mark Chapter 6

Mark Chapter 6“Only in his hometown, among his relatives and his own house, is a prophet without honor.” Mark 6: 4

Because of the unbelief in his hometown, Jesus could not do any miracles there, except to lay hands on a few of the sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Mark 6: 5-6

“If any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave as a testimony against them.” Mark 6: 11

His disciples went out and preached that people should repent. Mark 6: 2