Over One Million United Methodists Quit Church Overnight Over Sex Rule Change

originally posted by: grey580


The pronoun thing is a bit much at times. But if it makes someone feel better. Then why not.

What happened to free speech and it’s on the person if they are offended?

originally posted by: grey580
Which pornographic books are in elementary schools? Can you give me titles?

Florida school board forced to remove dozens of books after parents read 'graphic' passages aloud

www.foxnews.com...

In one viral video posted to social media, Pastor John K. Amanchukwu Sr. was interrupted by the board while reading the book "13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher.

"As if letting him finger me was going to cure all my problems," Amanchukwu Sr. read from the book.

"Sir, I'll stop you there," one board member responded.

When Amanchukwu Sr. continued reading from the book, security swiftly escorted him away from the microphone.

Another parent was cut off while attempting to read a passage from the book "Living Dead Girl" by Elizabeth Scott, describing an incident where an adolescent is pushed and has her pants forcibly removed.

"We are adults and if there are children out there. I understand that. I understand that. But we don't want to be reading that aloud," Indian River County School Board Chairwoman Dr. Peggy Jones told the parent.


www.foxnews.com...

New Jersey library moves sexually explicit book to adult section, angering LGBTQ activists
'Gender Queer' topped the American Library Association's most challenged book list in 2022
By Kristine Parks Fox News
Published July 18, 2023 9:00pm EDT

www.foxnews.com...

a reply to: grey580

I would do some screenshots of the books, but they probably wouldn’t meet the community standards of ATS…..

a reply to: Shoshanna

"I feel like the churches and religions have been corrupted by Satan."

As prophesized in the Bible when the end draws near. It goes right along with persecution of religious people.

a reply to: grey580

The OP isn't about gays being hated, it's about leaving because they're allowed to give sermons.

I would've left as well.

a reply to: Lazy88

I really feel like they're about 500 years off on this one starting, and the increments can probably be every 10 years instead of 1,000 at the rate we're falling.

a reply to: Lazy88

Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences. Just ask Kapernick.

The first article you linked does not mention elementary schools.

And the last article talks about a public library.

a reply to: LSU2018

There's plenty of closeted Catholic Priests giving sermons...... no one cares from what I can see.

But I guess. If Methodists don't want to be sermoned by a gay priest. Then that's their business.

originally posted by: MrGashler
a reply to: chr0naut

It's rather odd to find myself agreeing with you, but I do.

I personally don't believe that homosexuality is a sin. I don't feel that it fits into the greater narrative of how God is portrayed. Homosexuality is not a choice. But if it is a sin, then they were created to sin as a feature of their very nature. This seems wrong to me, but I don't claim to be a theologist.

They did a lot of studies of LGBTQ+ people during the pandemic and the 3 major points they gleaned from it was:

1) Solitary contempation helped people feel safer about coming out
2) Members that had never had relations with the opposite sex found themselves in or wanting relations with the opposite sex at somewhere between 26 and 31%
3) Less social judgment led to many (35%) changing into "normal dating habits"

You can make any conclusions based on those findings and we can argue about why and what it means, but what it seems like to me is that people are making a "choice" when it comes to these lifestyles. Not that really should change anything.

The fact of the matter is the Bible as it is today is not what was actually written then, it has pieces missing, parts edited, and portions rewritten. Jesus taught that God wanted you to worship him, didn't matter how you did it, but that didn't get churches paid. I suggest you go out into a quiet, open field and pray and see what God tells you about sin. I think Wiccans have it right when it comes to worship and churches have corporitized religion.

originally posted by: grey580


Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences. Just ask Kapernick.

Which is different than people wanting to enforce pronoun usage with hate laws.

originally posted by: grey580

The first article you linked does not mention elementary schools.

And the last article talks about a public library.

And yet books that can’t be read in public are books targeting children. Books found in the children’s section.

Fort Worth ISD removes 3 books deemed 'too graphic' for younger students

www.fox4news.com...

"Gender Queer" is one of several highly controversial LGBTQ books Fort Worth ISD says it had in some elementary and middle school libraries.

a reply to: Lazy88

Which is different than people wanting to enforce pronoun usage with hate laws.

Just claim a religious exemption then. Your religion doesn't allow pronoun usage. Should exempt you from the requirements.

And yet books that can’t be read in public are books targeting children. Books found in the children’s section.

I am wary of this. How did the books get purchased and added to a elementary school library? Was it a mistake? Was the book planted? Is no one looking at the book ratings? So many questions to ask that we don't have answers to. And man the virtue signaling is strong here.

Everyone should be allowed to attend church, even the worst of the worst of us. And of course we are all sinners..

However, not everyone should be allowed to lead a church. A person living a sinful lifestyle, without repentance should not be a pastor. An alcoholic should
not be a pastor any more than a man living a gay
lifestyle. It's pretty simple.

originally posted by: Lazy88

originally posted by: TzarChasm
a reply to: FlyersFan

Churches are not a conduit, not a vendor, not a court. They represent a facsimile of the relationship between human and cosmos, mortal and divine. Remove the facsimile and discover true spirituality.

Try using the copyrighted material and Methodist Cross of the Methodist church for your own personal use and get back to me.

Copyright and manmade symbols of spiritual authority = facsimile

Liberate your mind from artificial constructs.

originally posted by: grey580
There's plenty of closeted Catholic Priests giving sermons...... no one cares from what I can see.

The problem isn't with being gay. That's not a sin. The problem is with being ACTIVELY gay. That involves having sexual relations outside of marriage and, according to the bible, that's a sin no matter if you are gay or straight.

a reply to: grey580

The supposed difference is, catholic priests are don't have sex. They may have those desires, but they don't act on them.

Kinda weird how catholic priest sex scandals picked up after gay priests were allowed into the ministry.

But of course, that is going to hurt feelings. Not sorry.

The point being a gay methodist priest can be married and having sex. That is allowing your priest to live in active sin. Which means they don't live a biblical life. Which means they should not lead.

a reply to: FlyersFan

Like I said before. There's a bunch of things in the Bible that people regularly ignore that are sins. Calling someone a fool is a sin. Divorce is a sin. Not loving your neighbor as yourself. Being a Workaholic. Etc.

ee5fcc47c77f8b0abe07-686e11708c76f836b90a9b9df2c4a268.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com...

Abominable – Rev 21:8 Addiction – Eph 5:18 Adultery – Gal 5:19-21, Matt 19:18-19 Anxiety – Phil 14:6 Apathy – Rev 3:15-16 Argumentative – Rom 16:17 Bigotry – 1Tim 5:21 Backbiters – Rom 1:26-32 Bitterness – Eph 4:31 Blasphemy – Mark 7:21-22 Boasters – Rom 1:26-32 Calling people a fool – Matt 5:22 Cheating – Prov 11:1, 12:22 Chronic lateness – Gal 5:14, 1Cor 13:5 Coarse joking – Eph 5:4 Covenant breakers – Rom 1:26-32 Covetousness – Rom 1:26-32 Criticism – Heb 10:24 Debate – Rom 1:26-32 Deceit – Rom 1:26-32 Depression – Gal 5:22 Despiteful – Rom 1:26-32 Defilers – 1Tim 1:9-10 Disobedient – 1Tim 1:9-10, to parents – Rom 1:26-32 Dissension – Rom 16:17 Divorce (except for sexual immorality)– Matt 5:32 Drunkenness - Gal 5:19-21, Eph 5:18 Emulations (ambition or endeavor to equal or excel others) – Gal 5:19-21 Envy – Gal 5:19-21, Prov 14:30 Evil Thoughts – Mark 7:21-22 Fearful – Rev 21:8 Foolish Talk – Eph 5:4 Fornication – Gal 5:19-21 Greed – Eph 5:3, Luke 12:15 Gluttony – 1Cor 10:31, 2Peter 1:2-7 Haters of God - Rom 1:26-32 Hatred – Gal 5:19-21 Heresies - Gal 5:19-21 Homosexuality – Rom 1:26-32, 1Tim 1:9-10 Hypocrisy – Matt 7:5 Idolatry – Gal 5:19-21, Col 3:5 Immorality – Eph 5:5, 1Cor5:1 Implacable (cannot be calmed)– Rom 1:26-32 Inventors of evil things – Rom 1:26-32 Jealousy - James 3:13 Lasciviousness (unbridled lust, shamelessness) – Gal 5:19-21 Lawless – 1Tim 1:9-10 Lust - Rom 1:26-32, Matt 5:28 Lying – Bear False witness – Matt 19:18-19, 1Tim 1:9-10 Maliciousness - Rom 1:26-32 Ungodly – 1Tim 1:9-10 Malignity (disposition to do evil, malice) – Rom 1:26-32 Materialism – Col 3:5 Murder – Gal 5:19-21, Matt 19:18-19 Negativism – Col 3:10 Neglect God’s Word – Ps 1:2, 119:11 Neglect Prayer – 1Thes 5:17 No Concern for the Lost – 2Tim 3:1-4 No Faith – Luke 12:28 No trust in God – Ps 37:5 Non-repentance – Luke 13:3; Prov 28:13 Not honoring your father and mother – Matt 19:18-19 Not loving your neighbor as yourself – Matt 19:18-19 Occult involvement – Gal 5:20 Passivity – James 4:17 Pornography – Matt 5:28 Prejudice – 1Tim 5:21 Pride – Rom 1:26-32, Jer 9:23-24, Prov 8:13 Perjuring (willfully making a false statement) – 1Tim 1:9-10 Procrastination – Prov 13:4, 15:19 Profanity – 1Tim 1:9-10, Eph 4:29 Quenching the Holy Spirit – Eph 4:30 Rebellion to authority – 1Sam 15:23 Resentment – Eph 4:31 Revellings (to revel in luxury, wild party) - Gal 5:19-21 Seditions (violence against lawful civil authority)– Gal 5:19-21 Selfishness – Gal 2:20 Slander – Eph 4:31 Sloth – Prov 6:6 Speaking Obscenities – Eph 5:4 Stealing – Matt 19:18-19 Strife – Gal 5:19-21 Unbelieving – Rev 21:8 Uncleanness - Gal 5:19-21, Eph 5:3-7 Unforgiving – Matt 6:12 Unmerciful – Rom 1:26-32 Unrighteousness – Rom 1:26-32 Unholy – 1Tim 1:9-10 Vanity – Mark 7:22, 2Cor 5:12 Variance – Gal 5:19-21 Whisperers/Gossipy – Rom 1:26-32, 2Cor 7:20 Wickedness – Rom 1:26-32 Witchcraft – Gal 5:19-21 Without natural affection – Rom 1:26-32 Without understanding – Rom 1:26-32 Whoremongers (Greek - sexual immorality) – 1Tim 1:9-10 Worry – Matt 10:19; 13:21 Workaholic – Matt 6:31-33, 6:19-21 Wrath – Gal 5:19-21, Rom 12:19

But sure. Pick and choose folks.

a reply to: theatreboy

The supposed difference is, catholic priests are don't have sex. They may have those desires, but they don't act on them.

Kinda weird how catholic priest sex scandals picked up after gay priests were allowed into the ministry.

How did you write that with a straight face?

The point being a gay methodist priest can be married and having sex. That is allowing your priest to live in active sin. Which means they don't live a biblical life. Which means they should not lead.

Meh I don't really care. I'm not into mysticism. If they don't want to hear sermons from gay people. Well that's their business. I just find is silly that people follow some of the Bible but ignore certain aspects of it. Especially the inconvenient sins.

originally posted by: grey580


Just claim a religious exemption then.

How does that work when hate crimes are enforced. Still not addressing freedom of speech.

originally posted by: grey580

I am wary of this. How did the books get purchased and added to a elementary school library? Was it a mistake? Was the book planted? Is no one looking at the book ratings? So many questions to ask that we don't have answers to. And man the virtue signaling is strong here.

It’s called agenda. And no attempt at transparency by certain school boards, schools, and the teachers unions. Like when it was lied critical race theory wasn’t being taught in schools until it was proven critical race theory was being taught.

originally posted by: grey580
I just find is silly that people follow some of the Bible but ignore certain aspects of it. Especially the inconvenient sins.

So we should own slaves like most of the societies through human history?

Again. It’s sad to see people confuse the drive of sex to maintain a species as “love”, and see that drive somehow changed to lust for the same sex titled as love. When there are higher forms of love and sacrifice that are not bound by lust.

a reply to: grey580

Maybe sex for the human race is like food and appetite.

There is a reason we have an appetite. We need to eat. But there is a world of difference between lusting over just sweets than maintaining a healthy diet. same for love. Love isn’t feeding your lust.

originally posted by: Disgusted123
Oh My!

And my life changed how? That's right it didn't.

Hard to get all worked up over this. Christians seem to believe what's convenient for them at the time and all the rest is dismissed. Like for example, adultery. That's an actual commandment. No one bats an eye, because if they all left because of adultery, no one would be there.

It's true.

Among other things, but everyones obsessed with gays.

What I find interesting is that gay priests are what get religious peoples panties in a twist, when the clergy is filled with sexual predators and pedo who repeatedly get busted diddling kids and sexual abusing adults, but instead of outrage, the church wants everyone to forgive and move on. But duh gayz.......

I guess I dont share in Christian morals since I believe being a predator is way worse than being gay.

Of course people leaving over gays is nothing compared to the numbers who have left the church altogether because they questioned it or realized it was just a big mind control money grab. Religion overall is in decline, this will probably just speed it up.