JESUS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY!

THE ASSEMBLY COMES TO TOWN Its all go tomorrow in Edinburgh, as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland comes to town. I think it is quite an impressive spectacle especially for those commissioners who are facing the experience for the first time. However the Assembly Arrangements committee have been working hard at educating the commissioners. this year along with the Blue Book we also received a DVD which was full of good practical information including a tour round the building  and a message from the Moderator.  For most ministers its a chance to catch up with friends and hear in greater detail about the wide range of work with which the church is involved. jesuassemblyThe trouble is that for many this will be a one issue Assembly but the truth is that we cannot allow ourselves to be side tracked into a one issue mentality. However I am not saying that the whole issue of sexuality is unimportant, it clearly isn't it has massive implications and touches many areas of theology and life.. All I am highlighting is the danger of becoming obsessed with one issue that we don't see the wood for the trees. I'm praying that we will all see and hear  and even recognise Jesus when he comes to the Assembly this week. Roland Porchmouth, a famous Church of Scotland Minister once painted a picture of Jesus at the Assembly. I used the picture in a Book of Prayers I wrote over 20 years ago. the thing is the picture says it all. I just wish I had it in colour. CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS IN DYNAMIC EARTH I'm looking forward to our Church without Walls party which will take place on Friday evening at Dynamic Earth. To date over 200 people have booked up for the event. If you want to come its free go to www.cwwresources.org.uk and book your place. Its going to be an excellent evening. It will be a chance for people from all over the church who are not commissioners to attend a fringe event of the Assembly and to engage with  the atmosphere that it engenders. Check this out below a new feature on the blog. BOGLE"S  SCRIPTURE PARAPHRASE See if you just calm down you'll be able to live through all of this safely, and you'll have a feeling of peace that will be so quiet that you won't fear evil.  Proverbs 1.33

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Posted By: Paul   On: 22 May 2009   At: 3:00am

I think it should come down to the recognition of the fact that people are born gay, just as I was born straight.  There is no choice in the matter, only the unfortunate choice to deceive your friends family and essentially live a lie.  I cannot as a Christian ask someone to live a lie.  That is a much worse sin.  We have to recognise the fact that people do not choose to be gay, nor can they be groomed into becoming it.  They simply are.  For me the church should realise that they are missing out on some good Christians who’s only so called failing is to find love in a member of the same gender.  This is what drives people away from the Church.  Why can’t Gay people have their civil partnerships blessed by a minister?  They want to make to the same commitment.  Instead they get turned away… my friends instead had what essentially was a pagan ritual to bless their union, even though both believe in Christianity.  The Church lost 2 good men.  They had lost them before, but that only confirmed it.  How many men and women are we going to turn away over something so small?  We are much more than our sexual appetites.  So much more.  Why do we judge them so much on theirs?

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Posted By: italker   On: 21 May 2009   At: 11:59pm

Paul the issue at hand it complicated in that the church is wrestling with the notion of authority. Who decides what is appropriate sexual behaviour? Is it the individual, is it society, is it the Bible? This is the crux of the arguement. If we say a loving stable relationship is what makes a sexual relationship acceptable and agreeable, it is not enough because their are so many inappropriate relationships that society as a whole still have agreed as inappropriate yet their champions are justifying their actions by saying they are loving and committed.

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Posted By: Paul   On: 21 May 2009   At: 11:27pm

The problem with the issue which is really about the Churches acceptance of Gay men and women is that it has all been blown out of proportion thanks to the American style of politics within the church.  I myself am not gay, but i will proudly say that I have openly gay friends who are extremely ANGRY at the church.  They are people who in many ways WANT to be Christian, but are denied their faith because of church policies on the subject.  I personally think that there is hypocrisy in the anti gay attitudes of Christians famously summed up in the open letter to Dr Laura Schlessinger which I will quote at the end.

I think the controversy is overblown, but also it is a stopping block that needs to be broken down.  We need to welcome our gay brothers and sisters into the church, as long as their partnerships are based on love I see no problem with them.

——-Quote——-

  Dear Dr. Laura,

 

  Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

 

  I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

 

  a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

 

  b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

 

  c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

 

  d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?

 

  e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

 

  f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?

 

  g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

 

  h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

 

  i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

 

  j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

 

  I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

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