Comments on: Bridging the Gap Part Two http://www.DashHouse.com/2009/06/bridging-the-gap-part-two/ "You don't have anything to prove to us or the world. The work is finished at Calvary, and that work has unlimited meaning and value. Keep your focus there." C. John Miller Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:53:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Owen http://www.DashHouse.com/2009/06/bridging-the-gap-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8795 Owen Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:32:45 +0000 http://www.DashHouse.com/?p=4360#comment-8795 I find myself agreeing with Ian -even though I too find myself repulsed by their flagrant flaunting of their lifestyle, I know without a doubt that if Jesus were walking the streets of Toronto, He wouldn't be avoiding them, either. I still have some stretching to do , though....perhaps reading more and more Christ-like attitudes such as Dobson's..... I find myself agreeing with Ian -even though I too find myself repulsed by their flagrant flaunting of their lifestyle, I know without a doubt that if Jesus were walking the streets of Toronto, He wouldn’t be avoiding them, either.
I still have some stretching to do , though….perhaps reading more and more Christ-like attitudes such as Dobson’s…..

]]> By: Jill Childs http://www.DashHouse.com/2009/06/bridging-the-gap-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8793 Jill Childs Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:05:22 +0000 http://www.DashHouse.com/?p=4360#comment-8793 I'm sorry my conscience is violated by viewing the gay pride parade. I saw snippets on the T.V. news once and that was bad enough. Just as there are some things too shameful to speak of there are also some thigns too shameful to see. I don't need to see it to know it is proudly sinful. I tremble that God has given them over to reprobate minds. I’m sorry my conscience is violated by viewing the gay pride parade. I saw snippets on the T.V. news once and that was bad enough. Just as there are some things too shameful to speak of there are also some thigns too shameful to see. I don’t need to see it to know it is proudly sinful. I tremble that God has given them over to reprobate minds.

]]> By: Ian Clary http://www.DashHouse.com/2009/06/bridging-the-gap-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8790 Ian Clary Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:59:50 +0000 http://www.DashHouse.com/?p=4360#comment-8790 I have the privilege of church planting with John Bell in downtown Toronto and am extremely thankful to God for his love for the gospel and for the gay community. I've been very encouraged to read all of the supportive comments at Tim's blog. But I have to say, however, that these two comments here are sad. Shane: there is no doubt that the Lord's day service is primarily for the worship of God by his people. This means that the message preached on a Sunday is one that is faithful to the biblical text and storyline and one that is faithful to the gospel. This is so that God may be glorified and his people edified. But this does not mean that we don't want non-Christians in our midst. Whether homosexuals and homophobes, poor or rich, men and women, old and young, etc. You are right, there may not be any "child abusers parades" in our society, but I'll tell you, in this materialistic culture there sure are a lot of "parades" of wealth, greed, selfishness, gossip, lust, etc. And sadly, these parades are in our churches as well as in our streets. Pride isn't relegated to one community, it is in all of our hearts. It's amazing that you, as a Christian who should understand that sin levels the playing field and that the gospel comes to all regardless, would make such distinctions between gay people and any other community that needs the gospel. Jill: I admit, I've never actually gone to the Pride parade itself. But living downtown in Toronto, you can't escape it. Everywhere you go you are confronted with rainbow flags, drag queens, men kissing men, etc. But I'll tell ya, what the gay community doesn't need is Christians vacating the premises. Sure it may be uncomfortable, but there is a person I know somewhere in history who didn't run from sinners but embraced them. Do you know who I might be thinking of?? If Christians truly love the gospel, truly love Christ and truly love sinners, then how on earth can a Pride parade stop us from demonstrating that love winsomely, unsparingly and carefully? If the person who shared Christ with me ran from me because he knew my sinful heart, where would I be now? I have the privilege of church planting with John Bell in downtown Toronto and am extremely thankful to God for his love for the gospel and for the gay community. I’ve been very encouraged to read all of the supportive comments at Tim’s blog. But I have to say, however, that these two comments here are sad.

Shane: there is no doubt that the Lord’s day service is primarily for the worship of God by his people. This means that the message preached on a Sunday is one that is faithful to the biblical text and storyline and one that is faithful to the gospel. This is so that God may be glorified and his people edified. But this does not mean that we don’t want non-Christians in our midst. Whether homosexuals and homophobes, poor or rich, men and women, old and young, etc.
You are right, there may not be any “child abusers parades” in our society, but I’ll tell you, in this materialistic culture there sure are a lot of “parades” of wealth, greed, selfishness, gossip, lust, etc. And sadly, these parades are in our churches as well as in our streets.
Pride isn’t relegated to one community, it is in all of our hearts. It’s amazing that you, as a Christian who should understand that sin levels the playing field and that the gospel comes to all regardless, would make such distinctions between gay people and any other community that needs the gospel.

Jill: I admit, I’ve never actually gone to the Pride parade itself. But living downtown in Toronto, you can’t escape it. Everywhere you go you are confronted with rainbow flags, drag queens, men kissing men, etc. But I’ll tell ya, what the gay community doesn’t need is Christians vacating the premises. Sure it may be uncomfortable, but there is a person I know somewhere in history who didn’t run from sinners but embraced them. Do you know who I might be thinking of??

If Christians truly love the gospel, truly love Christ and truly love sinners, then how on earth can a Pride parade stop us from demonstrating that love winsomely, unsparingly and carefully? If the person who shared Christ with me ran from me because he knew my sinful heart, where would I be now?

]]> By: Jill Childs http://www.DashHouse.com/2009/06/bridging-the-gap-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8785 Jill Childs Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:02:33 +0000 http://www.DashHouse.com/?p=4360#comment-8785 I struggle with Gay Pride Day: the glorification of sin. I refuse to go down town during Gay Pride day and separate myself from such a concentration of sin and sinners. I struggle with Gay Pride Day: the glorification of sin. I refuse to go down town during Gay Pride day and separate myself from such a concentration of sin and sinners.

]]> By: Shane http://www.DashHouse.com/2009/06/bridging-the-gap-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-8784 Shane Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:30:29 +0000 http://www.DashHouse.com/?p=4360#comment-8784 The thing I struggle with is the aspect of homosexual culture that revels in their sin. I am not sure how that would play out. In a world where sin is called not sin, that is a challenge. Yes, I know the church is full of sinners, but not unrepentant ones that insist on flaunting their sin with a pride parade. We don't have a "Child abuser's pride parade" every year in Toronto, or anywhere else for that matter. Now, if a homosexual understood that his lifestyle is, in God's eyes, sin, and he was sincerely trying to turn away from it, I would have no problem welcoming him into church. But it's that attitude of unrepentance, of the opposite of repentance - of celebration of sin, that would cause me to question. Yes, there are the unrepentant liars, the lazy, etc in church but if they were out there self-identifying in the body, that would be divisive and discouraging and the subject of church discipline. I guess that's the challenge that needs to be faced. Is Sunday morning for the churched or the unchurched? Is it for outreach or the edification of the saints? These questions will answer the question for you. The thing I struggle with is the aspect of homosexual culture that revels in their sin. I am not sure how that would play out. In a world where sin is called not sin, that is a challenge. Yes, I know the church is full of sinners, but not unrepentant ones that insist on flaunting their sin with a pride parade. We don’t have a “Child abuser’s pride parade” every year in Toronto, or anywhere else for that matter.

Now, if a homosexual understood that his lifestyle is, in God’s eyes, sin, and he was sincerely trying to turn away from it, I would have no problem welcoming him into church. But it’s that attitude of unrepentance, of the opposite of repentance – of celebration of sin, that would cause me to question. Yes, there are the unrepentant liars, the lazy, etc in church but if they were out there self-identifying in the body, that would be divisive and discouraging and the subject of church discipline.

I guess that’s the challenge that needs to be faced. Is Sunday morning for the churched or the unchurched? Is it for outreach or the edification of the saints? These questions will answer the question for you.

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