tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post4547865809694741020..comments2024-03-27T17:15:37.606-04:00Comments on Triablogue: Homosexuals in churchRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17809283662428917799noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-18944428295676655292015-10-12T21:53:37.633-04:002015-10-12T21:53:37.633-04:00i) My post wasn't on the topic of transgenderi...i) My post wasn't on the topic of transgenderism. I agree with your first paragraph. <br /><br />I realize that to some degree your doing preemptive pushback against the squishy Christianity Today type accommodation to transexuals. <br /><br />ii) I agree with your second paragraph. <br /><br />iii) The third paragraph is trickier. That's why it can useful to have formal church membership based on a credible profession of faith.<br /><br />One aspect might be "fencing the table." <br /><br />I suspect many impenitent unbelievers who live in blatant sin only attend "open and accepting" churches, not churches where traditional Christian morality is a regular part of preaching. <br /><br />The size of a church can also be a factor. You have fewer socially "awkward " situations in megachurches where everyone doesn't know everyone else. stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16547070544928321788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-90325537485781263692015-10-12T21:46:06.576-04:002015-10-12T21:46:06.576-04:00Good thoughts. Lots of issues to consider here. ...Good thoughts. Lots of issues to consider here. "Gay" and trans (or "gender questioning") teens and even pre-teens are also coming on the scene. VBS may never be the same.CRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03231394164372721485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789188.post-22091143451452986722015-10-12T18:52:57.761-04:002015-10-12T18:52:57.761-04:00Sure, all of this is true. But there are a few add...Sure, all of this is true. But there are a few additional issues: Transsexuals are going to be a problem if they demand to use the bathroom of the biologically opposite sex. They're going to have to be told in no uncertain terms that the church isn't going to accommodate them. Transexuals are also incredibly distracting if they are obviously "trans"--a man in drag, for example. Transexual behavior, to my mind, counts as inappropriate behavior in church, as does introducing oneself as a woman, demanding to be called by the opposite-gender pronouns, and so forth. That's really "acting out" and shouldn't be accommodated.<br /><br />Ordinary homosexuals who come *as couples* can be problematic, because they present themselves as a couple and demand to be accepted as such, even as church attenders. This undermines the church's moral message and conveys to children that "Mr. and Mr. So-and-so are a couple" is a normal category. I think it is legitimate to demand that homosexuals _not_ demand to be accepted *as couples* in this way, even if they are unbelievers, if they wish to attend one's church regularly. Let the kids think they are just roommates or friends or something, but don't try to get people to refer to the two of you as "spouses" or "partners" or what-not.<br /><br />The other problem with unrepentant unbelievers or people in blatant sin as regular attenders is that it is very easy for this to morph into their being "functional members." There comes a point where, if they attend for long enough, most people may not even know they are non-members. It is assumed then that they are Christians and that what they present themselves as is acceptable to the church body. This is a problem when the person is an "out" homosexual. It would also be a problem, by the way, if it were a man and woman living together unmarried. How do we avoid giving the appearance of approving of their openly sinful lifestyle while they are in church every week and appear to be treated "just like everyone else" unless, e.g., they ask to teach a Sunday School class or some other function narrowly defined as a "member function"?Lydia McGrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423567323116960820noreply@blogger.com