Desiring God Blog - Latest Comments in The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Marco — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:52:16 -0000

test

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Celftman — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:30:42 -0000

tHERE ARE NO LEFT AND RIGHT WING SINNERS THERE ARE ONLY RIGHT AND WRONG SINNERS

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Jack Shannon — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:58:04 -0000

Thanks Ben...100% scripture...no chance of misspeaking without authority from opinion. chy2001, please note what Ben typed and don't just take our word for it...test it in the Scriptures to see if its real.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Hesi practice test — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:30:06 -0000

It is our place ot Be still and know He is God! Tragedy is not only sinners, but it's all to bring Him glory! We must also be alert to take and wondering why he does what he does and start wondering why we do what we do to stop! Why do we stand back and let all the sin in our churches that we do? I take this event to find myself in my own heart and see where I am in my life of sin, that God would be angry with me! All glory to Christ our Savior, Redeemer, lawyer, judge, Punisher, he is just and faithful to forgive us our sins, but we need to repent and turn away from them too! He wants us not cold or hot hot Lucas says in his church and his tolerance of sin.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

arfritz — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:57:43 -0000

Amen! And I struggled with this sin, so it's not as though I'm just picking one out because it is not apart of me, as Don suggests. I would say to any person struggling with homosexuality, there is hope and freedom in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent and turn to Him, for He saves and transforms lives!

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

frizbeesf — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:48:37 -0000

From the "gee wonder what THIS means" Dept...
On Monday night a major storm blew through the greater Cincinnati area and in the trail of damage it left this: The famous King of Kings statue at the Conservative Solid Rock Church in Monroe is no longer after a fire destroyed the popular landmark Monday night.

The 62-foot tall statue of Jesus constructed out of styrofoam, wood and fiberglass resin caught on fire after the right hand of the statue was struck by lightning during the severe thunderstorms around 11:15 p.m.

SO.. John I gotta ask If high winds damaging a Liberal church spire was "warning shot" from God, a direct hit from Lighting at a conservative church was what?? Luck?

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

weston — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:50:27 -0000

I am someone who struggles with homosexuality, I do believe it is a sinful practice and when I say I struggle, I really mean I do struggle on a daily baises keeping myself in check. I love Pastor Johns preaching but this was a low point for him. We have no athourity to say why he caused the tornado, this may have been the reason but we do not have the biblical (or extra biblical) knowledge to distinquish this. I love you Pastor John we make mistakes.....its okay :)

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Ben — Wed, 12 May 2010 08:08:29 -0000

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 -> For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because THE LORD IS AN AVENGER IN ALL THESE THINGS, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

Hebrews 10:29-31 -> How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Psalms 94:7-10 -> and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive." Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?

Psalms 5:4-5 -> For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

Proverbs 6:16-19 -> There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Jeremiah 44:4-6 -> Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, 'Oh, do not do this abomination that I hate!' But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their evil and make no offerings to other gods. Therefore my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they became a waste and a desolation, as at this day.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

chy2001 — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:06:42 -0000

You are all very SIMPLE minded people, and i mean that as nicely as i can. Ok, so your telling me that GOD, who the bible says knows no hate or REVENGE, sent a tornado to "break your church". and WHO told YOU that gay marriges are wrong? do you guys have privite phone calls to him? cause i know i don't. I wasn't sure about posting this because i was worried about your guys DIRECT HOTLINE TO HEAVEN!

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Типография — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 05:26:24 -0000

If condemning people is a sin then God is a sinner. God can't contracidct himself so therefore I don't see that condemning is a sin. Beyond anyone condemning another is the fact that every sinner condemns himself through his own sin.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

MFaber — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:14:34 -0000

The timing, location and setting of this tornado destruction is amazing, and must certainly be taken seriously as a sign from God. Of course, one could always ask why doesn't God send a tornado to the United Methodists or Episcopalians? Is it because the Lutherans are still listening and the others have hardened their hearts?

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

MFaber — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 10:10:19 -0000

Ouch.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

hans_hassler — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:07:27 -0000

Funny how natural disasters become "warnings from God" when they affect people that we don't like or agree with. To my knowledge, more churches are destroyed by flood, fire and wind than are gay bars, and no pride parade has ever been hit by lightening. Many of the damaged or destroyed churches belong to God fearing, Bible oriented congregations, so either the weather/punishment connection is wrong, or God doesn't like Christians. I don't believe that of course, but it's as logical an explanation as the premise of this article.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

MattWalker731 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:32:55 -0000

Contrary to scripture, yet again.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

jamesdobson — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:25:31 -0000

THIS WHAT MARTIN LUTHER WROTE: Uner title "On the Jews and their lies"
He argues that their synagogues and schools be set on fire, their prayer books destroyed, rabbis forbidden to preach, homes razed, and property and money confiscated. They should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection, and these "poisonous envenomed worms" should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time. He also seems to advocate their murder, writing "[w]e are at fault in not slaying them."

BASICALLY WHAT MARTIN LUTHER WISHED, HITLER DID. NOW HE THOUGHT HE WAS FOLLOWING BIBLE TOO. JUST LIKE PIPER.
GO READ:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Astoundedconstantly — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:54:07 -0000

As a current Christ-Follower, and someone who wrestled with homosexuality in the flesh before, I am constantly encouraged by the second "point" listed, in the same way that I assume all believers can be astounded by the glory that God has displayed at the cross with that much grace.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

jerrybraden — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:54:30 -0000

Wow ! It seems to me these comments have stirred a lot of furry, one way or another. I pray that those who wish to fully follow the Lord do so on their knees and ask for His guidance and will for their lives. Yes this tornado theory is just that and perhaps God did try to make a point to all of us; but there still is a need to seek God as I did when I left the Episcopal Church of America for the very same reasons others are now leaving the ELCA. I knew I could not condone sin that is masqueraded in a formal religious costume, where the true Blood of Jesus at the Communion has been replaced with the kool-aid of gnostic leaning minds. Perhaps the end result are typical of a Jonestown revisted.

From my closet I have been directed to pray for the sheep, the dear souls who want to trust their leaders but instincively they must know the new path and pasture is causing nervousness among the sheep. So my prayer has been "Lord cause the sheep to begin to cry out and make those nervous twitching motions that any good shepherd will diagnose as sense that danger lerks ahead. Sheep begin to do something different when frightened and if the shepherd is wanting to save his sheep he/she will take note, realize the danger and in a way repent for having place them in harms way. Lord cause the sheep to make a loud identifiable sound that will bring the shepherds back to a better reality and lead the gentle sheep to a safe environment where tragedies will be avoided and lives saved, so we can all follow the True Good Shepherd someday into the place He has prepared for the righteous.

I am a man saved out of the gay life and it is dangerously cruel to affirm a person in their sin and tell them that sanctification is not a required part of entering heaven. When those souls who reach their judgement are about to receive their just reward, we can take small comfort in knowing that the blood of their sin will be placed somewhat on the heads of the shepherds and leaders who affirmed them into damnation. Tolerance has become relativism which claims somehow that there are no absolutes, and they seem to be absolutely sure of it...somehow ? !!

If we don't cry out as a nation up to God, then our prayers will been unused for the cause of Christ and His Cross, which represents our full and complete salvation, and we will lament that we allowed the terrible day to come upon us as sudden birth-pangs. Lord have mercy, Christ have Mercy , Lord have Mercy !

I refuse to be driven back into the gay closet that I had come out of and all the rest of society is now being pushed into that crammed space, where none of us were ever intended to have our being.

Christ in me, the hope of glory ! (see Prov.13:12)

Jerry

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

sfirst — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:04:58 -0000

to amicidavinci:
this is the first of me reading this blog-and i can't get over not one person responding to what you and your family have been through. I simply want to say to you from one pissed off/hurting/Job-like person to another-I am so moved with compassion for you and i am sorry for all the shit that has been hurled your way in life. I have no answers for you not that you need them or even asked. you probably already know Psalm 139 where it talks about God being everywhere with us-can't go to the depths of the sea fast enough and even there he is before us, I just hope that someday that "presence" won't piss me off(where were you then when I was abused)-but instead give me a sense of HOME-place of safety(not even that all will be safe). about your daughter(i think that's who you mentioned "struggling'" with same-sex complexities) continue to love her-give her the home she so desperately longs for! the kind of home that probably you and i long for too.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Nunuv Yerbiznezz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:11:25 -0000

I think it's rather arrogant for him to assume that this tornado was sent just to send the ELCA a message. I'd think that to assume he's the center divine attention should be considered a manifestation of the sin of Pride.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

jan53218 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:09:06 -0000

It's because of the sin that the sinner goes to hell. Jesus died on the cross so we, as sinners, can be forgiven and spend eternity in heaven with him. All we need to do is confess our sins to Jesus, ask him into our hearts and lives with sincerity, and the rest He will do.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

theonathraph — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:42:11 -0000

Strange that I have heard of it only when I am here in Minneapolis, I am a little confused of how people can not be listening to God when He speacks, and not even discern what God is about to do, let those who have ears hear what God has to say. I am Algerian and I am a Christian, I had a dramatic conversion and Jesus is everything you need to tranform you and correct wicked behaviour and make us more like HIM. Do not despise the times God when God has chosen to have say amongst you.
Ali

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

alexmonro — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:32:35 -0000

Many comments reveal a failure to understand this article. He does not actually say the freak weather necessarily targeted, as it were, ECLA, merely that dangerous natural phenomena should point ECLA and the rest of us to repentance.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

alexmonro — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:26:07 -0000

Actually greed is not the same as ownership. I would like to discuss this with you but there is a good deal of venom in your posts. Something thankfully lacking in Piper's own words. What comes across from what you write is that you want to divert attention from the issue he addresses. Neither the greedy nor the sexually immoral. That means both! The sexually immoral includes, if you believe the Bible to be God's word, all those who opt for sexual lifestyles that defy God's plan. Your argument "It's a sin to have so much when there are poor people all around us" is obviously adding to the words of scripture. The sin is greed not ownership.

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Joey — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:51:41 -0000

Those who dispute the Word always have an argument that typically attacks the messenger. Rather than accept the truth of God's Word about the sins that we all commit, they judge the "sin-level" of the messenger. We all sin. Mine might be different from yours, but God views it all the same and demands our repentance. I don't want to be a part of a human system that decides it can overrule the Word of God because of current societal trends. We left the ELCA after 20 years, when this whole "discussion" began.
So this year, the ELCA leaders decide that homosexuality is not a sin. Next year, will it be incest? Child sexual abuse? Murder? Embezzlement from the church coffers?
Why can't the pastor have sexual relations with as many female parishioners as he cares to? As long as it's a "committed" relationship? Even if it's outside of marriage? Is the ELCA going to define "committed" relationship? Is it six months? Six weeks?
A slippery slope, friends. Seek God's guidance through the Word and prayer ...

Re: The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

William Wingate — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:19:00 -0000

"Woe to wthose who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!"

Isaiah 5:20