Because I know that I am being tested...
Romans 1: 16-17 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith.""
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My sweet girl! I'm so sorry its been so rough.
Keep your chin up. Look forward to Friday. ;) You're one of my favorite friends. You make things fun! Like rainbow kinda fun... BAH HA! Love you!
I just wanted to tell you that I love you so much. I'm not sorry about anything that I said, but I am sorry if my big mouth has caused you any pain. My intention was to turn the obvious anger into a constructive debate, but it obviously didn't work out and people were pretty nasty to you. Hang in there and this too shall pass.
Thanks, all of you! I have grown so much out of this. I know that I am a stronger Christian now, and the bigger person. I will never forget the words that hurt and those that brought comfort. God works in mysterious ways. :)
p.s. : Emily, never appologize for your "big mouth". I am grateful every second for a big sister like you. You are aloud to say whatever you want!
Um, I just have to say that I think its time that Emily wrote something on my blog... I'm getting a little bit jealous.
Don't worry Stori, lol. This little saga is the first time I've ever written on a blog!
Nicole Lamarche, Miss California 2003 and now an ordained ministerat Cotuit Federated Church in Cotuit, Mass, is speaking out.
She says: "As a pastor and a former Miss California, I am often asked to interpret what the Word of God has to say on a particular subject. I am quite confident that God prefers that we human beings stick to speaking for ourselves. And yet there are occasions when God’s Word is used as a weapon, and I feel compelled to speak.
In the past few days, much has been made of the words of Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean. She stated that marriage is between a man and a woman. I write not in response to her opinion, but rather about her comments that followed: that the Bible condones her words. She said, 'It's not about being politically correct, it's about being biblically correct.' While this sentiment is shared by many who seek to condemn gay people and gay marriage, citing pieces of the Bible to further one’s own prejudice fails to meet the Bible on its own terms.
Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging. For example, Leviticus also tells us that eating shrimp and lobster is an abomination. And that a person should not wear material woven of two kinds of material—an impossible mandate for a pageant contestant!
In Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth we read, ‘For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church….’ And yet these words have not prevented Christian denominations from ordaining women, such as myself. Sadly, the Bible has been used to further prejudice throughout history. We have used it to permit ourselves to enslave people; to conquer and kill; and to denigrate the earth.
The truth is that it is difficult to know for sure the intentions of the biblical authors, but we do know something about God. Those of us who know God through Jesus of Nazareth know that he went to great lengths to express God’s love to people who were labeled as outcasts. He spent time with children, prostitutes, and lepers, all of whom were labeled as outside of the grasp of the Holy. As we continue to seek God’s vision for us as a nation grounded in a love for justice, I pray that we might move closer to the cause of grace.”
First I would like to say that even though I respect Ms. Lamarche as a pastor, she is only human and can be disagreed with just as much as the next person.
I would like to add a bit to Emily's argument because it was so great! She hit most of the main points, so I will only add a few more...
"I am quite confident that God prefers that we human beings stick to speaking for ourselves."
I would like to see a reference for this statement where the God of the Bible states we are more wise than he is.
"She said, 'It's not about being politically correct, it's about being Biblically correct.'While this sentiment is shared by many who seek to condemn gay people and gay marriage..."
Again, I would like to see a reference where it says that homosexuality is OK. I believe that everywhere it is ever referred to, the words, "wicked", "abomination", "shameful", etc are used. Not sure where any form of justification comes in.
Like we have said, countless times, we DO NOT condemn the sinER, we condemn the SIN!! I think this is the source of the problem and debate here.
"In Paul’s letter to the community in Corinth we read, ‘For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church….’ And yet these words have not prevented Christian denominations from ordaining women, such as myself."
In the Lutheran Church, and still some other denominations out there, women are still not ordained as pastors. This is not a "prejudice" as you see it.
This is a perfect lead in to how God planned for family to be structured!
Ephesians 5:23 "For the husbands is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body of which he is the Savior."
He did not say "husband is the head of the husband" or "wife is the head of the wife". God Structured the church to be like the formation of the family. Keep in mind, this does not mean that women are not important. As women, we are there to be supportive of our husbands, teach the children, etc. I take this as a huge role in a functional church and family and am happy to be supportive and help in any way possible.
"Most people seeking to condemn gay people point to the Book of Leviticus, where we read that men lying with men is an abomination. However, we rarely hear of other verses found in the book of Leviticus that are equally challenging."
Read Matthew 15. This whole section discusses why some of the old traditions are not followed while the sins spoke about in Leviticus are still considered sinful. He states in verse 10 "Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'" and then in verse 18-20 "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'. For out of the hear come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean'"
I think that pretty much explains it better than I ever could; since I can not "speak for myself".
I think Emily covered most of the rest of the topics so there's no need to repeat.
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