Gender Laws Forced on Churches?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by shazeep

ya!
yes, but that is for you, personally.

Put On Christ

11Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hourq for your to wake up from sleep,s for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.t 12The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near,u so let us discard the deeds of darknessv and put on the armor of light.w 13Let us •walk with decency,x as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness;y not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,z and make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires.aa

this is not a directive to enforce upon others, wadr.

Says who? You?

[shazeep]

that is just my opinion, from the reading of the whole passage, but you are free to search for splinters there if that is what that says to you. I read "it is the hour for YOU..."

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by consapente89

Romans 13:14 "Make no provision for the flesh"

Written to redeemed believers who are supposed to be walking in the Spirit at all times.

Not written to sinners desperately in need of grace. For them, the message is the cross and the resurrection, no more, no less.

A sinner not filled with the Holy Spirit will never be able to "make no provision for the flesh", as they haven't yet had the power of sin in their life broken.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Since the person posted this on Facebook, can you provide a link?

I looked for it for a long time. It wasn't posted by someone with whom I am friends. Rather the person who made the post tagged someone with whom I am friends, and so, it showed up in my news feed. I didn't make note of the person's name, and so, will probably not be able to find a link for you.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I can't find anything on Facebook that corresponds to what what was stated, can someone provide a link?

Also, what church was this?

Apostolic Truth Center in Appleton, WI. Aaron Soto is the Pastor.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I can't find anything on Facebook that corresponds to what what was stated, can someone provide a link?

Also, what church was this?

You do realize that there are privacy settings and that not everything posted of Facebook is available to just anyone, right?

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I can't find anything on Facebook that corresponds to what what was stated, can someone provide a link?

Also, what church was this?

Is my word not sufficient? Pics or it didn't happen? Is that what's happening here?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Is my word not sufficient? Pics or it didn't happen? Is that what's happening here?

lol

No, I'm just trying to find out what the story is.

Thanks for the info.

I'm not too familiar with how Facebook works, I don't do Facebook.

[aegsm76]

David Bernard stated that at his last visit to the Austin Church, the pastor pointed out 7 that had been delivered from the LBGT lifestyle.
I heard him say that, last month.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by Esaias

lol

No, I'm just trying to find out what the story is.

Thanks for the info.

I'm not too familiar with how Facebook works, I don't do Facebook.

I found the testimony:

I love my church. I'd like to share something awesome about it. But I have to start with a not so awesome part. It starts when I originally came out publicly as transgender. It was shortly before I was to head off to navy boot camp. This was BEFORE President Obama eliminated the "don't ask don't tell" policy for gays in the military, so I knew I'd have to hide myself for the next four years.

Obviously, I wanted a day to enjoy myself as who I was, and to the fullest. I did this during the St. Martin's Road Fair in Franklin (a suburb of Milwaukee). For those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically a two to three mile rummage sale, I guess. Anyway, St. Martin's Rd is where that church is located. So on this Sunday, church is moved to the previous Saturday, so that the church may open its parking lot to the public, for a donation price. Members of the church parked for free.

Now, I'll spare details, but suffice it to say, only those who knew me knew the truth. I was skinny and convincing; to any who didn't know me, I was female. Period.

Anywho, I went there with my mother. As members of the church, we parked in the church lot. When I was finished with my shopping and returned to the car, I ran across my pastor (name withheld).

This is where the story becomes comparative.

You know what he told me? Not to be seen on church property like that, because people might think the church condoned it. What's worse is that, at the next church service, my parents return home all upset because the pastor rained hell down on THEM for it!

REALLY?

First off, no one even knew I was a guy. In the early morning before it got too crowded, a vendor said "Morning ladies" to my mother and I as we passed. Second, even had I been obvious, how would anyone know I even attended that church? (Which at the time, I did not). Third, since when is it the pastor's job to worry what people outside free church think? Finally, if he was going to come down on anyone, it should've been ME. NOT my parents.

Now the good part. You all at ATC remember how I showed up to my first service there? Black and blue dress, silver high heels. And I know, I didn't look convincing, you all knew I was a male. And how did everyone react, including Pastor Soto himself?

The same way you would with anyone else. With love. With open arms. With comments like "What'd you think, coming back again?" "Glad to have you here!" "Welcome to our church!"

So in closing, let's compare what each pastor accomplished. My former pastor: nothing good. I simply began to hate the man, and swore never to return to his church even should I have gotten right with God. Pastor Soto: My eventual change into the MAN God made me, putting me back on the path to heaven!

Thank God for the churches that still do things right!