Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Anti-Gay Bigots Crash Church Services

Somebody's going to have to explain this one to me.
A conservative Christian values group has been interrupting services at two central Ohio churches to protest their support for homosexuality.

Minutemen United vowed to attend services every Sunday.

The group started its crusade when First Baptist Church in Granville hosted "Love Makes a Family," a traveling exhibit by the Family Diversity Project showing photos of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families.

The night the exhibit opened in July, members of Minutemen United stood outside and protested the exhibit and the church's open attitude toward homosexuality, said the Rev. Kathy Hurt, senior pastor at the Granville church.

Since then, the group has been visiting the church every Sunday, she said.

On one of the first Sundays, six people came to the church's 11 a.m. service and addressed the congregation during a time designated for prayer requests and comments.

Hurt said a man, who introduced himself as a minister from the New Beginnings Church in Warsaw, Ohio, started to give a sermon about how the church was acting against God's word by accepting homosexuals.

Members of Minutemen United also visited King Avenue United Methodist Church in Columbus that same morning, said the Rev. John Keeny.

"They rebuked me as a pastor for preaching that God's love is for everyone," Keeny said. Anti-gay activists crash worship services

This has got to put the church in a strange position, don't you think? They can't have bouncers to throw these idiots out, that wouldn't be very Christian of them, but at the same time, what are they supposed to do? Just let them disrupt their services?

Once again, it's not a matter of what somebody believes -- I don't agree with these guys but they have the right to think whatever it is they think, I wouldn't be writing about it here just to criticize them for their ideas. But they feel it is their place to barge into somebody else's church and tell them that their Christianity is wrong, and that's just obnoxious.
"At our church, we welcome all people," [Keeny] said. "We would welcome them in worship, too, but we expect hospitality and acceptance to be demonstrated by all who come to worship here."

Max Erwin Sr., an evangelist with the New Beginnings ministry and a member of Minutemen United, said he attended services at King Avenue and First Baptist churches.

"What I do is not about hate; it's everything to do with love," Erwin said. "Homosexuality is a sin."

He said he plans to concentrate his efforts on First Baptist Church. He will be outside the church building every Sunday, as long as it doesn't rain.

"There are people there who are truly hungry for the true word of God," Erwin said. "The word of God is the word of God. It is not subject to private interpretation."

And as if to prove his point, he continued:
"People point us out to be haters," he said. "Jesus loves the homosexual, but he doesn't love homosexuality. This is about holding each other accountable."

Of course Jesus never said he doesn't love homosexuality, this is pure "private interpretation.

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

A conservative Christian values group has been interrupting services at two central Ohio churches to protest their support for homosexuality.

While their rhetoric is not as vile, this is the same tactic that Fred Phelps and his "god hates fags" family uses. Phelps' supporters interrupt services (military funeral services) to protest the military's acceptance of homosexuals into the service via its don't ask don't tell policy just like Minutemen United supporters protest these Ohio church's acceptance of homosexuals into their congregations.

August 21, 2007 11:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Should everyone with differing viewpoints be allowed to interrupt religious services to protest when they don't agree OR SHOULD THE COPS BE CALLED?

August 21, 2007 2:58 PM  
Blogger Tish said...

I don't like either option. I think the choir should sing "We Are a Gentle Loving People," and the congregation join in, until the hate people get the message and leave. Or maybe "Siyahamba"- it's louder.

August 21, 2007 5:04 PM  
Blogger Orin Ryssman said...

"There are people there who are truly hungry for the true word of God," Erwin said. "The word of God is the word of God. It is not subject to private interpretation."

Now that is a howler if I've ever heard one...LOL! Not only is this statement laughable on its face, but it is ironic as well...given the history of protestantism is little more than non-stop private interpretation.

Jim writes,

This has got to put the church in a strange position, don't you think? They can't have bouncers to throw these idiots out, that wouldn't be very Christian of them, but at the same time, what are they supposed to do? Just let them disrupt their services?

This is not just obnoxious and wrong; this is rude and unethical, since I doubt this church from Warsaw would appreciate the First Baptist Church crashing their church meetings with preaching about how they need to be more accepting of others.

Then again, New Beginnings Church has a pastor that came unglued when a prominent evangelical/academic (Frank Beckwith) announced he was returning to his Catholic roots. The pastor all but called Beckwith the spawn of Satan...

August 22, 2007 7:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dave Daubenmire, the founder of Minutemen United":

"I have an obligation as a Christian and father to stand up and say, 'My faith says this is a sin.'"


So he has the "obligation as a Christian," to tell other Christians, that their Christian faith is a sin?

Who could possibly demonstrate Christianity better than that?

Oh that's right, the Rev. Tim Ahrens, who "asked his congregation to pray for the Minutemen"

Thank God for sinful Christians!

August 23, 2007 10:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Daubenmire is a hipocrite. He talks about his obligations as a Christian father but his son is a convicted sex offender (Google Zachary Daubenmire for details).

August 23, 2007 2:47 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

SAVED BY GRACE
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them {Leviticus 20:13). About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 2004, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages . God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].
PEACE BE WITH YOU
MICKY

August 28, 2007 1:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What "If a [woman] also lie with [womankind], as [she] lieth with a [man]?"

Regarding the belief that death sentences are proper for homosexual men, not even Ireland or Vatican City have such laws in effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_laws_of_the_world

A practicing Catholic should know the proper place for confession.

September 03, 2007 6:29 PM  
Blogger Francis Beckwith said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

June 20, 2010 6:55 PM  

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