But He didnt. If she says that gay marriage is okay and that homosexuality is not a sin then she is wrong. The gospel of Jesus is the core of our faith. He also loved sinners into the kingdom rather than condemn them. Throughout the week, our campus is alive with energy and hope. And if we encourage people to treat each other as brothers and sisters- simply look at any of the latest sitcoms or a series on Amazon or Netflix brothers and sisters divide, manipulate, lie, hurt and outwit each other. Why dont we quit pretending that we speak for Godor even that the Bible is clear on everything it teaches? If it is sin, theological self-justification is an affront to the cross. He gave one hard and fast litmus test: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. No, Jesus didnt specifically say armed robbery is wrong, but it harms your neighbor. Self justification can take many forms. Let no man divide what God has put together., 7 The proud religious law-keepers said to Jesus, Then why did the Law of Moses allow a man to divorce his wife if he put it down in writing and gave it to her? 8 Jesus said to them, Because of your hard hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives. Is she a pastor? Whenever I see Arthur Hackers 1892 painting, The Annunciation, I feel like Im intruding on an intimate conversation. It is such a shame that a church that meant so much to so many can be destroyed so easily by arrogance. Praise God David that He never left your side and He indeed had a better place for you. However, we should do so with respect and love to those who are in error. We are an Open and Affirming congregation in the . However, one thing Jesus never did was condone their sin. The Presbyterian Church of America is a conservative denomination that holds mostly to Reformed teaching, otherwise known as Calvinism. One might postulate that a concerted, tactical, and very well-planned effort has been made within ANC since late Oct 16 to conform the church and its elders and teachers and official doctrinal positions to with JHs public positions, not the other way around. Love. TAKE INITIATIVE. But how about Jesus teaching, He who is without sin, cast the first stone? Specialties: Our dream is to have an increasingly positive impact on the South Austin Community. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner not even to eat with such a person. But the feeding frenzy around Jen Hatmaker isnt that. I encourage the author and those who agree with the author to please consider this line with regard to love and grace for people with a conservative point-of-view. Do you believe that the earth was created in six days? Cant we allow all of us to wrestle with our positions on all sorts of matters without feeling a need to correct? That was supposed to say. Approach them directly; raise your concerns respectfully; where appropriate and reasonable, invite a third party into the discussion. View Event Website . In the Nicene Creed, Christians declare our belief in the four key attributes of the church when we say, [We believe] in one, holy, catholic. Dont misunderstand me. And thats the good news that saves lives and supersedes our sexual drives. Yes! What does he know? Sin has marred things, yes, but this is Gods original and only design of the marriage covenant. And Im not sure what youre getting at in regard to child abuse. I think this whole article is buffoonery. If people are pointing to the Son who died for our sins that we deserved, so that we might be right before God (2 Cor 5:21), then there is no issue. This blog post is corrective, but it is not hateful. We are all guilty of sin but in Christ we are forgiven of them all, yes but we cant minimize sin or negate it to suite the winds of cultural change, as some feel Jen has done. I think most Christians would agree with that. Ive had to distance myself from several in the Christian community where I live following character assassination and some harassment. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Theres no mention of him using it to strike any animal, let alone human. I wonder if anyone on here is going to change anyones mind. Your firmly held religious beliefs are personal. But we have GRACE. Do you not judge those who are inside? Our campus is more than just a building where we gather on Sundays. To say that this was some kind of clue to the fact that people are born certain ways regarding homosexuality is twisting this verse. Lets focus on how the devil is using each and everyone of us in order to win good people over to his side. Judging by the comments I see here some of you really, really need it. Jesus didnt talk about sexually abusing children. At the same time large swaths of the blogosphere blew up with the story, starting with Christian watchblogs and Christian feminist blogs and then spreading to atheist sites. If you dont agree with it, then say so-though your wrong to disagree with it- but dont say something isnt there when it is. All. Jesus does say if you love me you will keep my commands. Make sure love wins, even if it kills us. Their main issue was they wanted to change the by-laws about the processing of hiring staff members. But often we fail to see it when its practiced within our own communities. They pioneered Restore Austin, connecting churches to local and global non-profits for the individual, collective, and social renewal of Austin and beyond. Austin New Church 141 viewsStreamed 3 days ago 1:15:21 ANC 01-22-2023 Sunday Live Service Austin New Church 192 views Streamed 10 days ago 1:06:19 ANC 01-15-2023 Sunday Live Service Austin New. Sin must be known as it is. Because its not showing right now. JM reports that membership at ANC has decreased by approximately 40% in four months. I mean, its like youre willfully ignoring what Jesus is saying about marriage and what Genesis is saying about marriage. ChatGPT has got some preachers spooked. I can ALSO say she is an exceptional follower of Jesus who has given her life in service of the. I agree. In Mark 16, Jesus Himself says that His true followers will be able to hold deadly snakes and drink poison without harm. According to a source that told the U.S . Thats your opinion, Ben. May we always err on the side of communication, love, respect, etc and not get caught up in the polarizing world of binary options of your evil, Im good. When we do, we just contribute to the brokenness of the world, and Jesus continues to weep over our pettiness. Love, Garry. If you dont, how do you justify that? This surely is something many evangelicals would agree with. So I ask, is not healthy religion a figment of the imagination? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Austin Miniatures Western Barn Wild West Cowboys Conte Compatible Marx TSSD at the best online prices at eBay! Common Confession In my view, heresy is anything that keeps someone from falling into the arms of Jesus and His grace. And wall building and ceremonial ejections are classic signs of unhealthy religion. IN-PERSON | 2701 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 ONLINE | Facebook or YouTube I'M NEW HERE. It was put out publicly by the husband I think on their Facebook page that they felt they were led to believe that as long as a homosexual couple are faithful to one another the its fine just like a normal marriage. Because if it is sin, the only justification we are allowed as believers to practice is repentance and forgiveness through the cross and grace of Jesus. If you have the right to ask me hard questions, dont I have the right to ask some of you?, Beautiful, Mike. hhhmmmthat kind of thinking doesnt stand up too good. [] (The link to the original blog is here.) As someone mentioned earlier, child sexual abuse is not specifically mentioned in the Bible. You sound like someone born of self intellect masked in biblical references.you dont sound like Jesus, you sound like a Pharisee, overeducated and pious. These reflect ACTIONS of FAITH. But this type of story appears just once in the Bible. Furthermore, did you know that the Biblical Sabbath is on Saturday, not Sunday? They believe that in order to be saved, you have to be baptizedits a requirement. Samantha Beach Kiley is a writer and performer, and the creative arts pastor at Austin New Church in Austin, Texas. I know that my Jesus has chosen and includes me. Or the only one you care about? I know a guy with a Phd from a very conservative seminary who loves Jesus with all his heart, but he doesnt believe the earth was created in six days. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sex sins, and marries another, is guilty of sex sins in marriage. Are you saying Jesus sinned by chasing the money changers out of the temple? That includes naming the ones doing the teaching. Can core beliefs and clear tenets of faith survive for very long in the same room as life and health and love? I can agree that some Christians do not handle differences well, and that problems are handled in some with gossip, slander and unbiblical methods of correction. Grow up, Hatmaker. Yours is the only comment on this blog that makes any sense to me. In my email exchange with Jared I got to see the human side of how that feels. It is neither your job nor your ability to call out someone elses sin. JM changes his Facebook information to relay that he is no longer employed by the Free Methodist Church. He also doesnt condemn those who have had sex outside of marriage as though they should be forbidden from heaven, though he does request that they go and sin no more, he leaves the execution of that command up to the person he says it to. Thank you for sharing your story and heartache. Of course not! Lets all do our best to avoid generalities. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ANC: Austin New Church, Hatmakers' church in Austin FMCUSA: the Free Methodist Church- USA, which ANC was affiliated with and financially sustained by since its inception JH: Jen Hatmaker, member of Austin New Church (ANC), occasional preacher, no official leadership position stated BH: Brandon Hatmaker, founding pastor and elder at ANC Speaking of salvation, how does baptism fit into that? Deli studied . I do. The festival welcomes and encourages artists from any discipline to join us in a week-long celebration of student-led performance. There are many of us in the Body that once were insiders that are no longer. Good question. Healthy religion does not indoctrinate, but teaches people to think for themselves; Healthy religion invites us to be humble about what we believe and know; Healthy religion does not invest in negativity; it does not major on what it is against but rather on what it is for; Healthy beliefs stay in tune with reality, never filling in the gaps for what we do not know. During these six months, I couldnt sleep, I began to have periodic heart palpitations, and went into a dark place of depression. In the Dallas, TX area 7 Months ago, the church I founded as a church planter was destroyed from this kind of mentality (I graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary and have pastored for over 20+ years). The more I read the bible and the less I listen to others takes on it, the more I see how many people believe in manmade ideas. I recommend Frank Schaffers books to everyone. Theres a point to this but its not happening the right way. If you want to stay in the fold, youd best be subordinately silent. Stories of Jesus sharing love, community, and personal connection (even when he rebuked) fill the rest of the Gospels. But thanks be to God that Jesus has died for you and me despite our whining, our blasphemy, and our foolish and sinful ways. Come be part of what God is doing." Im both cheered by this article while remaining concerned that we Christians (I dont call myself Evangelical anymore since Trump) arent very deep about our understanding of sexuality and many related topics. Where do you get that any sex outside your strict standard is disapproved of by God? Hey, Im not saying conservative evangelicalism is as bad as Jonestown, but I do know this: once the pack starts circling an identified victim theres very little stopping it. Repentance is a core gospel issue. Brandon is a former pastor of Austin New Church (located in Austin, Texas, USA). Earlier I mentioned the Presbyterians. Required fields are marked *. Brian Austin Green praises Megan Fox & refutes other ex Vanessa's claims. How did a blog post calling into question the way that conservative Christians attack each other descend into comments by Christians (Im assuming) attacking each other about SSM? MaintainingContaining It was not like that from the beginning. And when I say hugs, I mean THE KIND A MAMA GIVES HER BELOVED KID." We have to assume that means its a really big deal. In January of 2018, after coming under the umbrella of the United Methodist Church, we were gifted our beautiful new campus in the heart of the 04. Im convinced that Paul was the first hippie and Jesus was a hardliner who called people to even higher standards than the Law of Moses. But I know that God is on His throne and showing us the true Kingdom at hand, and it doesnt look like what we thought it would. Prior to October of 2016 traditional Christian marriage was the Hatmakers official position. Put me off the internet for awhile, Ill tell ya.). Please state facts, not falsehoods about what the Bible does or does not say. AFS Cinema. In Sunday School, we dont really teach our kids about all the crazy stuff that happened in the Old Testament. Keep them to yourself and you will have no problems from me Try to use them as an excuse to destroy other people in love and the Spirit, and Ill burn you to the ground. Somewhat ironic, and perhaps some of the fellow congregants should have been listening more closely. Uh-oh, it looks like its Jen Hatmakers turn. Its not biblical. The few times PAUL talks about homosexuality, FYI, he either uses the terms that literally mean pedophilia OR they get lumped in with every other sexual act outside of marriage, including STRAIGHT SEX. Its tiring to read all these comments urging us to root out heresy (as if Jen Hatmaker is a heretic). Because this teacher is teaching self-justification for sin rather than justification through repentance and the cross. He established the church with his then-wife, Jennifer Lynn Hatmaker, in 2008. But, unless you are without sin, who are any of us to be casting stones at a fellow sojourner in Christ? Maybe he chased them with a whip in love, perhaps? Matthew 10:34-39 NKJV. It uses the term error for all other deviations. Re JH and accountability, its useful to look at the timeline of events that have led up to this. There are lots of examples in Scripture of people being baptized. The grace of God is a core gospel issue. Yet, I find myself sobbing in my back yard as I listen, hoping no one hears . But I could on and on and on with everyone here who says different and all I can do is just respond that you have to answer to God someday just like we all have to over whatever in our life. And if you think Im exaggerating, recall John Pipers incendiary tweet Farewell, Rob Bell, written in response to Bells book Love Wins. LehrenDotCom. 2701 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 . And Jesus in Matthew 19:4-5? What we call Christianity is not what I have experienced in China, the Middle East, etc Those fellow believers faith cost them something, while much of our experience here in America is a raw form of spiritual narcissism. That doesnt mean that it isnt a sin when you take the entire Bible into consideration. Is this the only story out of the Bible that you know? So, what does healthy religion look like? You are mischaracterizing the way orthodox believers view Jen. And trust that if we surrender to his ways and obeys him he will show us the best life, full of the great things like peace and joy and fellowship with the creator of the universe. Ancient covenants were achieved when both parties passed through the blood of severed animals on either side. But, please tell me, where did Jesus call it a sin ? Jesus did say those who are WITHOUT sin, cast the first stone. I believe Jesus did not say you may shame people if your sin is not worse than otherssin. The Scriptures are very clear that predestination exists, yet there are millions of believers who dont believe in it. Start treating your sisters and brothers like sisters and brothers. If your motivation really is loving correction, its my view that that can only happen fully and effectively in relationship. The protectors of orthodoxy appear to have drawn a bead on her as they did on Rachel Held Evans, Rob Bell and Brian McLaren before her. 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