leasheryn's Blog

This is indeed a bazaar situation.. The only reasons which "Would" be considered valid in my opinion are:

1) If a person is a known registered child molester or predator. That includes women as well as men. The church has a responsibility to protect the children. Also, by law, they are required to stay away from areas where children would be. Some churches will send clergy to rehab type ministries to preach and help mentor people, to assist them in an accountability plan of action.

2) If a person is disruptive in nature and or self promotes beliefs that contradict the Churches doctrines. Exp. - Vit does not meet this type of criteria, because he harms none and has been upfront with the Pastor. He also represents a person who seeks God's word.

3) Some churches will ask people who are "still practicing homosexuals" not to attend. I know this one, is kind of opening a can of worms, but again, if it goes against the the Church's doctrine it's a problem.

4) Disruptive can also include showing up at church under the influence of drugs and or alcohol. They may be removed temporarily, counseled and put on a probation measure.

5) Unless, their is something going on with this woman that "only" the pastor knows, I feel he is acting unethical. If there is "something", he should have at least had a meeting with her to discuss the concern. If he was going to perform the marriage ceremony, he should have had some meetings with both of them. He can decline to do the marriage ceremony IF he feels it is not a proper union, but must have very valid reasoning.

Beyond that,

This is another example (in my opinion) of people worshipping a church instead of God. The only doctrine a church should be teaching or following is written in the Bible. If you are following anything else then you are in trouble.
Your beliefs should not be based on some churches doctrine,some pastors opinion or interpretation of God's word, just God's word!Vittorio if you're a "pagan" then why are you going to church? just asking out of curiosity.

These came to mind so I looked them up:

"1 Corinthians 7:12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

I know of a few churches whose members consider me a pagan because I don't attend their church, which of course is the "only real church" according to them. Is that the kind of pagan you are? LOL!

Philby, unfortunately you can't get away from the doctrine issues. The doctrine comes from each denominations interpretation of the Bible. Thats why we have Baptist, Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Church of God, etc... "Just God's Word" can mean a lot of different things, to a lot of different people. If it was that easy, we wouldn't have millions of people constantly arguing about it... In theory, it sounds good, but even a church like mine, which is non-denominational has a "Statement of Faith". It seems that most people, can align themselves with some denominations core belief system. I always advise my members, to take notes from my sermons and research and study for themselves.

Excellent question. I'd sit down for this.

I feel that all gods are one God no matter what you call him, her or it. It's just God in the long run. My spouse is a devout Christian so we go to church together. The pastor and his family know of my beliefs and respect them. Aha! There's the important word; respect.

I follow the basic beliefs of Paganism and it's a simple and the most ancient of religions. Google Paganism to learn more but beware of the garbage you will see.

I present to you, the prophet Hosea! This is a O.T. book that many forget about... So deplorable was God's request to Hosea that many scholars don't believe it. It's a parable, they say., it never really happened. But it did happen. The request "marry a prostitute, so some of her children will be born to you from different men. This will illustrate the way many my people have been untrue to me, openly committing adultery against the Lord by worshipping other God's. The Bible says almost nothing about Hosea's background. But is does place him in the final decades of the northen Jewish nation of Israel. God brought this shocking request to Hosea sometime during the reign of King Jeroboam II (786-746 BC). Hosea married Gomer and became pregnant and had a son. The first of three children and the only one identified AS Hosea's. Yet the grammar doesn't guarantee that even that child was legitimate. In some ancient manuscripts, Hosea isn't even mentioned in any of the pregnancies.

Whatever happened, God told Hosea to buy Gomer back. Apparently, she sold herself into slavery. Hosea bought her back for a few ounces of silver, five bushels of barley, and some wine. God's reasoning: "For the Lord still loves Israel even though the people have turned to other gods. Though both Jewish nations, Israel and Judah would cease to exist, with their survivors dragged off like slaves, God would one day bring the Jews back home. "Then I will heal you of your idolatry and faithlessness, and my love will know no bounds" Hosea 14:4.

Thank you, Pastor, for leading me to Hosea. I have read it before but, as you say, it is not the most memorable of Biblical books. I will certainly re-read it although you have certainly described it well.
As for the 2Corinth reference, I am well and truly familiar with it. This is my understanding of those passages: when a man and a woman marry, they are no longer two people but one, they are united together or a single unit. If a man is a believer and the woman an unbeliever, she is covered by her husband's belief. If a woman is a believer and the man an unbeliever, he is covered by his wife's belief. God accepts both of them as one unit.
I think also that it is important that the believer not be brought down by the unbeliever or to be lead astray. We are to cling to our beliefs always and always but God or our belief in God or our worship of God ahead of what is a part of the material world.

I probably should have explained my usage of 2 Cor 6:14 better. Families tend to use that scripture when someone is considering marriage to someone they disapprove of. And even though the Bible speaks to us in (exp) Lev 21:4, Ezr 9:12, Ne 10:30, Ne 13:25 about marrying out of tribes and so on, most people are using 2 Cor 6:14 out of context. It actually refers to Paul being upset, because his enimies were planting suspicions against Paul, and the Corinthians were shutting Paul out of their hearts and developing a liking/affection to false apostles. he considered that, unequally yoked. The book of Romans speaks more about the actual marriage yoking between husband and wives.

I've read Romans and both Corinth fully but thanks for the explanations. References to marriage are important along with references to adultery and immoral behavior. It seemed that when Paul was off the scene, as it were, the people were doing things outside of his instructions which made him upset, hence the reasons for his passionate letters.
I've recalled another reference concerning the topic at hand: Matthew 18:10-14 I think that really hits the point of what we've been discussing.