Leader of Christ’s church Rusty Nelson acts Christlike and invites Trans people for dinner

[drumdude]

Oh wait it was actually the real leader of Christ’s church who did that:

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/11/pop ... ls-dinner/

Rusty is presumably sitting in an office somewhere pouring over financial documents to guarantee maximum return on investment.

[huckelberry]

Oh wait it was actually the real leader of Christ’s church who did that:

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2023/11/pop ... ls-dinner/

Rusty is presumably sitting in an office somewhere pouring over financial documents to guarantee maximum return on investment.

Pope Francis has my respect for a good number of things including this.

[Kishkumen]

Go Pope Francis!

[Jersey Girl]

Thank you for sharing this, dd. I briefly skimmed the report and want to read it again in case I have further comment. But I did want to say this much. You might not know me very well because I hang out in Paradise Forum these days. I'm a Bible believing non-Catholic Christian and a striving Christ follower. I'll just leave it at that.

I am sick and tired of people marginalizing gays, trans, and other folks because they are different when the truth is we don't understand them. I don't believe for single second that Yeshua would have received folks who were different, let's say, in the way that many religious organizations do today. He had a reported history of receiving almost everyone (read on) with kindness and generous love. That is the way of Christ and we are commanded to follow His lead inasmuch as we are humanly able in the best ways we can and if we believe Christ then why wouldn't we? Of course Christ followers fail at this just like everyone else, but with prayer, practice ,and the influence of Christ's teachings as presented in the New Testament and the Holy Spirit, I think we get better at it. Or we can develop to become more of a reflection of Christ than when we put our foot on the path.

The only folks in the New Testament that Yeshua reportedly did NOT receive with kindness were certain leaders of the religious community. I don't know about anyone else around here or in real life, but I see a direct connection to contemporary religious leaders, none of which Is the Pope because I think he does present himself and behave as a reflection of Christ to the world.

Where is our humility, kindness, grace, and love for others? Listen. Not one of us truly understands how folks develop to become gay or trans. We have some ideas about that but the truth is we don't know. So who are we (Christians) to send them to the margins when the Christ that we believe accepted sinners and imperfect humans such as US?

**stepping down from behind the pulpit/soapbox**

[Philo Sofee]

Thank you for sharing this, dd. I briefly skimmed the report and want to read it again in case I have further comment. But I did want to say this much. You might not know me very well because I hang out in Paradise Forum these days. I'm a Bible believing non-Catholic Christian and a striving Christ follower. I'll just leave it at that.

I am sick and tired of people marginalizing gays, trans, and other folks because they are different when the truth is we don't understand them. I don't believe for single second that Yeshua would have received folks who were different, let's say, in the way that many religious organizations do today. He had a reported history of receiving almost everyone (read on) with kindness and generous love. That is the way of Christ and we are commanded to follow His lead inasmuch as we are humanly able in the best ways we can and if we believe Christ then why wouldn't we? Of course Christ followers fail at this just like everyone else, but with prayer, practice ,and the influence of Christ's teachings as presented in the New Testament and the Holy Spirit, I think we get better at it. Or we can develop to become more of a reflection of Christ than when we put our foot on the path.

The only folks in the New Testament that Yeshua reportedly did NOT receive with kindness were certain leaders of the religious community. I don't know about anyone else around here or in real life, but I see a direct connection to contemporary religious leaders, none of which Is the Pope because I think he does present himself and behave as a reflection of Christ to the world.

Where is our humility, kindness, grace, and love for others? Listen. Not one of us truly understands how folks develop to become gay or trans. We have some ideas about that but the truth is we don't know. So who are we (Christians) to send them to the margins when the Christ that we believe accepted sinners and imperfect humans such as US?

**stepping down from behind the pulpit/soapbox**

AMEN & AMEN...

[Jersey Girl]

AMEN & AMEN...

So if there is more of one "kind" does that mean the other kind is broken? There's more Christians in the US than any other denomination so why are is their food insecurity, poverty, homelessness and folks going without mental health treatment?

Tell me who is broken again? No really, tell me.

[huckelberry]

Jersey Girl, I wonder sometimes if in America many Christians are so concerned to keep their grace alone that they are careful not to let works get too involved. Helping people is not specifically Christian, Jews, Muslims, Buddists and the person down the street are all able to that. So if you want to be clear in you Christian exclusive grace you might best leave the works to others.

[Res Ipsa]

Thank you for sharing this, dd. I briefly skimmed the report and want to read it again in case I have further comment. But I did want to say this much. You might not know me very well because I hang out in Paradise Forum these days. I'm a Bible believing non-Catholic Christian and a striving Christ follower. I'll just leave it at that.

I am sick and tired of people marginalizing gays, trans, and other folks because they are different when the truth is we don't understand them. I don't believe for single second that Yeshua would have received folks who were different, let's say, in the way that many religious organizations do today. He had a reported history of receiving almost everyone (read on) with kindness and generous love. That is the way of Christ and we are commanded to follow His lead inasmuch as we are humanly able in the best ways we can and if we believe Christ then why wouldn't we? Of course Christ followers fail at this just like everyone else, but with prayer, practice ,and the influence of Christ's teachings as presented in the New Testament and the Holy Spirit, I think we get better at it. Or we can develop to become more of a reflection of Christ than when we put our foot on the path.

The only folks in the New Testament that Yeshua reportedly did NOT receive with kindness were certain leaders of the religious community. I don't know about anyone else around here or in real life, but I see a direct connection to contemporary religious leaders, none of which Is the Pope because I think he does present himself and behave as a reflection of Christ to the world.

Where is our humility, kindness, grace, and love for others? Listen. Not one of us truly understands how folks develop to become gay or trans. We have some ideas about that but the truth is we don't know. So who are we (Christians) to send them to the margins when the Christ that we believe accepted sinners and imperfect humans such as US?

**stepping down from behind the pulpit/soapbox**

AMEN & AMEN...

I’m with the Bhuddists on this one. We’re all broken. We all suffer. Cultivate compassion, recognize your fellow humans as fellow sufferers, reduce the suffering of others as you are able.

[Jersey Girl]

Jersey Girl, I wonder sometimes if in America many Christians are so concerned to keep their grace alone that they are careful not to let works get too involved. Helping people is not specifically Christian, Jews, Muslims, Buddists and the person down the street are all able to that. So if you want to be clear in you Christian exclusive grace you might best leave the works to others.

Oh mercy goodness that is absurd.

From Matthew 25

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

And etc. as you follow the chapter to it's conclusion.

Please don't make me pull out 50 thousand New Testament verses where Christians are commanded to love one another including our enemies.

[huckelberry]

Jersey Girl, I wonder sometimes if in America many Christians are so concerned to keep their grace alone that they are careful not to let works get too involved. Helping people is not specifically Christian, Jews, Muslims, Buddists and the person down the street are all able to that. So if you want to be clear in you Christian exclusive grace you might best leave the works to others.

Oh mercy goodness that is absurd.

From Matthew 25
........

I whole heartedly agree with you Jersey Girl.

I think sometimes dogmatics get used to turn Christianity upside down. I do not think technically the dogmatics are wrong but they somehow face in the wrong direction.

Standard follow up to saved by grace not works is that we are to start a process of sanctification, change of character. ... Yes of course but somehow that sounds a little more like getting dressed up for church instead of helping someone.

Now in truth there are a lot of people who see the centrality of helping people. I thank and respect those many people.