I was talking to a pastor regarding the issue of the churches response to gay people. He stated that he would have no problem welcoming them in the church but when it came to membership there are "certain criteria".
So it seemed to me that the church was really a club for members only as other members determine the criteria. Heaven on the other hand is open to all regardless of anything. I asked him why he thought that churches make church membership more difficult than God makes membership in heaven.
He really had no answer.
Why do we make membership in any church more difficult than membership in the Kingdom of heaven.
We want to keep the church pure but "restricting membership" does not do it. Teaching and training the membership to not be a exclusive or excluding club but an inclusive and including club.
All are welcome regardless of anything.
About Me
- Don Paine
- I am a pastor and a clinical psychotherapist. My life's passion is defining healthiness from a human perspective and paralleling it to the holiness of God, divine perspective. Shifting perspectives creates a paradigm that is alongside of rather than over and against. The parakalein of God and the paradoxes of humanity are redefined. Humanity is all about winning and yet we are losing ground everywhere. Divinity is all about letting go of the desire to win and the fear of loss. The Divine embraces the world with loving care regardless of anything.
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