Praise God for this action, even though it took way too long.
How long did it take? According to the minister himself, he has been ordained in the church for over 30 years and some time prior to becoming ordained, he claims to have changed his mind and reject Nazarene theology and practice.
In other words, he has been a wolf in sheep's clothing his entire ministry.
He has consistently been teaching and promoting false doctrine and practice since before he was ordained.
The trial determined that he had sown deep seeds of confusion and division, and he was leading people away from sound doctrine.
Supposedly, his heresy was over LGBTQIA+ inclusion - but I believe he had a much deeper problem.
He writes that:
he's proud to have stood for love.
he's proud, in part, because he's convinced Jesus also loves queer people,
that God celebrates queer identities, orientations, and healthy sexual behavior and that we should also.
As you look at this statement and compare it to what the Bible teaches, you can clearly see a problem.
He has a misunderstanding of what love is.
He thinks that love is showing support for people's behaviors, no matter what the Bible says about it.
A true friend will tell you the truth about your behavior and if someone loves you, they will warn you about the path you are following.
How did this minister and seminary professor become a heretic?
How did become ordained in the first place?
He says, "I faithfully went to Sunday School and church camps as a child. I attended a Christian college, graduated from seminary, and taught religion for 20 years in the denomination's universities."
I have no reason to doubt him on this. I've attended church my entire life.
If I only relied on worship services, Sunday school, church camps and church colleges to inform my understanding of church doctrine and right practice - I would probably be a heretic today.
The local church has a problem.
While I've heard countless sermons on John 3:16, I seldom, if ever hear any message about the sins of the current culture.
Where is the Bible teaching on the sexual sins that are so rampant in the world today? Certainly not in most Bible studies for children or adults.
Where is the clear Bible teaching in the church over issues that people are facing?
We need to have churches that not only say something is wrong, but also teach and explain how and why the Bible says what it says.
Many churches refuse to teach and explain not only doctrine but also practical Christian living.
He writes:
I decided to stay in the denomination. I wanted to help queer kids and bring change from within. In the past thirty or so years, I've felt a little guilty that I could not be more open about LGBTQ+ matters. But the payoff was helping my university students come to terms with sexuality issues and teaching them about a loving God.
So he continued in the ministry, teaching - not the truth of God, not helping students see the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and a new life - but helping them continue in sin that will lead to hell.
The Bible tells us that not many should become teachers, because they will be judged more harshly.
If you are a minister, you will make mistakes. There are people who have been deceived for a time. But Jesus promised the Holy Spirit who would lead you into truth.
Anyone of us can fall into error, and that is the reason we need to be reading and studying God's word and going to a church that teaches true doctrine and practice.
Praise God for this small victory.
Christ is still King.
Pastor John
follow me on youtube: youtube.com/@biblewalkwithjohn
PS
You can read his statement using the following link:
I Was Expelled From My Church. I Was Found Guilty, but I Do Not Feel Sorry (msn.com)
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