Comments on: Why Does Focus Fear the Snakeywolves? http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:53:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Ann http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338/comment-page-1#comment-5952 Ann Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:54:12 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338#comment-5952 I was curious about the absence of the mega-churches of Memphis, TN. Any thoughts about how the list was developed? I was curious about the absence of the mega-churches of Memphis, TN. Any thoughts about how the list was developed?

]]> By: Brady http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338/comment-page-1#comment-5947 Brady Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:41:48 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338#comment-5947 Extending Michael's note, Lakewood Church is in my town, and, while I don't attend church there, I've seen Joel Osteen speak on television and in interviews several times. I hope I'm right (and I think I am) when I say that I anticipate that he and his congregation would be open to dialog with Soulforce. Knowing what I know of Osteen and the Church, I also don't think that the words/advice of FOTF go to far at Lakewood. Their teachings are much more liberal than Focus' Extending Michael’s note, Lakewood Church is in my town, and, while I don’t attend church there, I’ve seen Joel Osteen speak on television and in interviews several times.

I hope I’m right (and I think I am) when I say that I anticipate that he and his congregation would be open to dialog with Soulforce. Knowing what I know of Osteen and the Church, I also don’t think that the words/advice of FOTF go to far at Lakewood. Their teachings are much more liberal than Focus’

]]> By: Shane http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338/comment-page-1#comment-5910 Shane Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:18:15 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338#comment-5910 I hope their message is heard. (And hilarious snakeywolf by the way!) I hope their message is heard.

(And hilarious snakeywolf by the way!)

]]> By: Michael http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338/comment-page-1#comment-5908 Michael Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:13:26 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/01/23/1338#comment-5908 As a long-time attender of Willow Creek Community Church-- and without having heard anything of how Bill Hybels and the rest of the leadership team will respond to this--I am quite confident that, at least in my church, you will see a gracious and loving response. I say this based on my own personal experience there. I attend services at Willow, carpooling there with two dear friends, a Christian gay couple who have been together for 11 years. Over the past several years, I have brought along at least a couple dozen gay friends for various services and events, and never has one of them felt uncomfortable nor unwelcome. I have also corresponded with one of the teaching pastors on the topic of sexuality, and I have always found acceptance and love even in disagreement. And most of all, when I lost my boyfriend (who also attended Willow with me) to suicide two years ago, I experienced an outpouring of unconditional love from people in the church and help in the days since, that I could not begin to express my gratitude for the spirit of Christlike love that has been infused into that congregation by its leaders. So, I don't know anything specific of what the response will be, but hopefully I am an encouragement that we can indeed be hopeful at least some Christians will act as Christ would. As a long-time attender of Willow Creek Community Church– and without having heard anything of how Bill Hybels and the rest of the leadership team will respond to this–I am quite confident that, at least in my church, you will see a gracious and loving response.

I say this based on my own personal experience there. I attend services at Willow, carpooling there with two dear friends, a Christian gay couple who have been together for 11 years. Over the past several years, I have brought along at least a couple dozen gay friends for various services and events, and never has one of them felt uncomfortable nor unwelcome. I have also corresponded with one of the teaching pastors on the topic of sexuality, and I have always found acceptance and love even in disagreement. And most of all, when I lost my boyfriend (who also attended Willow with me) to suicide two years ago, I experienced an outpouring of unconditional love from people in the church and help in the days since, that I could not begin to express my gratitude for the spirit of Christlike love that has been infused into that congregation by its leaders.

So, I don’t know anything specific of what the response will be, but hopefully I am an encouragement that we can indeed be hopeful at least some Christians will act as Christ would.

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