Gay Rights Protesters Disrupt Church Service
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, November 13, 2008
- Viewed 227
- (13) comments so far
What would you do if a group of gay rights protesters disrupted your church service? That's what happened at Mount Hope in Michigan last Sunday. According to the Lansing State Journal, protesters stood up during the service, threw fliers at churchgoers, and shouted slogans like "It's OK to be gay". They also set up a protest outside the church.
I'm wondering... how would you respond if a group did this type of thing in your Sunday morning service?
Comments
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Leonard on Thu, November 13, 2008
It is illegal to interrupt a worship service, it is not to picket outside. We will see more and more of this in the future, not because Obama is president but because we live in this world.
We would stop, ask them if we could pray for them, usher them out and then pray.
Jerry on Thu, November 13, 2008
God, whether they (Bash Back) agree with Him or not, will deal with them in His time and, if they don’t turn away from their life style, I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes. I won’t pronounce judgment on them, for that is up to God and he knows if they will change or not. I’ve got a suspicion they won’t, but I can’t know for sure. I pray they will come to know the fullness of God’s love, mercy and grace before it is too late.
There is also the story of a Christian missionary in Canada that picked up a pink gift bag on his doorstep thinking it may have been intended for one of his young (under 10) daughters. Fortunately, his daughters were not home, for when he opened it, a bomb went off. Though he wasn’t killed, he suffered serious injury requiring surgery.
There is also a group of atheists that took out ads on buses in Washington, D.C. that say “Why believe in god? Just be good for goodness sakes.”
The times are exciting when you think about the return of Jesus. Things will continue to get worse for the Christian community as we approach the time of Jesus’ return. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come.
RevJeff on Thu, November 13, 2008
We are told to expect scoffers… How we handle them - priceless.
What would I do… I"ve actually thought about this one. I would stop what we are doing and engage the “leader of the group in a public conversation.”
I am not afraid of their opinion, ashamed of the Word of God on this issue, or worried that I cannpt clearly present my belief system from a Biblical view point in such a way that everyone else in the room would hear the truth.
fishon on Thu, November 13, 2008
I have thought of this scenario happening at the Church I pastor.
I hope that I will sit down, lean back in a chair and tell them, go for it. “When you are done, I will preach again. When you are done, we will continue what we were doing. Folks, we have time—do your thing. Waste your time.”
That is what I pray I would do. I am not so sure I am strong enough to do it.
Those folks are looking for a reaction that will give them more excusses for their actions. I am no pacifist, but I think this might be a time for some of it.—————Of course if they start beating on the old ladies, old men, and kids—I am afraid I would beat back. “Oh Lord give me your wisdom.”
fishon
CS on Thu, November 13, 2008
I like the responses both of RevJeff and fishon. It’s like telling a child, “When you’re done with your tantrum and being on time out, we can talk.”
I would probably also call the police discreetly, so that the option is reserved for criminal prosecution if needed due to damage of the sanctuary. While I know that these activities are designed to illicit a physical reaction, too, because usually these types of activists have cameras on them, I would reserve the option of stepping in and defending the flock if they are being physically assaulted. Just lock the doors and keep them in until the authorities arise.
—
CS
Daniel on Thu, November 13, 2008
Jerry—these aren’t the ‘last days’. Which means we actually have to think creatively about how to go on being faithful Christians.
What do atheists and gift bags have to do with dealing with disruptions in a church service?
Peace (from a pacifist),
-Daniel-
Brian L. on Thu, November 13, 2008
I would probably let them have their say, as long as it didn’t turn profane or physical.
If it did, the police would be called immediately. The church is private property, and they would be trespassing.
After they say their piece, I would ask them if I would be welcome to come to their meetings and interrupt them with shouting of my viewpoint.
When they answer NO, I would then say that it is hypocritical of them to come to our turf and disrespect us but not allow for a similar situation on theirs.
Sorry, but I have very little respect for “adults” who act in childish ways then expect respect as if they were grownups.
I tell my kids that if you want people to treat you like an adult, you need to act like one.
They say they want mutual respect, but they’re not willing to respect the people at the church.
Andy Wood on Fri, November 14, 2008
My first reaction is that I’d call the police to protect them from getting hurt really badly by my people. This is West Texas, dude!
e.b. on Fri, November 14, 2008
Daniel said: “Jerry—these aren’t the ‘last days’. Which means we actually have to think creatively about how to go on being faithful Christians.
What do atheists and gift bags have to do with dealing with disruptions in a church service?”
First, can’t presume to answer for Jerry, but some of us do believe that we quite possibly could be living in the “last days”. That being said I do agree with what you said about being creative and faithful in our approach to opposition & evangelism.
Secondly, I think he was making the point about the incident in Canada with the gift bag bomb, the “why believe in God” ad campaign and this incident of church disruption, to say that we will likely see more and more of these types of things. These types of things will likely increase if our society and culture remains on it’s current path.
Jerry on Fri, November 14, 2008
Thanks, e.b. That is exactly what I was driving at. Not that we were actually in the last days, but that the people who oppose God are getting more and more emboldened to lash out against God’s children.
God’s Word says things will get worse as we approach the return of Jesus. Good will be perceived as evil and evil as good. We’ve already seen that starting to happen over the last 20 years, but now it’s happening more out in the open and doesn’t cause the outrage it would have 20 -30 years ago. It would have been headline news then, but not now.
e.b. on Fri, November 14, 2008
In a related story from CA:
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20081110/NEWS01/81110028/-1/rss
Picking on an old lady! For shame!
Rev. Kareem on Fri, November 14, 2008
we who lead are held responsible by God to keep peace and order…let everything be done decently and in order… and clearly this type of behavior is out of order… first the feminist said they have a right to speak, now the gays saying they have a right to speak… what’s next, the rapist and pedophiles?
how long is the church going to allow these spirits to control her?
one of the problem is the church has turned away from apostolic teaching and preaching and has turned to popularity and universalism…
there’s more conformism and less rebuking in our churches…
according to Paul, “Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.” (1 Timothy 5:20)
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Ephesians 5:11)
Jesus often rebuked unclean spirits… Luke 4:39; 9:42; Matthew 17:18;
the one that fits this question is found in Luke 4:35… “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm.”
when people with unclean spirits come on our turf and disrupt the service, it’s our God given authority to rebuke those unclean spirits… we can’t sit back and waith for the authorities to take control, we must take control… James said, “resist the devil and he will flee”… we must stand up to the devil with the Word of God… we don’t have to be violent… let the Word of God fight our battle… Don’t get frustrated, and do be flexible. We as pastors/leaders must maintain order within our churches…
lulu on Sat, November 15, 2008
i knew one pastor that was walking down the street and this woman came on to him, and he cried loud, whore of babylon, and pointed at her, she started runing down the sidewalk to get away from him, and he followed her for a way , saying real loud whore of babylon, that woman out ran him.he said you got to nip it in the bud.
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