I had to smile because I saw that… and I thought well its documented. Son in the future we can measure that letter to future correspondence and we can also measure the Grace of God in their lives as well as ours. So it’s not a total loss thing… its a beginning.

Saying that I also have to say that their attitude towards Gay people wanting to accept Christ and be part of the family… somewhere in the bible talks about blood on their hands for rejecting us… hmmmm there has been a number of deaths amongst our christian gay brothers and sisters throughout Australia. People overseeing them regardless of their ignorance are responsible for them.

Hmmmm sigh

Craig.

just for your interest….this new statement has mellowed somewhat from the previous statement and for this the AOG needs to be congratulated. I’ve posted the original statement below.

Also there are false statements in the press release that have been quoted. I’ll be speaking with the leadership about changing those as it makes out I am a liar….which i no longer am……thank God. I haven’t issued any statements to correct the false statements as more important things are at stake and I dont want to be involved in arguemeants about petty details.

I talk about the Oz AOG position statement on homosexuality in the new edition of my book and how it was removed from the website after my meeting with the National Executive. You will see the difference/tone of the previous and current statements.



A Statement on Homosexuality and Lesbianism

August 1992

Page 1

This statement is a result of a discussion paper by the National Executive Presbytery.

Homosexual is defined by Webster as ‘one who has sexual feelings for persons of the same sex’. Lesbian is defined as a ‘female homosexual’. Homosexuality is referred to directly and

specifically in the scriptures.

New Testament In Romans 1:26-27 Paul says, ‘Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.’

Paul also lists homosexuality as a sin in: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, ‘Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the

name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God’. and 1 Timothy 1:8-11, ‘We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for righteousness but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers – and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blesses God, which he entrusted to me.’

Old Testament The Old Testament also explicitly prohibited homosexuality, Leviticus 18:22 says, ‘Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, that is detestable.’ and Leviticus 20:13 adds, ‘If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable.

They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.’

The scripture also condemns Sodom for its homosexual practices in Genesis 19:1-13.

A Statement on Homosexuality and Lesbianism

August 1992

Page 2

Chosen Behaviour The scripture teaches that sex is to be practised only within a heterosexual marriage. Genesis 2:18 tells us God provided woman as a companion for a man and he clearly encouraged them to be fruitful and multiply. In doing so, God provide the family for the conception, nurturing and development of offspring, Homosexuality violates God’s plan and provision of the family.

Biologically God did not create the human body for homosexual activity. Homosexuality abuses the body, often causing physical injury and trauma. Homosexual activity is unhygienic as can be

seen in the high rates of infection with, and the transmission of AIDS amongst those who practice homosexuality.

Homosexuality is a chosen behaviour. It is a choice not a natural, biological, hormonal or genetically governed behaviour.

Despite a multitude of theories attempting to associate homosexual behaviour with genetics or the composition of the brain, no conclusive evidence has yet been presented.

We conclude that the scripture clearly forbids the Christian to engage in or practise any form of homosexuality or lesbianism, and we oppose the legalisation of homosexuality.

Christian Attitude What should be our attitude to homosexuals?

1. God loves the homosexual despite their sin and he is willing to forgive the homosexual and change them. The gospel is particularly relevant to the homosexual and lesbian.

2. We advocate counseling of homosexuals to help them abandon then practice of homosexuality and accept Christ.

3. We advocate a compassionate ministry to those who suffer AIDS as we attempt to show them God’s love, his message of salvation, his healing and our concern for their suffering.

i think it is great. I don’t think this a place to bring up their transgressions… just a place to say wow… it is changing…. its getting better and things are being noticed… thank God!

Although i would be intrigued to see one of the families of a gay person who killed themselves sue their church for negligence and see what happened…. i think it would open up a can of worms….

Um, how has anything changed?

So they’ve changed the wording and made the statement smaller. Nothing has changed – the spirit of what the AOG said in the prior statement is still there: (Active) homosexuals are sinners and the Church won’t tolerate such behaviour.

People are still killing themselves! How can this be good?!?

That’s true you know… and I believe each one of us saw something different in the statement… I mean admit that it looks different… It the optimisic me trying to get out and say see see… so anything small or minor we tend to grab it and say wow … its better to be excited and happy about the changes because by doing that we are sending out positive vibes… at the moment most of us are acting as if we all have somethig to hide or be embarrassed about… but by being positive and grateful we are extending ourselves more and more… other people are witnessing us and seeing that statement like the ones the church has written won’t put a dent in our determination. We must keep smiling and being who we are… we are not going to go away at all! Like it or not, we ain’t movin! Smile.

Have a great week. Good night.

Craig.

I had this one experience of a young man killing himself… he is one of those unknown statistics. Both my partner and I met him and we both felt he was one of us but he wasn’t close enough for us to intervene because shortly after meeting him he commited suicide at North Head. Sigh… he went missing for a few days till his car was located… on the day that he committed his own death… i was in little manly and I had a strong feeling that day… I just knew what happened and prayed… I did not know that he was about 5 mins drive away from where I was standing. Sigh. 😕

I guess I will never get over this experience, it was a wake up call for me to actually acknowledge that this is happening. The fact that he had pinned everything on this girlfriend that was a friend of ours. I sure wish we had the forsight to know what he intended to do and intervened. 😳

Next year in the Mardi Gras… I would like to engage myself into the march!!! 🙂

Craig.