11 Aug 07
1 edit
Originally posted by kirksey957It was completely irresponsible of them to cancel services THE DAY BEFORE the funeral!!!! I buried my father a few months ago, and it was a great comfort to me having the church help with the arrangements, etc. If they bailed on me the day prior to the service, it would have been catastrophic! I can't imagine the audacity...
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAY_FUNERAL?SITE=KYLOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
If they didn't have anything good to say about Mr. Sinclair's homosexuality, they at least could have made an attempt to honor him in other ways (for his military service, etc.), if for anything out of respect for those who loved him.
EDIT: I believe God put that church in such an awkward position for a reason. It was a test. Judge not. They failed.
11 Aug 07
1 edit
Originally posted by kirksey957I guess it depends on how it is looked at; if it is just look at the life,
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAY_FUNERAL?SITE=KYLOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
we are sad he passed it was wrong to cancel it. If those of that church
thought it was being taken as something along the lines of this is a
church service, than they may have thought it could be seen as a
blessing of that life style. Why should it be a surprise that some
would not want that done at their church when many believe myself
included that Biblical doctrine does not permit that lifestyle it views it
as sin. If the church leadership viewed the two are not compatible why
should one be force to acknowledge the other?
That church doesn’t force people into accepting their views you attend
there or you don’t, so if a funeral is a sacred event to them they more
than likely felt they cannot honor those that reject God’s Word. I
would not have cancelled it, because I view all life as important, but I
do not judge those that did as doing anything wrong, they are walking
out their faith as the gentleman that was gay who felt there was
nothing wrong with how he lived. If you want to condemn them for
their beliefs you shouldn't be surprised if others condemn those that
view the gay lifestyle as sinful either. We all have our beliefs, when we
rub shoulders with one another these things happen, so I don’t know
why they wanted a church service, but I’m sure there are those that
would do it for them.
Kelly
11 Aug 07
Originally posted by KellyJayYou ask an excellent question that I'm sure many people ask. Why would such an individual want a funeral in a church.? I'll take a stab at it. Gay people are like many other people in that they participate in church and find community and comfort in it. Having a funeral in a church (which I regret society is moving away from) is a way to say that the church has something to say at this moment in life that is meaningful. In much the same way that some people may spread ashes on a mountain or the person's favorite place, the church can also serve in that function. Now this man was gay and it may be that he had a signficant other and it is no different from an 80 year old man who died who has a surviving wife in that I'm sure it is appropiate to acknowledge and honor that relationship as a big piece of the funeral.
I guess it depends on how it is looked at; if it is just look at the life,
we are sad he passed it was wrong to cancel it. If those of that church
thought it was being taken as something along the lines of this is a
church service, than they may have thought it could be seen as a
blessing of that life style. Why should it be a surprise that some
would ...[text shortened]... y they wanted a church service, but I’m sure there are those that
would do it for them.
Kelly
I wonder if he had been a murderer or had an affair at some time or for that matter been obese if it would have been a similar kind of scrutiny or rejection.
11 Aug 07
Originally posted by kirksey957Or, if he attended a 'gay rehab' clinic and had been pronounced 'cured', perhaps they might have reconsidered.
You ask an excellent question that I'm sure many people ask. Why would such an individual want a funeral in a church.? I'll take a stab at it. Gay people are like many other people in that they participate in church and find community and comfort in it. Having a funeral in a church (which I regret society is moving away from) is a way to say that the ...[text shortened]... or for that matter been obese if it would have been a similar kind of scrutiny or rejection.
12 Aug 07
1 edit
Originally posted by LemonJelloUnfortunatly, I am unable to access the web site in question. My computer has a mind of its own from time to time. Having said that, I can ascertain from the posts thus far that what is being talked about is someone who is gay being dishonered at a church because he was gay. Am I correct? If so that is unfortunate.
Get serious.
I once read a book by a christian psychologist that made a correlation between love and respect. He said that respect is a fundamental component of a relationship envolving love. If so, the Christian attitude should be to try and show respect to others even when they are not showing respect to you. I can think of no reason to show disrespect to another person other than trying to belittle them. The question then becomes, what good comes from that and if nothing good comes from it why do it?
12 Aug 07
Originally posted by whodeyI see. I thought you were being disparaging before, but I think I was wrong. Sorry.
Unfortunatly, I am unable to access the web site in question. My computer has a mind of its own from time to time. Having said that, I can ascertain from the posts thus far that what is being talked about is someone who is gay being dishonered at a church because he was gay. Am I correct? If so that is unfortunate.
I once read a book by a christian psy ...[text shortened]... he question then becomes, what good comes from that and if nothing good comes from it why do it?
12 Aug 07
2 edits
Originally posted by kirksey957Maybe he would have been rejected than too, but murder isn't a life
You ask an excellent question that I'm sure many people ask. Why would such an individual want a funeral in a church.? I'll take a stab at it. Gay people are like many other people in that they participate in church and find community and comfort in it. Having a funeral in a church (which I regret society is moving away from) is a way to say that the or for that matter been obese if it would have been a similar kind of scrutiny or rejection.
style choice unless the person is a serial killer. I wonder if David C
sees the hypocriticalness of his complaint? People want the church
when they want the church, or God when they want God, and if the
church or God appears to want or not want them for their 'cherry
picking' of God or the church, than the turn around is fair play.
"Either Jesus fulfilled Levitical law, or he did not. Therefore, I better not see any of these homo-hatin' "religious" types eating shellfish or sportin' tattoos. Can't cherry-pick your commandments."
Kelly
12 Aug 07
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Originally posted by KellyJayActually, Kelly, the hypocrisy is from Christians that use Leviticus to justify bigotry against homosexuals, while ignoring the other commandments therein....laws regarding diet (no shellfish!), or the proper way to sacrifice animals to God.
I wonder if David C sees the hypocriticalness of his complaint?
12 Aug 07
2 edits
Originally posted by David CNo, you need to follow the way God handled food throughout all of
Actually, Kelly, the hypocrisy is from Christians that use Leviticus to justify bigotry against homosexuals, while ignoring the other commandments therein....laws regarding diet (no shellfish!), or the proper way to sacrifice animals to God.
scripture, all of the OT and NT so you grasp why Christians feel the
way we do about it all. There isn't a picking and choosing with regard
to food and OT law or animal sacrifice for that matter; with scripture
there is a flow of what is and is not acceptable. I do not
accept 'homosexuals' as a distinct subset of people because of their
makeup, they are a subset due to actions, they are no different than
anyone one else, the distinction is due to actions we put labels on
like we do adulterers or any other act of infidelity or promiscuity.
Kelly
13 Aug 07
To combine answers to different posts...
I saw no indication that the deceased requested a church service. This was something his family wanted, and as funerals are primarily for the mourners there request was not out of line.
However, had he requested a religious sending off I still would feel the same way -- sickened that the church made the decision it did.
*Bad English Alert* I keep not responding to this thread because I know that as strongly as I firmly believe that many people are born with the genetic makeup to be homosexuals and could no more be healthy heterosexuals than KJ could be happy kissing a man, I know he and others feel just as strongly that somehow people choose to fall in love with people of the same gender and thus they're morally superior for not having made that choice.
Giving someone a "Christian Burial" is not an endorsement of "lifestyle" unless that is a blanket endorsement -- meaning that having a Christian funeral for a smoker is an endorsement of smoking, having a funeral for someone who beat his wife endorses that ... etc. It's all or nothing. A Christian funeral is supposed to bring comfort to the family, hope in the resurrection, all that sort of stuff. It's a time to celebrate the life that was, share memories, look at the positive in the person's life and legacy, etc. However, in a just world, those who refused the funeral service will be refused when their time comes because someone disagrees with something about them.