I see what you are saying, but Jeff Cook isn’t merely talking about an ongoing Sanctification process that we might debate over. He goes on to suggest that we abandon the concept that homosexuals and lesbians need to repent at all. He suggests that we should view homosexuality and lesbianism like OT dietary restrictions for shell fish that simply didn’t apply to the new Gentile believers in the early church. He is clearly encouraging us to entertain homosexuals and lesbians coming as they are and staying as they are, as being the new wave of the new work of the Holy Spirit that overrides what God’s Word so clearly says (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

Thanks,

You ask, “Is she a lesbian woman or is she a born again woman?”

Does being born again mean you are instantly not a lesbian? Or a sluggard, or a liar, or a glutton, or abuse alcohol, or smoke a pipe?

We are all new creations when we accept Christ.

But sanctification takes time.

And we still struggle.

The question is… what do we do with people who are at different levels of sanctification?

That’s what he’s trying to address.

He’s saying that he’s seen remarkable progress in her journey… but that progress has not yet reached her sexuality.

See very possible to me from people I’ve watched. Sometimes it takes time and is not instantaneous.

Ed Chapman is a long time, faithful follower of Julie Anne Smith.

In answer to Ed's question, MATTHEW HENRY (CHARLES SPURGEON’S FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR), JOHN CALVIN, AND ALBERT BARNES support me, my family, and our church in a just defense against vicious criminal accusations vindictively made by the close friends of Don Miller (see http://wp.me/p2YEp0-54), a fired former staff member. These heavy weight pastor/theologians stand firmly with us against the evil assault of Christ's church and our families.

You wrote in your missive that, “the liturgy will include a Creed that goes to the heart of Gospel and will include words spoken and sung that take us to the Cross.” It is here that you carelessly trample not on Scripture alone, but upon the TRUE Gospel, the FINISHED work of the Cross, and the LORD Jesus Christ.

…The Catholic gospel is a complex system of sacramental faith and works in which God’s grace is doled out sacrament by sacrament…
The sixth point of the Grace Brethren Statement of Faith says: SALVATION. A complete and eternal salvation by God's grace alone received as the gift of God through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

…As a pastor of a Grace Brethren Church you have professed agreement with a basic FGBC covenant and Statement of Faith. Section One of that covenant reads, “The sovereign congregations which are members of this corporation are united in accepting the Holy Scriptures as the sole guide and authority in all matters of faith, doctrine and practice” (http://www.fgbc.org/whoarewe/covenant-and-statement-of-faith.cfm). How does finding “spiritual nourishment” (and encouraging others to do so) in Roman Catholic “liturgy,” “Creed,” and “homily” based on an amalgamation of Holy Scripture, unholy papal decree, and the unholy authoritative traditions of Rome, reflect a commitment to “the Holy Scriptures as the sole guide and authority in all matters of faith, doctrine and practice”?

You wrote, "As you know, the FGBC is a Fellowship of churches. Our association as churches is relational (around doctrinal distinctives of course), but our functioning together is because of our relationships with each other. That is why we are a 'fellowship' rather than a 'denomination.'"

I exhorted Dr. Shoemaker to cease trampling upon the FGBC doctrinal distinctives four years ago. I exhorted you to defend the FGBC doctrinal distinctives, and more importantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, four years ago. I exhort you to do so again now. Repent Greg. Defend the Gospel. Defend the Word of God. Defend the very heart of the FGBC doctrinal distinctives. Repent of your fight against those who are defending the Gospel, Word of God, and the FGBC distinctives. Repent of your unholy alliance with the pope, priest, mass, counter reformer, Rev. Ginny Wagner promoting Don Shoemaker as a member of the AGBM in good standing. Do the Biblical and “honorable” thing and repent, OR withdraw yourself from the AGBM, the FGBC, and the pastorate. BGBC is yet committed to defending the Gospel, the Word of God, and the FGBC doctrinal distinctives that are built upon it. Repent and join us in that defense Greg.

Sincerely,

Rom 10:2-4
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

2 John 9-11
Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Please read your Bible carefully and prayerfully.

Love In Christ,

What you see here are two essential types of judgment exercised and admonished. If we can’t make GOSPEL judgments we can’t distinguish between the true Gospel and the many false gospels. If we can’t make MORAL judgments we can’t distinguish between righteousness and lawlessness.

You make a good judgment yourself in writing, “right now, SO-CALLED Catholics and Evangelicals, and the World, are allowing Unborn Babies, No Rights, just Legally Aborting them.” I agree with you completely in your Biblically based judgment that professing Christians who promote abortion are in certain danger of hell, and professing Christians who do nothing to stop abortions (speak out, support pro-life ministries, etc.) are in danger of some level of divine chastisement in the least. However, I must make a distinction. Roman “Catholics” (those who hold to the Catechism of the Catholic Church) and the “World” are even now under the wrath of God and must repent or they will most certainly perish.

Matt 7:13-23
"ENTER BY THE NARROW GATE; for WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND THERE ARE MANY WHO GO IN BY IT. 14 Because NARROW IS THE GATE AND DIFFICULT IS THE WAY WHICH LEADS TO LIFE, AND THERE ARE FEW WHO FIND IT.

15 "BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS (in order to beware of them you must make judgments as to who they are and why), WHO COME TO YOU IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING, BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE RAVENOUS WOLVES. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

21"NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME,'LORD, LORD,' SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. 22 MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY, 'LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN YOUR NAME, CAST OUT DEMONS IN YOUR NAME, AND DONE MANY WONDERS IN YOUR NAME?' 23 And THEN I WILL DECLARE TO THEM, 'I NEVER KNEW YOU; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS!'

If you had read your Bible more thoroughly you would have known that the Lord Jesus forbids making sin based judgments, He in no way forbids us from making judgments on truth and error, authentic Gospel and false gospel, holiness and sinfulness. These judgments are essential. These judgments are both commanded and exemplified by the Lord Jesus, the Apostles, the Prophets of old, etc. Notice the full teaching of Matt. 7:1-5 (especially verse 5) and the immediate judgment the Lord makes and exhorts us to make in the following verses.

Matt 7:1-5
"Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! FIRST REMOVE THE PLANK FROM YOUR OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPECK FROM YOUR BROTHER'S EYE.