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Sunday, August 26, 2007
I've been attending The Vision Church of Atlanta since I moved to Atlanta a year ago and I've only written about the church once on this site and not for any particular reason. But with all of the drama surrounding the Juanita Bynum situation and the homophobic sermon I wrote about here that enraged me to the point where I had to stop and pray, I felt it was necessary to offer an alternative to the dogma and fire and brimstone messages we're used to hearing.
The Vison Church of Atlanta under the leadership of Pastor O.C. Allen III is an LGBT affirming church that is inclusive and accpeting of all of God's people. But beyond that it is a place you can go where God's love is extended to you despite your circumstances, and where his word is taught in an effort to build a relationship and not as a tool of oppression and division.
There are a lot of gays and lesbians who refuse to enter a church like Vision, so many of us are so used to being spiritually abused Sunday after Sunday that we reject love from a church that empowers you to grow in Christ and does not cite your sexual orientation as a hinderance in doing so. Pastor Clay often says he ministers to a congregation of "wounded people" and he's exactly right. Most of the members that make up Vision and churches like it at one point were told they were abominable, a disgrace in the eyes of God, unworthy of love, rejected by family, friends, and often suffered from their own internalized homophobia as a result.
I made up in my mind years ago that despite what man or T.D. Jakes or Eddie Long had to say about me I would not allow their prejudice and interpetation of the bible convince me that I wasn't worthy of God's love. I thank God for my pastor and The Vision Church for teaching a radically inclusive word.
If you've been rejected by your church because you're different I want you to know that you haven't been rejected by God. You were made in his image and he knew who you were going to be before you knew yourself. Your life is not a mistake! I invite you to take a few minutes out of your day and listen to highlights from a radical word from Pastor Clay by clicking on the link below. It just might change your life.
A Radical Word :Pastor O.C. Allen III
Labels: Religion, Spirituality
12 Comments:
@Darian: It's good to see inclusive churches like this. We more of these churches around.
I still don't get why black gay like to be bibical and spiritual abused every sunday morning??
Is fear, hate,shame? Possibly all roll into one!
We have to start to leaving these churches to send a message that we're God's children too!
August 27, 2007 9:31 AM
This is sad...I have to write a post about these fallacies.
August 27, 2007 5:48 PM
Everyone is elligible of God's love. Its the things that we do that sometimes is unpleasing in his eyes. People need to separate the sin from the sinner. I wonder when people will get it!
August 27, 2007 9:10 PM
@Captain: You really need to stop! It's your problem that you accept and believe what these homphobic church say about you, not anyone else.
There are no fallacies here! This is a real Christ-Centered church! Get over it!
August 28, 2007 1:33 PM
It is amazing to me how unclean and unholy people can start a church and attempt to praise a holy God they don't know nothing about!
August 28, 2007 2:08 PM
@Captain: It's amazing how you internet patrol gay blogs [especially back gay blogs]. You can call it unholy, and unclean all you want. No one has anything to prove to you.
So we know nothing about God? I guess since no one has your god-fearing way of thinking of a loving good God, then we're wrong!
Typical Cafetertia Christian!
No you're wrong. And you can't handle it, and that we still know God is in our corner! You can contince your hate/bias comments. They're pointless, worthless, meaningless,and anti-christ
How's that conversion/delieverance/brianwashing to heterosexuality going? Any miracles? It sure looks like it ain't working! Fact is you can't pray the gay away! You're proof of it!
August 29, 2007 8:32 AM
Hey ya, couldn't resist commenting. Thank God for good news. There's so much beating and fighting and kicking and chocking going on in the world. At last a report about a church with love. Thanks for that. And thank God for being here Captain! Not going to allow your attitude to ruin such good news. Your solitary existence here reminds me that love is more powerful than hate. I love you. I dare you to try loving the people on this blog for a change and see what happens.
Maybe God is trying to tell you something...right now! right now!right now! Let the Church say amen!
September 15, 2007 2:11 PM
It is a shame that churches continue to accept these sinful lifestyles. It is nothing wrong with going to church to be delivered but there is no way that people should go to church all year long and continue to live the same sinful lifestyle. At what point does the change take place? God loves everyone but he has never tolerated sin. He can tolerate weakness but he hates wickedness. Everyone reading this message needs to know that even in 2008 God still requires a holy life. That hasn't changed and it never will. What ever happened to people coming to church and being changed and delivered? Stop making excuses for your sins and let God transform your life. Mr. Chatman
December 27, 2008 8:57 PM
As a minister my function is very difficult especially when it comes to the matter of preaching EXACTLY what the Bible says. I happen also, to adhere to a strict open heart for prophetic messages which means the TRUTH is being channeled while I speak. There are many sins and none are greater than the rest but I feel you need to understand something, SPIRITUAL EDIFICATION requires the tearing down of CARNALITY. Homosexual ACTIVITY is seaped and anchored in CARNALITY. No individual likes to hear a message being preached about their particualr CARNALITY which means "flesh"...remember the Romans and Jews crucified Jesus for preaching against their CARNALITY which was (then) IDOLATRY. It is not discrimination when a preacher preaches what the Bible says. We are all God's people-this is true but what is the goal of attending church. Or should I ask what is your particular goal? When I decided to GIVE MY LIFE to CHRIST I realized I had to SACRIFICE EVERYTHING I THOUGHT I WAS and let GOD MOLD me into what HE wants me to be. In doing so, I discovered my purpose and my destiny. The question or the problem isn't about homosexuals being comfortable in church, it is about the integrity of a goal to change for the benefit of GOD'S Kingdom which will require SACRIFICING one lifestyle for another.
June 09, 2009 2:43 PM
Truly, God did create us in his image! However, that image was marred due to the effects of sin. Thus, it is essential that you recieve Christ and the Holy Spirt so that you may walk as a new creature which is the original image before Adam sinned. Yes, God knew who you were to be but he gives the choice to choose who you desire to become! That's LOVE! If he wuold have forced himself on us, that would not be love! Does God get confused? Maybe he does. Why should I trust in Him, if he's was not sure of who I am to be? Is this Christ necessary! I am already who God desires for me to be!
August 27, 2009 11:49 AM
It is ashame that we say we love god but we judge our neighbor....no one here on this earth has a heaven or a hell to put anyone in , so while u steady pointing fingers remember u got 3 pointing back at you. no sin is greater than the other , whoever hath not sinned cast the first stone , and silence covered the building and everyone went home. WOW....seek ye your own soul salvation and stop medling and worrying about whta GOD is doing in anothers life. The real people of GOd love unconditionally , and DO NOT JUDGE ANY MAN FOR WHERE THEY ARE...thats our problem we think we gotta change somebody welp maybe thats why people run from us because we cant change nobody , god does the changing and tearing down of strongholds. The Chosen One from The Vision Church in Anniston Al.
December 13, 2011 3:41 PM
Amen! As a gay minister myself, the prospect of an open lgbt church is AWESOME!I absolutely agree with everything about this post. I was arguing with a pastor one time, he was preaching against accepting openly-gay people to serve in church. Who ELSE is gonna direct the choir??? ;)
Jesus was much more open and loving than a lot of "Christians". He loved the lame man, the prostitutes, the lepers, He even loved Peter and Judas. And I'm supposed to believe He hates me? He knew who I was before He formed me in my mamas womb. So He must've known that I'd become the man I am.
Eh, that's my Theology and I'm sticking to it.
-_Cogito
Blackisbootyful.blogspot.com
Capricornaries@hotmail.com
(sorry for any typoes, I'm on my iPad, in the pulpit, lol).
January 07, 2012 11:44 AM
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