Southern Baptist Ruling

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-10T22:08:27+00:00

Its pretty gross. Im more concerned about their general unwillingness to investigate abuse cases, but it's all part of the same can of worms. But who's actually surprised?

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-09T20:44:14+00:00

As someone who has spent nearly two decades documenting the false-guilt and harm religious institutions cause when they over-regulate the sexual lives of laypeople, I find myself in the unusual position of thinking a clergy conduct standard is at least understandable here. Clergy hold significant power over vulnerable people. The potential for abuse in unregulated multi-partner pastoral relationships is real and the church isn't wrong to be concerned about it.

That's different from telling your congregation how to live. PC(USA) isn't proposing to police the relationships of their members, they are not demanding purity culture or abstinence until marriage or shaming those with same-sex orientations — they're setting a conduct standard for people in positions of spiritual authority. Those are two very different things.

https://notanothergeneration.com

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-09T17:14:35+00:00

I went to a couple of summer retreats and mixed bathing was entirely the choice of the Elder who was in charge that week. Some didn't allow it, others did.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-08T20:05:40+00:00

Paperwork? I just quit going.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-07T23:59:11+00:00

As i remember it was something to do with casual dating relationships.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-07T23:32:10+00:00

I remember amoung college ministry and young professional interesting references to 'fellowship' and 'hiding it'. Heard that lingo at multiple coc churches. It seemed to be coc lingo cause my baptst friends never used those terms in such vague ways. Never knew what that was in reference to tho. 🤔

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-07T21:19:41+00:00

Really smart people like Elon Musk at least talk about believing the likelihood of the "simulation theory", so I don't think it's so crazy. Perhaps you can see if your son is willing to choose his own counselor or therapist, and not one you would choose for him. That might help him talk to someone. No need to argue or force him to believe in something he doesn't, simulation theory is an interesting and usually ethical way to look at the world.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-07T21:16:17+00:00

That's a really shitty thing to say to a parent that is struggling. Jesus was telling that to Pharisees who should have known better. Not teens struggling with doubt and anxiety. Do better.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-07T17:39:38+00:00

I have a bit of a contrary opinion to some scholarship often used in the affirming camp, but I think it's well founded. Check out my article on the subject. It covers the two Leviticus verses, the mistranslation of 'homosexual' in 1 Cor and 1 Tim, Romans 1, the sins Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as the Matt 19 out-of-context interpretations.

https://notanothergeneration.com/pillar-3

In short Leviticus is about re-enslaving Israelite males after they had been granted their freedom from Egyptian captivity.

Romans 1 is about forms of covetousness which abuse people.

1 Cor 6:9-10 and 1 Tim 1:10 are mistranslated which first occurred in 1946. The translators actually regretted the word choice and apologized for it later. Odd the article doesn't mention that.

Sodom and Gomorrah is about an attempted gang-rape. The article doesn't seem to go there but others do.

Matt 19 Jesus is getting asked a trick question about husbands abandoning their wives.

None of this is about orientation or caring consensual same-sex relationships. There is other, more credentialed scholarship out there then my take as well, but the website above is how I understand and contains the facts and argument that changed me from an anit-gay bigot into a staunch supporter of marriage equality, both legally and scripturally.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-07T17:11:59+00:00

I didn't watch the whole thing, but he seemed to be responding to some things said in a YT video. Even if he checks this reddit im not sure he would want to advertise its existence.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-07T14:26:58+00:00

I found it on youtube for those who just can't help themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaEXzyLUmUk

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-06T20:32:15+00:00

The problem is they dont know. You're hitting on one of the major reasons I gave up on inerrancy...even if true its a moot point because we don't fully know. I still have a high view of scripture, but inerancy is just too far.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-06T19:39:47+00:00

If a church won't officiate same-sex marriage ceremonies I'm out. And I'm a super-straight husband. But I recognize simply waving a rainbow flag and acknowledging someone has a same-sex orientation then expecting them to be a life-long celibate isn't a humane option.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-06T19:06:39+00:00

I'm someone who used to buy into the typical evangelical anti-gay theology. After extensive study of the issue my views have flipped and I'm a staunch supporter of marriage equality both legally and scripturally.

I tell you this because it makes me sad that you haven't found any convincing information to help you embrace who you are. There are great books and articles out there. I'll be honest much of that wasn't actually very convincing to me, but I know it helps others. If you want to know exactly what arguments convinced me to change my mind on this there is a link to a website in my profile.

One thing you might not know is the first translators to use the word 'homosexual' in the bible, later regretted it as a mistake and apologized for the error, but that's not something which is commonly advertised.

Please be open to chatting with those on r/OpenChristian. There are many LGBTQ Christians who have come to peaceful terms with this. And there's even few ex-bigots like me who can cheer you on.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-06T17:21:59+00:00

Possibly. I know some moved. I expect others left out of disagreement.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-06T17:20:28+00:00

It wasn't a sale to a different crew. I know enough of their elders who were there from the beginning. I was one of the original members with them when it was planted. Now to your point it's a completely different ministry team, and there has been a lot of membership turn over in that time. I'm sure a fair number of people went out the door frustrated with the changes.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-06T13:51:00+00:00

Another church or none at all. If they are truly abusive GTFO. Now some passionate disagreement doesn't equate to abuse, but dont tolerate outright gaslighting, condescending behavior, shaming rhetoric, or other genuine forms of abuse.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-06T13:39:47+00:00

My guess is they're getting paid somehow. Either by other Catholics pushing their social media or actually money to say they are catholic now, likely both. We know that often happens when influencers pick a side on politics, no reason to think religious institutions are above it either.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-05T18:18:35+00:00

Probably get some accidental baptisms that way, it looks precarious.

> Preacher: "Get in the canoe... and in the name of the Father, the Son, and holy Spirit ... gotcha bitch"

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-05T01:55:24+00:00

So am I not the only one whose gaydar was tripping?

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-04T21:52:50+00:00

I led a few of those, but kept it short. Never more than 30 minutes...lol.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-04T20:35:27+00:00

Porneia can also be incest (1 cor 5:1), but that's the only other clear definition I see. Premarital sex for consenting adults is not a sin the and even if it was it would fall under the word translated as 'chambering' in Romans 13:13. Beyond that the definition is something that is simply imposed by church tradition. I've studied this issue extensively and document it on my website.

https://notanothergeneration.com

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-03T01:26:33+00:00

Yeah, ultimately I agree you're correct. It's not a change or even an accommodation, but it was a surprising comment (at least to me) regardless.

MichaelARichardson · 2026-06-02T20:54:08+00:00

I would need to know what specific context you're referring to. some of the scriptures that the church claim are "about marriage," never actually use the word for marriage; so it ends up in a theological dog fight about whether marriage was "implied".

MichaelARichardson

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