The Open and Affirming Movement

In class we talked about a moment that is transforming churches across the country. It is called the Open and Affirming Movement.

Open and Affirming  is an official designation of congregations and other settings within the United Church of Christ (UCC) denomination affirming the full inclusion of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons (LGBT) in that setting's life and ministry. Meaning any LGBT person can become the pastor, a deacon, an elder, etc.

Here is a website that helps people find churches that are open and affirming. The website also lists 44 denominations that are open and affirming.
-> http://www.gaychurch.org/find_a_church/

There are 3 things I find wrong with this.
1) Jesus specifically says to keep his commands, and he commanded man to be with woman.
  
Matthew 5:17-20 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. "

These churches are setting aside one of Jesus's commands:

Matthew 19:4-6: "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,  and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'.  So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Jesus commanded man to marry women, unless one chooses to remain single, thus the churches are breaking a commandment.

2) They are not viewing the Bible as truth. Plain and simple. If they fully believed in the Bible, they would not be open and affirming.

3) The churches identity now becomes that they are open and affirming and not centered on Jesus. I have visited the websites of these churches and most of them will list the title of the church and directly under it will say, "Open and Affirming, all are welcome!" The focus is no longer about Jesus, which is the purpose of the church.

Don't misunderstand me, I believe that any person no matter what should be welcomed and invited into church. That is what church is for! I think churches that have made people leave are not Biblical, but I also think promoting that it is okay to be gay, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender is also not Biblical. The number one thing that a church should stand firm on, in my opinion, is making sure they follow the Bible. I just don't believe open and affirming churches are doing that.