Comments for Doug Murphy's Blog Library http://dougmurphy.org Crashing into Mission, challenging the Church to more Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:14:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Does the Church owe the LGBTQ Community an apology for the their treatment? by Steve Kas http://dougmurphy.org/2009/10/27/does-the-church-owe-the-lgbtq-community-an-apology-for-the-their-treatment/#comment-1042 Steve Kas Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:14:25 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=139#comment-1042 I'm a christian gay man (not practicing) and I don't understand the churches stance on homosexuality, just as the church doesn't understand homosexuality. Despite what some think it's not a choice...i would have killed to be straight growing up (not being harrassed, mocked, looked down upon, robbed of rights in the workplace etc), an unfortunate mentality led me to take an attempt on my life on two occassions. I have absolutely no attraction to the oppossite sex and i never will....its just not in my nature and never will be regardless of how hard i try. My question it this....taken this information into consideration what would you expect me to do? The way i see it i have two options -remain celibate for the rest of my life (not fall in love, not share my life with another soul, die lonely) or -enter into a sham heterosexual relationship with no attraction (a loveless marriage which could eventuate in kids) Either way i am going to lead a shallow empty life....happiness is a virtue i am clearly never going to acquire. Another question Why is there a plethora of bible passages and actions that are neglected and not enforced in todays context (eg. stoning of women, slavery, etc), yet the churches stance on homosexuality is still in strict enforcement? Just curious trying to understand this. As a christian i would appreciate an answer from a christian in this tough time!!! Cheers I’m a christian gay man (not practicing) and I don’t understand the churches stance on homosexuality, just as the church doesn’t understand homosexuality.

Despite what some think it’s not a choice…i would have killed to be straight growing up (not being harrassed, mocked, looked down upon, robbed of rights in the workplace etc), an unfortunate mentality led me to take an attempt on my life on two occassions. I have absolutely no attraction to the oppossite sex and i never will….its just not in my nature and never will be regardless of how hard i try.

My question it this….taken this information into consideration what would you expect me to do?

The way i see it i have two options
-remain celibate for the rest of my life (not fall in love, not share my life with another soul, die lonely)
or
-enter into a sham heterosexual relationship with no attraction (a loveless marriage which could eventuate in kids)

Either way i am going to lead a shallow empty life….happiness is a virtue i am clearly never going to acquire.

Another question
Why is there a plethora of bible passages and actions that are neglected and not enforced in todays context (eg. stoning of women, slavery, etc), yet the churches stance on homosexuality is still in strict enforcement? Just curious trying to understand this. As a christian i would appreciate an answer from a christian in this tough time!!!

Cheers

]]> Comment on The Problem with Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Seattle (Unintentionally building a environment of dependancy) by sass. http://dougmurphy.org/2010/03/11/the-problem-with-mark-driscoll-and-mars-hill-seattle-building-a-environment-of-dependancy/#comment-1040 sass. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:09:27 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=163#comment-1040 "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) just sayin'. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

just sayin’.

]]> Comment on The Problem with Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Seattle (Unintentionally building a environment of dependancy) by Dave McLean http://dougmurphy.org/2010/03/11/the-problem-with-mark-driscoll-and-mars-hill-seattle-building-a-environment-of-dependancy/#comment-1039 Dave McLean Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:10:40 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=163#comment-1039 Doug, To often, people tend to "follow" pastors and their teachings first as opposed to following The Lord first and His teachings in the bible. This, I see, is a flaw of the "mega" or "super" churches in America. While the church leadership may be focused and have their hearts in the right place wanting only to teach God's word, the people are more into the "church" as a place in itself. Granted there are a few mega churches in the country that are more into how many seats we can fill and not focusing on God first that tend to give large congregations a bad name. I will cite a couple of churches I think are doing good work, but have people that put to much emphasis on "the church". Good Shepherd Community Church in Boring,OR would be considered a mega church. Each weekend over 6000 people walk through the doors. It was formerly pastored by Stu Weber who is a best selling author and a spiritual leader in the military community. This church, however, does everything in its power to not emphasize the church itself. They are very careful about not having everything be about the church, but about worshiping and following God. They downplay their role and make God first. There are people in the church that are busybodies that had complaints about Pastor Stu. So, as not to embroil a split or big to do, Pastor Stu stepped down so the church could continue its work in the community. Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, OR is a larger church with over a thousand in attendance every week. They did endure a split a few years back over a bunch of busybodies and pastoral issues. The current leadership under Larry Grine I think is doing a good job at putting God first and teaching His word. I think, however, it could downplay "Dayspring" a little more though. In summation to my rambling, I think where there are large groups of people together, there will always be the few that are focused on the wrong thing. It sounds like Mark Driscoll has his heart in the right place, but there are people that want to follow him and not God. We should always put Jesus first, others second and yourself last. That is JOY. Hope this all makes sense. Doug,
To often, people tend to “follow” pastors and their teachings first as opposed to following The Lord first and His teachings in the bible. This, I see, is a flaw of the “mega” or “super” churches in America. While the church leadership may be focused and have their hearts in the right place wanting only to teach God’s word, the people are more into the “church” as a place in itself. Granted there are a few mega churches in the country that are more into how many seats we can fill and not focusing on God first that tend to give large congregations a bad name.
I will cite a couple of churches I think are doing good work, but have people that put to much emphasis on “the church”.
Good Shepherd Community Church in Boring,OR would be considered a mega church. Each weekend over 6000 people walk through the doors. It was formerly pastored by Stu Weber who is a best selling author and a spiritual leader in the military community. This church, however, does everything in its power to not emphasize the church itself. They are very careful about not having everything be about the church, but about worshiping and following God. They downplay their role and make God first. There are people in the church that are busybodies that had complaints about Pastor Stu. So, as not to embroil a split or big to do, Pastor Stu stepped down so the church could continue its work in the community.
Dayspring Fellowship in Keizer, OR is a larger church with over a thousand in attendance every week. They did endure a split a few years back over a bunch of busybodies and pastoral issues. The current leadership under Larry Grine I think is doing a good job at putting God first and teaching His word. I think, however, it could downplay “Dayspring” a little more though.
In summation to my rambling, I think where there are large groups of people together, there will always be the few that are focused on the wrong thing. It sounds like Mark Driscoll has his heart in the right place, but there are people that want to follow him and not God.

We should always put Jesus first, others second and yourself last. That is JOY.
Hope this all makes sense.

]]> Comment on The Problem with Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Seattle (Unintentionally building a environment of dependancy) by Danika http://dougmurphy.org/2010/03/11/the-problem-with-mark-driscoll-and-mars-hill-seattle-building-a-environment-of-dependancy/#comment-1038 Danika Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:30:58 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=163#comment-1038 Well to be fair, just as there are Mark-ites, Hutch-ites...there are also Doug-ites. I KNOW there are so many people there are out there that follow you around but choose not to make a difference even though its part of your every message. The point being, it doesnt matter how much you drill a message of being gospel-spreading christians into people, people choose to follow dynamic leaders but the majority of the listeners are simply L-A-Z-Y. I havent been much to Mars Hill, so i dont know how much they should be called out on anything, but I do know there are SO many people who have gotten excited about their faith through Mark. , please, lets dog on the Christians who treat riveting sermons like a binky, sucking on it and enjoying it, but not using it for any real purpose. I know you used your title as a hook, but I really dont know how much good an abrasive title like that does. I think it puts people off more than gets them thinking about the fruit they are producing. Well to be fair, just as there are Mark-ites, Hutch-ites…there are also Doug-ites. I KNOW there are so many people there are out there that follow you around but choose not to make a difference even though its part of your every message. The point being, it doesnt matter how much you drill a message of being gospel-spreading christians into people, people choose to follow dynamic leaders but the majority of the listeners are simply L-A-Z-Y.
I havent been much to Mars Hill, so i dont know how much they should be called out on anything, but I do know there are SO many people who have gotten excited about their faith through Mark. , please, lets dog on the Christians who treat riveting sermons like a binky, sucking on it and enjoying it, but not using it for any real purpose.

I know you used your title as a hook, but I really dont know how much good an abrasive title like that does. I think it puts people off more than gets them thinking about the fruit they are producing.

]]> Comment on The Problem with Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Seattle (Unintentionally building a environment of dependancy) by Doug Murphy http://dougmurphy.org/2010/03/11/the-problem-with-mark-driscoll-and-mars-hill-seattle-building-a-environment-of-dependancy/#comment-1036 Doug Murphy Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:57:50 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=163#comment-1036 Vimal I have learned so much from Mark on Keeping Christ the center he is amazing, The tough part and I don't know the answer really is as you said how do you keep people from to closely connecting the message from the messanger. And yes 90% of the responsibility lies squarely on the hearers being at fault here... I really only used the title as the pull... There are so many haters out there I was hoping they would see this as being more of an issue with them than with Mark or Mars Hill.... Vimal I have learned so much from Mark on Keeping Christ the center he is amazing, The tough part and I don’t know the answer really is as you said how do you keep people from to closely connecting the message from the messanger. And yes 90% of the responsibility lies squarely on the hearers being at fault here… I really only used the title as the pull… There are so many haters out there I was hoping they would see this as being more of an issue with them than with Mark or Mars Hill….

]]> Comment on The Problem with Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Seattle (Unintentionally building a environment of dependancy) by Vimal http://dougmurphy.org/2010/03/11/the-problem-with-mark-driscoll-and-mars-hill-seattle-building-a-environment-of-dependancy/#comment-1035 Vimal Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:03:58 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=163#comment-1035 So doug, I understand your criticism, but I think your criticism should be leveled more at the people. Mark is pretty explicit about the centrality of Jesus in all of this. I guess it's partly Mars Hill's fault for letting people see Mark as an icon, but it's human nature to make inspiring people into an icon. Antioch is full of Hutchites and you yourself are growing (probably unintentionally) a small but dedicated group of Doug Murphy followers. Do you then tell people, "Don't look up to me?" Or rather, how do you direct them to get off their backsides and work themselves rather than rely on you? In the end, few people change, few people share Christ, few people actually practice their beliefs. If you find a solution to that, please let me know. Aside from that, I like your article. It has some very valid points. I also love how you shake things up. So doug, I understand your criticism, but I think your criticism should be leveled more at the people. Mark is pretty explicit about the centrality of Jesus in all of this. I guess it’s partly Mars Hill’s fault for letting people see Mark as an icon, but it’s human nature to make inspiring people into an icon. Antioch is full of Hutchites and you yourself are growing (probably unintentionally) a small but dedicated group of Doug Murphy followers.

Do you then tell people, “Don’t look up to me?” Or rather, how do you direct them to get off their backsides and work themselves rather than rely on you?

In the end, few people change, few people share Christ, few people actually practice their beliefs. If you find a solution to that, please let me know.

Aside from that, I like your article. It has some very valid points. I also love how you shake things up.

]]> Comment on Taking my eyes off Jesus by Toby Getsch http://dougmurphy.org/2010/02/18/taking-my-eyes-off-jesus/#comment-1034 Toby Getsch Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:38:53 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=160#comment-1034 The lessons we learn from children are such a blessing! The lessons we learn from children are such a blessing!

]]> Comment on The Problem with Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Seattle (Unintentionally building a environment of dependancy) by Tim Burke http://dougmurphy.org/2010/03/11/the-problem-with-mark-driscoll-and-mars-hill-seattle-building-a-environment-of-dependancy/#comment-1033 Tim Burke Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:27 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=163#comment-1033 Doug, These are some interesting thoughts. I believe there is a lot of tension between the asset Mark Driscoll / Mars Hill is to the evangelical community and young men and women not abdicating their responsibility to lead as God has directed them individually. We must embrace God's vision for the church as universal, local, and developed in the heart of men and women he calls to plant and grow the church. Really, we can't become co-dependent upon high profile ministries but we can learn a lot from them and use them as a wonderful resource. I believe the scriptures teach us to be unified under the same mind, heart, and purpose found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we also are distinct adding to the body in very important individualistic ways. So Doug, I agree we must keep the vision in front of our young adults to serve in the way God has created them to serve. It may look a lot differently then "Mars Hill". Young peoples purpose is to seek "it" out. To obey, to experience what Jesus said, "Greater things you will do" (John 14:12)... Tim Doug,

These are some interesting thoughts. I believe there is a lot of tension between the asset Mark Driscoll / Mars Hill is to the evangelical community and young men and women not abdicating their responsibility to lead as God has directed them individually. We must embrace God’s vision for the church as universal, local, and developed in the heart of men and women he calls to plant and grow the church. Really, we can’t become co-dependent upon high profile ministries but we can learn a lot from them and use them as a wonderful resource.

I believe the scriptures teach us to be unified under the same mind, heart, and purpose found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we also are distinct adding to the body in very important individualistic ways. So Doug, I agree we must keep the vision in front of our young adults to serve in the way God has created them to serve. It may look a lot differently then “Mars Hill”. Young peoples purpose is to seek “it” out. To obey, to experience what Jesus said, “Greater things you will do” (John 14:12)…

Tim

]]> Comment on Taking my eyes off Jesus by Alexa http://dougmurphy.org/2010/02/18/taking-my-eyes-off-jesus/#comment-1032 Alexa Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:00:56 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=160#comment-1032 Thanks for this, Doug. I really needed to hear it. As you described how as Arran was watching Yoda with his eyes locked on the screen I couldn't help but think about what happens when we watch Jesus, eyes locked on Him. As Arran was all wrapped up in the game he was twitching and moving with Yoda's exact and every move. Isn't that how it is when we lock eyes on Jesus? We start moving like Him, reacting like Him, twitching like Him :) Thanks for this! Love and miss you so much! Thanks for this, Doug. I really needed to hear it. As you described how as Arran was watching Yoda with his eyes locked on the screen I couldn’t help but think about what happens when we watch Jesus, eyes locked on Him. As Arran was all wrapped up in the game he was twitching and moving with Yoda’s exact and every move. Isn’t that how it is when we lock eyes on Jesus? We start moving like Him, reacting like Him, twitching like Him :) Thanks for this! Love and miss you so much!

]]> Comment on Taking my eyes off Jesus by Canon Snyder http://dougmurphy.org/2010/02/18/taking-my-eyes-off-jesus/#comment-1031 Canon Snyder Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:37:06 +0000 http://dougmurphy.org/?p=160#comment-1031 Another lesson to be learned from that moment, that could also be related to working yourself sick: When you allow yourself to focus on something so hard that your dedication to it turns into tunnel vision & you lose track of where that project ends & the rest of reality begins... You end up a rather "twitchy/flinchy" person to be around. :-) Another lesson to be learned from that moment, that could also be related to working yourself sick:
When you allow yourself to focus on something so hard that your dedication to it turns into tunnel vision & you lose track of where that project ends & the rest of reality begins… You end up a rather “twitchy/flinchy” person to be around. :-)

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