Christian Message Boards: Church Flies Gay Flag

This is topic Church Flies Gay Flag in forum The Christian News at Christian Message Boards.

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Posted by Paula (Member # 551) on :

Consider "Church flies gay flag," a story from the English-language edition of Aftenposten, Norway's premiere newspaper. Two parish councils in northern Norway recently voted to fly rainbow flags on their churches. The flags signal that no one in these churches — priests included — may speak or preach against homosexual behavior. The flags also welcome gay clergy, including those who live in "registered partnerships" (i.e. de facto gay marriage).

Obviously, in the county of Nordland, where these two parishes are located, gay marriage has achieved a high degree of acceptance. After all, the Lutheran church has long led the opposition to gay marriage in Norway. One of the few things distinguishing same-sex registered partnerships from marriage is that they cannot be celebrated in the Norwegian state church. And the ordination of clergy in registered gay partnerships is the most divisive question in the church. So when two parishes in the same county fly the rainbow flag to welcome partnered gay clergy, gay marriage has obviously achieved an extraordinary degree of popular acceptance.

That acceptance isn't total. Many are unhappy with the flags — and the silencing of conservative congregants and priests that the flags symbolize. And as the original news accounts make clear, these parish councils are acting in defiance of their bishop. Clearly, though, Nordland is a socially liberal county in which gay marriage has achieved a high degree of acceptance. So what's the state of marriage in Nordland?

Marriage in Nordland is in severe decline. In 2002, an extraordinary 82.27 percent of first-born children in Nordland were born out-of-wedlock. A "mere" 67.29 percent of all children born in Nordland in 2002 were born out-of-wedlock. As in "The End of Marriage in Scandinavia," many of these births are to unmarried, but cohabiting, couples. Yet cohabiting couples in Scandinavia break up at two to three times the rate of married couples. Since the Norwegian tendency to marry after the second child is gradually giving way, it is likely that the 67-percent figure for all out-of-wedlock births will someday catch up to the 82-percent figure for first-born out-of-wedlock births. At that point, marriage in Nordland will be effectively dead.

For full article, see http://www.nationalreview.com/kurtz...00402020917.asp

Posted by barrykind (Member # 35) on :

Sorry Paula the link you gave is not working...

Thanks
barry

Posted by Daniel S (Member # 1714) on :

A vessel under US flag may fly that flag upside down as as sign that vessel is in distress or peril and in need of immediate assistance. That maritime standard is extended to facilities or buildings and has been used ashore on rare occassion to notify others that "something bad is wrong here and we need help fast."

Unfortuately the flag of Norway looks the same upside down or rightside up, so my recommendation for the Christians in those parishes would be to fly the Christian flag upside down and pray that Christ comes soon to their rescue.

Posted by helpforhomeschoolers (Member # 15) on :

try this link:

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article.jhtml?articleID=672971

Posted by barrykind (Member # 35) on :

Yes that link works.

i was under the impression when one flies the US Flag upside down it was a sign on surrender...

Is that true??

Posted by DaTank (Member # 2818) on :

barry any flag flying upside down over a castle wall is a sign that the leader has lost control, and anarchy i believe has set in (i go that from The Last Castle where in the last scene the flag was supposed to fly upside down, but in response to Sept 11th and Americans not knowing what it meant, they flew it right side up)

Posted by Miguel (Member # 47) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Paula:
Consider "Church flies gay flag," a story from the English-language edition of Aftenposten, Norway's premiere newspaper. Two parish councils in northern Norway recently voted to fly rainbow flags on their churches. The flags signal that no one in these churches — priests included — may speak or preach against homosexual behavior. The flags also welcome gay clergy, including those who live in "registered partnerships" (i.e. de facto gay marriage).

Obviously, in the county of Nordland, where these two parishes are located, gay marriage has achieved a high degree of acceptance. After all, the Lutheran church has long led the opposition to gay marriage in Norway. One of the few things distinguishing same-sex registered partnerships from marriage is that they cannot be celebrated in the Norwegian state church. And the ordination of clergy in registered gay partnerships is the most divisive question in the church. So when two parishes in the same county fly the rainbow flag to welcome partnered gay clergy, gay marriage has obviously achieved an extraordinary degree of popular acceptance.

That acceptance isn't total. Many are unhappy with the flags — and the silencing of conservative congregants and priests that the flags symbolize. And as the original news accounts make clear, these parish councils are acting in defiance of their bishop. Clearly, though, Nordland is a socially liberal county in which gay marriage has achieved a high degree of acceptance. So what's the state of marriage in Nordland?

Marriage in Nordland is in severe decline. In 2002, an extraordinary 82.27 percent of first-born children in Nordland were born out-of-wedlock. A "mere" 67.29 percent of all children born in Nordland in 2002 were born out-of-wedlock. As in "The End of Marriage in Scandinavia," many of these births are to unmarried, but cohabiting, couples. Yet cohabiting couples in Scandinavia break up at two to three times the rate of married couples. Since the Norwegian tendency to marry after the second child is gradually giving way, it is likely that the 67-percent figure for all out-of-wedlock births will someday catch up to the 82-percent figure for first-born out-of-wedlock births. At that point, marriage in Nordland will be effectively dead.

For full article, see http://www.nationalreview.com/kurtz...00402020917.asp

Luk 11:17 But knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. And a house divided against a house falls.
Luk 11:18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons through Beelzebub.
Luk 11:19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
Luk 11:20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, no doubt the kingdom of God has come on you.
Luk 11:21 When the strong man, fully armed, guards his dwelling, his goods are in peace.
Luk 11:22 But when one stronger than he comes, he overcomes him. He takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and he distributes his arms.
Luk 11:23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Posted by Paula (Member # 551) on :

http://www.nationalreview.com/kurtz/kurtz200402020917.asp

For those of you who may be interested, here is the link to the full news article by Stanley Kurtz about the repercussions of gay marriage in Scandinavia. Sorry the other one didn't work.

Posted by TEXASGRANDMA (Member # 847) on :

The misjustice here is that Gays will be led to believe that the homosexual lifestyle is acceptable to God. These Churches will have to answer to God for what they are doing.

Posted by helpforhomeschoolers (Member # 15) on :

Hi Texas Grandma:

Yes, we were just talking about this in another thread! How are these people going to see the truth when the so-called church is teaching it is acceptable. We need to return to church discipline. God will not deal kindly with the leadership that causes the sheep to stumble an fall. It is very sad, and we must continue to pray that blind eyes be opened and hard hearts softened.

PS: weren't you leaving texas for the Northwest?

Posted by Daniel S (Member # 1714) on :

quote:
Originally posted by barrykind:
i was under the impression when one flies the US Flag upside down it was a sign on surrender...

Is that true??

quote:
Public Law 829 (77th Congress) Sec. 4(a) :
"The flag should never be displayed with the union down
SAVE AS A SIGNAL OF DIRE DISTRESS"

Barry, DaTank,
US Flag upside-down = SOS, not surrender, not out of control, although those churches flying the gay flag have lost all control and have surrendered to Satan.