This isn't from an episcopal church or some progressive mainline church that lost the thread decades ago.
This clip is from a pastor at a major "conservative" Southern Baptist Church, bragging about having unrepentant sinners serving in the ranks of their church.
This is far from an "all are welcomed here" message. It's an affirming people in their sin message.
Watch:
The speaker is Danny de Armas, Senior Associate Pastor of First Baptist Orlando, a megachurch led by Senior Pastor David Uth.
Uth served as the president of the 2020 SBC Pastors' Conference, so this isn't a small, unknown congregation.
De Armas says something you would hear at lots of churches across America any given week... except he adds a few very concerning flourishes.
We have transgender, LGBTQ, straight, single, married, divorced, and cohabitating people. These same people attend, listen, serve, grow and give.
So, according to Pastor de Armas, disagreements about music in church is the same as disagreements about what Scripture clearly teaches about sexuality and gender. He's not just referring to people visiting the church, but those who are members and actively serving as professed believers!
This is the opposite of what a church should be doing. In the name of niceness, this church isn't just affirming sins in the outside world, but within the Body of Christ... and damning people to hell because of it.
I am reminded of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2:
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?
You want to reach out to the "transgender, LGBTQ, straight, single, married, divorced, and cohabitating" people in your community?
Preach and adhere to the Word of God.
