Okay, lets talk theology.
A faithful minister does not delude his flock into thinking that people who consciously embrace sin have any place in the church or in heaven. People who are truly saved will respond to God's word and flee from their old ways, then follow God's commandments. The bible is clear about those who continue to sin:
"No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." -- 1 John 3:9-10
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." -- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." -- Galatians 5:19-21
"For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." -- Ephesians 5:5
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." -- Revelation 21:8
There is room for differences of style in preaching, but to change the message is expressly condemned in the Bible.
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." -- Galatians 1:6-10
Not surprising. A great number of people who call themselves "Christian" are not going to heaven. They continue to revel in sin and therefore have no relationship to Christ. Heaven is for "few" according to Jesus. See Matthew 7:13-23.
Those fake Christians receive some of the strongest rebuking in the bible.
Interesting commentary from a UMC minister on the matter. He seems like he'd be a nice person and a good minister.
Adam Hamilton
A faithful minister does not delude his flock into thinking that people who consciously embrace sin have any place in the church or in heaven. People who are truly saved will respond to God's word and flee from their old ways, then follow God's commandments. The bible is clear about those who continue to sin:
"No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." -- 1 John 3:9-10
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." -- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." -- Galatians 5:19-21
"For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." -- Ephesians 5:5
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." -- Revelation 21:8
If anything in this world is constant, it's change. If pastors want to keep the pews full then some things are going to have to be put on the table. What is more important, keeping certain beliefs and values or change them so the word may live on without the threat of fading away completely? I've spoken to a few pastors. The hard headed ones seem to be having the most difficulty. It's not necessarily about being hip or progressive, it's about changing how you spread the message.
There is room for differences of style in preaching, but to change the message is expressly condemned in the Bible.
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." -- Galatians 1:6-10
I need not go farther than the comment sections of the SC decision on WTHR's Facebook and see a massive difference of opinions among self-proclaimed Christians. Seemed to be mostly divided between those that are just shameful and filled with hate, and those that say it's not their place to judge and to tolerate it. I can take an educated guess on which side's pastors are preaching the right message that conforms with their values. That message will surely ensure their survival. It is evolving and there is nothing wrong with that.
Not surprising. A great number of people who call themselves "Christian" are not going to heaven. They continue to revel in sin and therefore have no relationship to Christ. Heaven is for "few" according to Jesus. See Matthew 7:13-23.
I saw a screenshot of an ex-friend of mine from a dating site whose been divorced TWICE now for cheating on his spouses. He claims to be a good Christian man who only wants to follow God's path for him and live a fulfilling life.
I also know truly Christ-like people as well so I don't have a knock against truly faithful people, just the fake christians who go around lying about how faithful they actually are.
Those fake Christians receive some of the strongest rebuking in the bible.