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Well... then they should get rid of the 'homosexuality and gender issues' forum spot altogether.

Are they the only issues? No, they are not. But, there are those who are convinced that the above two issues are symptomatic of foundational issues that affect the fundamental mission given to the SDA denomination. They believe that we cannot get to the central business that God has given us in End Time until we come into some unity in what we do on these points. To put what is believed into a simplified statement there are those who believe: 1) On female clergy/ordination, or however you want to state it: God is in charge of how His message is proclaimed and who proclaims it. Satan always attempts set up an apostate counterfit for what God has established. God's Church in End Time must reject that counterfit as it relates to female clergy/ordination. 2) As to homosexuality: The Church of God in End Time has been established by God to be a refuge for those who have reached a specific level of commitment to God and the plan by which God intends for people to live their lives. To admit people into membership who reject such is to place the SDA denomination in a position where God will have to reject it. NOTE: Please do not misunderstand what I have said above. I believe that the above is a fair statement as to why many people believe that these issues are fundamental to the issues that we face today as a denomination.

Indeed. It seems that one of the most important things that God has been trying since He started working with a fallen people is the idea of getting us to not being self centered. In fact, you could even say He has been trying since before Lucifer fell in heaven. It is probably the most difficult thing to learn especially if being selfish is your inborn trait of character. Jesus spent all His life on this earth living with pleasing the Father as His goal in this life. The Father will give all glory to the Son in the kingdom to come and the Holy Spirit has spent all of this earth's history, nearly, trying to get us to see Jesus. I do not know and don't believe it has been revealed at what point in time glory will be given to the Holy Spirit, but I suspect it is not His goal to receive it. All good things come to those who patiently do their duty and who are not focused on self. Jesus said the last shall be first and the one who has received the least seems to be the Holy Spirit and I cannot see it happening that He will always be the least among the Godhead. They are said to be equal members. Really, can you see any of the Godhead who hasn't had the goal of glorifying the others. Likewise, we should each be glorifying someone other than ourselves, be it God who receives our worship or even our fellow humans who should be loved as much as we love ourselves.

The norms and cultures in a society are duly reflected in the churches in that society. The wheat and tares grow together, not all members in churches are converted, or so filled with the Holy Spirit they reflect the society of heaven rather than the society of earth. Many are new Christians just beginning that walk and groping and learning to walk with God. The church is represented By the Israelite's who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses, and there with them was a mixed multitude who who were a continual influence of unbelief, and rebellion, and complaint. There was another 40 years of wandering in the desert after first coming to the Jordan for a period of cleansing of the body of wanderers. It was time for those adults whose sympathies were fully set in unbelief, fear, and distrust in the Power of God, to learn and repent, yet still perish in the desert. They were not willing to credit power of Divine Love to empower them to take the land for God. So individuals here and there in the church are the few who are the Calebs an Joshuas who are full of faith in the Almighty Merciful and Loving God, who is prepared and offering full salvation to every human being. But we are as a body still bound by the limitations of our societies fear of those who are "other", and we are naturally uncomfortable around the mentally ill, the addicted, LGBT, impoverished, and desperate. These are the giants in the land today, and indeed we cannot meet these forces in our human devices. The Battle is the Lords. Living in faith, and reliance on God, recognizing that of ourselves we can do nothing.... then we can meet the world be a living demonstration of redeeming Love. We need to be so infused with the love and wisdom of God, in Jesus that every person we meet will be able to become sensible to their value to God. We may be feeble, and small, but our Savior is Mighty, and He is our strength, and everything we need, to make us everything He wants us to be.... to minister His love to the world. the failure of the church is the failure to love with divine love.