How One Church Sign Is Changing Hearts and Minds

Carl Elfstrom

I think I'll call my first church The Church a of No Religion.

Dan Atatakai

I commend Pastor Adam Ericksen in his common sense actions! The world, especially in the US, needs more people who are not going to be afraid of causing waves.

Lionheart

It’s very interesting how words can upset people, or make them feel happy. There will be many saying how wonderful, and many people saying how sad.

Imagine if those words on the sign said “Our Transgender Siblings Have Heartbeats”. Followed by “Making America Great Again”. Many liking the first phrase could just as easily be turned off by the second, or be even more elated by the second.

Bottom line: Does it really matter what’s on signage as long as no one is pushing an agenda to hurt anyone, or threatening religious blackmail?

?❤️

Rev. Nobody

Let all without sin cast the first stone. There is not one person that does not have a cross to bare. If this signage can help to stop all of hate that is in people today. Keep up the good work. If people could just realize that it takes more energy to spread words of hate than it takes to spread words of love and understanding. We all leave this world the same way. Rather you believe in God or not. Rather you're gay, straight, black, white, brown, red, or anything else. There's only one way out and that's by death. No matter how many years get life is still to short to use up energy hating each other.

flugo

Provocative, eye-catching road signs are NOT indicative of Christianity, nor do they promote such. Increased attendance numbers and countless favorable comments, also, do NOT evidence Christianity. Muslims, Afros, LGBTQxyz-ers, atheists, etc. may meet in the same building, have 'bless me' meetings and talk of inclusiveness and loving everyone . . . .but that ain't Christianity.

This so-called 'reverend' is blasphemous terming God as 'she'. And,the pastor seem to be trying to 'be all things to all men', but is 'riding the fence'. He must either crap, or get off the pot. He must call sin, sin. He must stand for repentance of sin. He must point to Jesus as the ONLY remedy for mankind's ills and woes.

Christianity is a lifestyle of practices and beliefs of the teachings and person of Jesus. This is the same Jesus who condemned sin, obeyed His Father, preached repentance, loved the unlovable, rebuked the proud, and had compassion on the hurting. This is the Jesus Who died in our place on the cross to satisfy a holy, righteous, and just God's demand for a penalty for each of our sin.

Josand Agencies

Yes, to win and help people you must first learn how to walk with them. Fellow Christians will despise, criticise, isolate and see you as a person possessed by evil spirit. Consistent walk with the people you intend to change will eventually change them and change your critics as well. It will be a win win situation.

Ty Ford

Let him or her who is totally pure cast the first stone. Hmmm, what? No one? Move along then and tend that garden.

Freddy Guerra

Can someone please explain to me how if you are a Christian regardless of what church you belong to a Christian a God-fearing Christian how can you say it's okay for gay marriage man or woman gay marriage another thing how as a Christian can you vote and stand by democrats that's a that they are doing the Lord's work but yet condoning allowing given the grace for abortion and gay marriage all this is not the work of God and for all you Christians that's said here insane We Are All God's Children We Are All God's Children even the children that's unborn that's being murdered every day in the United States of America the Bible says to protect the child in the womb the Bible States that man shall not lie down with men women shall not lay down with women man shall not dress as a woman women are not supposed to dress as a man where in the Bible says it is okay for this to happen nowhere it is a sin it is an abomination it is a sin against God all you Christians that want to preach that it's okay to accept gay marriage an abortion you are breaking God's law and all you priests and holey people you are breaking God's law cuz when you accept abortion can you participate in abortion what you are when you give the okay for abortion you are committing murder one of our Ten Commandments when you give the okay for a man and a man to sleep together you are breaking God's law because it says in the Bible that that is a sin I think all of you religious folks I want to preach the word of God should go back and read a little more to Enlighten your mind I've done things in the past that I am not proud of but I'm working in the direction of the grace the light the forgiveness of God think about it amen and God bless

Qrez

i dont really think you can reform the abrahamic religions without totally divorcing them from their past.. people often try to tone down the lunatic hate mongering but they wanna have that legitimacy of it being an old religion.. but that means the hatred lurks beneath the surface to emerge again...

It started out as a religion of tribal war lord and unless you create a whole new religion divorced from that past it will never solve the core issue...

Sane people just give cover and legitimacy for the lunatic bigots

John

Hooray for Reverend Adam and his congregation. Love for all.

Jeanne Leskovec

I don't think i would attend. Trans gender people make me feel uncomfortable. I have not been around many trans gender people. Although i would not do anything to hurt them

Tom F

No, I would not stop in for a visit. This is clearly against Gods teachings. I believe all these people are bound for Hell.

TigerMoon2

I'm an atheist for many reasons. First of all, we all know that there is NOT a god that created folks here on Earth, or Earth, itself, etc., even if that's what you tell yourself. Because this is 2019 and we KNOW what's out there by now, even if you WANT to deny it, and TRY to deny it, there IS such a thing as reality. If I'm going to be delusional about anything, it won't be that, it'll be about something I am unaware of thus far. The possibilities there are endless. Second, I have seen and attended too many churches in my past that demonstrated divisiveness. And then make money off those they pander to with false ideologies. Thirdly, I was always skeptical of those who professed to know their God's intent, and their temerity to speak for God. Nor did a God write a Book about it. Books are written by MEN, not God, and men ALWAYS have an agenda to SELL something that benefits them. And last of all, or not, it seems that everyone has their own interpretation of what their God wants from us, as does different sections of their Bible does. There seems to be no consistency in that. Some think it's all about SINNERS, preaching the 10 Commandments along with hellfire and brimstone, and go so far as to self-flagellate. While others preach of a God who is pure love and light. It has all but destroyed my compassion for 'mankind', to see the blatant ignorance in their willingness to follow ANY path laid out for them by a church leader and a book written by men. People have done HORRIBLE things in the name of their God! Possibly, had I attended Rev. Adam's services when I was younger, my attitude toward mankind would have been better. Maybe. But I know this: The more a church is inclusive of ALL peoples, the better the people act toward others, inside, and outside, of the church walls. But would I still be an atheist? Absolutely. I DO know I need a LOT of work on being a compassionate and loving person. As it stands now, most of my love and compassion (and I do have plenty of it) goes toward children and animals, because they don't HAVE an agenda, they accept ANYONE who is good to them, and, even those who are not good to them, unfortunately. And that last is why I care about them so much. And please, when I advocate for animals, don't make out like I love animals more than I do children... I can do BOTH. And when someone advocates for ANYTHING, don't complain that they love one thing (eg. immigrants vs citizens) more than another, we can advocate for MANY things at once. It's never been either/or. It's about the need that is presenting itself to you at the moment. Finally, I'd like to commend whoever writes these articles that we comment on. They are always presented to invoke thoughtful responses, and does succeed in that more often than not. I think there would be a lot more snarling at each other if not for the leadership of this all inclusive institution, and the thought-provoking writers of this newsletter. Here, I am often able to tell apart those who can work things out in their own heads, from those who follow strict rules laid out by men and books, and thus divide us from each other. I really do thank you for that. Um, one last 'disclaimer' here. I am Wiccan, and some might say 'but you believe in MANY Gods!', Well, no, I don't believe in ANY Gods... but I DO believe in the energies of things that have been long-spoken. I believe in 'correspondences', those things that add to the energies of a thought or deed, positive, as well as negative. I live my life to work with positive energies, and to project those upon people I come in contact throughout the day in hopes of spreading that positivity. Correspondences include the various Gods who's spoken names reflect a certain aspect needed, much like the Christian's calling upon Saints of various aspects. Other correspondences include the elements of Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit; colors, scents, sounds, lit candles, and our ancestors, to name a few. I believe the world turns, and that the universe exists due to the magnetic energy forces that encompass EVERYTHING. And that the trick of maintaining all that lies in the balance of positive/negative energies. Not a perfect balance, of course, but still a balance. And so we MUST have the bad energies along with the good, whether we like it or not. Everything NEEDS it's opposite to thrive. Which is why it makes NO sense to be divisive toward anyone. We are ALL connected. "No man is an island...' said the poet,John Donne, "...but is a part of the main..." (I may be paraphrasing), "... any man's death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind.", "...and so, ask not for whom the bell tolls... it tolls for thee." There is more, of course, but I can recall only these words, at present. But here's another from the French essayist, Paul Valery... "The world acquires value only through it's extremists, and endures only through it's moderates: Extremists make the world great... moderates keep it stable." - Paul Valery

Bill Fox

(NIV) Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.:

George E

The author wrote: "Our transgender siblings have heartbeats,” [Pastor Rev. Adam Ericksen] posted on May 21, challenging Alabama’s anti-abortion bill ….

If this is truly an attack on AL's pro-life bill, then logically it is suggesting that, heartbeats or not, transgendered should be no more protected from killing than fetal humans should be. If, on the other hand, the pastor is saying transgenders' beating hearts render them as worthy of life as fetal humans, then that would place him in the mainstream of Alabama, as there is no movement in Alabama to kill either fetuses or transgendered.

Ed

Keep it up SIR and SATIN will fill your church to overflowing

Rowland Barkley

I personally find people's choice of musical instrument more important than their sexual orientation.

Reb TK

Greater than the debate, a tree has been planted. It's roots will go deep, it's branches will grow high, and it will sustain many creatures. Like any tree, a cleansing wind will cause the dead branches to fall away, and as they pass, they will feed the tree an those who depend on it. tk

Summer Bree Nichols

To all those close minded bigots Iam trans and I believe god created all of us and loves us

Mark Davies

Flugo.. You speak of Christ rebuking the proud.. Your pride in judgement and taking umbrage at every turn, casting stones in every direction is anything but Christlike and very un-Christian. You also speak of him loving the "unlovable". Who is unlovable? This perspective of yours about Christ is malignant. Those who are not loved because of pride such as yours has much to do with the masses turning away from Christianity.. or more precise, from those who twist the word of Christ simply to judge (throwing stones). This is exactly the opposite of Jeusus' intentions.

One more note to leave you with. While God has spoken as a Father. God also identified explicitly as "I AM" God is what you need when you need for the heart and spirit through Christ. Therefore it is not some blasphemy to refer to God as She. The form of God is beyond the understanding of mortal beings.

Go forth and lay aside your self-righteousness, as it prevents you from receiving love that you clearly need.

Blessings of open eyes and heart to you.

Rev. Mark