15 comments

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  Ginger

  1 year ago

  Whew...that show wore me out! You know, I was going to post on it, too...but after reading yours, you pretty much nailed it all on the head. I pretty much believe exactly what you do on it...I did like how he "included" the outcasts of society in his church. That was very cool...and very Biblical.
  
  I read some message boards about him that night, and apparently some believe his wife has led him astray. Who knows...it ultimately is his own choice and he does think he's doing the right thing.
  
  Gotta give him credit for that.
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  Mary Moody

  1 year ago

  "Gotta give him credit for that" There may be people that think raping a child is the right thing to do because they have some sort of twisted belief in something....
  
  So if they practice and teach that child molestation is right and say that because they openly taught and spoke on their belief and won others to that belief. multiplying the number of children endangered by such doctrine. Should we give them credit too....because they are "doing the right thing." ?
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  Mary Moody

  1 year ago

  A small correction and addition to the comment I made earlier.
  
  I should have said " Should we give credit to people because they think they are doing the right thing? When in fact they are endangering lives and souls?
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  LakeNeuron

  1 year ago

  Well, it depends on what you mean by "giving credit." Ginger made clear, as I made clear before her, that neither of us agrees with Carlton Pearson's theological position. Remarking that he has the courage of his convictions doesn't negate that, and I don't think Ginger implied that it did. It's just a human observation. He may have committed the sin of being wrong; but he hasn't compounded it with the sin of hypocrisy or deception or timidity.
  
  I understand what you're doing by reducing the argument to absurdity, but in this case I'm not sure it reduces. There is a social contract which tells us that sex with minors (or murder, or theft) is wrong and unacceptable, beliefs which are widely accepted across religious and cultural lines, at least in our part of the world. That's why we allow civil authorities to enforce that particular aspect of the moral code; the agreement on it is overwhelming.
  
  Theology is a different matter. I believe that there is a right and wrong answer to questions of theology, and that we should defend our beliefs passionately. But I might be wrong about such issues, and so I have to show some amount of human, civil respect to those with whom I disagree on them.
  
  So, no, to use your example, I would never applaud a child rapist or a terrorist for being sincere and forthright in their beliefs. But I don't think that's the same thing as acknowledging that someone with a different theology from my own is sincere and forthright in his beliefs.
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  Ginger

  1 year ago

  Mary, that was an unbelievable stretch from what I was trying to say. As John correctly stated, I was meaning that at least they guy isn't being a hypocrite. He has given up an evangelistic dynasty to go this direction.
  
  It is sad for all who are following him, and even more sad for him because he is accountable for leading them in that direction.
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  Laurie

  1 year ago

  Wow, to compare that to child molestation. You know people like you turn me away from religion, but when I watched the documentery on Carlton, it brought tears to my eyes and made me want to be a christian. He has been the one person, besides Tammy Baker who would lead me to Christ, why? Because they don't judge other people and they demonstrate Christs love. Actions really do speak louder than words!
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  Darrell Grizzle

  1 year ago

  I've been fascinated by the Carlton Pearson story, and the vehemence of many reactions against him, because I too started out at ORU and ended up a universalist. I deeply appreciate the honesty and openmindedness of your entry here, John, and how you can see the good in people with whom you disagree. I admire how you can stand firm in your convictions and be open-hearted at the same time.
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  LakeNeuron

  1 year ago

  Thanks, Darrell. Good to hear from you.
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  Laurie

  1 year ago

  Okay, maybe my entry was a little harsh, but comparing Carlton to a child
  molester is rediculous. What he is doing is not illegal, child molestation
  is, and though it may not be what you or I believe in...he believes he is
  right. I don't think any pastor should live in a mansion and drive a BMW,
  so I can't say I thought more of him before all this, but his belief is so,
  that he lost all he had and has stuck by it. I just want to see people
  winning sinners over to Christ with love and example, and I would be
  willing to bet
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  Laurie

  1 year ago

  the bible mentions love more then hell or homosexuality
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  Darrell Grizzle

  1 year ago

  Laurie, I don't think you were harsh at all. Comparing a theological viewpoint - ANY theological viewpoint - to child molestation is ridiculous. (As a counselor who sometimes works with child molesters who are court-ordered into counseling, I know what I'm talking about.)
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  andray hicks

  1 year ago

  I don't think that Mary's remarks were twisted or harsh. Of course she wasn't comparing him to a child molester, but there is a decision of accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour in order to be with God in Heaven, which doesn't seem so simple to some. I love Carlton Pearson, his music brings me joy, but we have to be careful in this day and times with our beliefs because of the deception. We can become so emotional taken away in the wrong direction.
  John you seem to handle matters with such gentleness and fairness, I like that, but when it comes to our eternity, I think that we she should be seriously thinking sort of like Mary. Either we are hot or cold. Lukewarm would be spued out of God's mouth. That comes to "really seeking" to "know" what and stand for what we believe in.
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  Robert

  10 months ago

  I not only saw the documentary but read Bishop Pearson's book, "The Gospel of Inclusion". What an excellent book!!! I enjoyed the documentary and absolutely enjoyed reading his book. I hope he comes out with more literature on the subject. You know, I think he's right on with his theology. I wrestled with the same questions he did during my 25 years in the ministry. What he writes makes so much sense and answers so many questions I had in my spirit. I have always loved the brother and find myself drawn closer to him after reading his writings and seeing the documentary. I also appreciate the fact the even though some of you are not particularly on board with some of his doctrine, you still have unconditional love for him. That is very admirable.
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  Toni

  8 months ago

  I agree with you last written statement whole heartedly. I know he believes what he is teaching is the truth; it has cost a LOT.
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  cora b fells

  8 months ago

  praise the lord i do pray for carlton pearson that he will get back on the right track with God, seem to me he would relize he is in error,with all of the people telling him he is wrong.i often wonder how he open upthe door for such errionuse teaching
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