A lot has changed since God created Adam & Eve. True, Eve was to be Adam's helpmeet. but whom did they have to answer to?… Except of course, God. If Adam told Eve how he felt, there was no society in place to scorn him for doing or feeling the way he did… No mother-in-law for her to tattle to… No law enforcement to drag him off to jail… No neighbors for him to be embarrassed before. The only sin was to partake of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and who was it that crossed that line?… Eve, with the Serpent's help, of course. He told Eve that God was lying to them, and that they wouldn't die if they partook of the Tree. She convinced her husband that the Serpent was telling the truth, and A-dam broke, spilling sin all over the earth. (Please excuse the pun… it was intended.) And so here we are, each person telling someone else that the other's sin is worse than theirs, and if they don't repent they're going to Hell!

Well, as your friend said, "You go first, Sally. I don't want to risk the hurt."

I find "church" defined as: a congregation, an assembly or a gathering. At the top of this forum there is a definition from the book of Matthew. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." (18:20)

Baptism, the Lord's Supper or other sacraments can be held on an individual basis. They are not things which must be done regularly, except as a church grows; but it has to grow, first. Discipline can be exercised. God is the ultimate enforcer of that, after all. We must be cautious that we not become vain practisers of tradition for tradition's sake, forgetting the full meaning and reason behind what is being done. (Matthew 15:1-9)

Perhaps, one day, we will be able to open our own churches. At present, however, with the attitude of the general public what it is toward those of our orientation, I don't see that it is imminent. I know that there have been isolated cases where a BL has outed to an individual in a church, usually a pastor, but they are few and far between, and, as you have read here, sometimes with disasterous consequences. Knowing the reality of the attitude of society, it is just not worth the risk, at least not to me, to come out in a church. Some others here feel differently, of course, and I do not presume to speak for them.

I'm praying that God will talk to your heart and cause you to consider posting here more often that just "once a week". You have given me, and I hope others, a new dimension to help us measure the gospel and make us fit into it better.

God bless you and yours, Sally. I can tell that you are a busy person who loves God with all your heart. All I ask is a few crumbs from your table. Even the dogs get that.

Love in Christ Jesus,
~ Andy