Prominent Memphis Area Pastor Resigns

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by StillStanding

Since there seems to be little difference when it comes to moral failings, what is the purpose of holiness "standards"? They apparently don't stop a wandering eye or unmoral thoughts and actions!

Sounds like you're paraphrasing part of St. Paul's letter to the Galatians.

[Charnock]

Originally Posted by StillStanding

Since there seems to be little difference when it comes to moral failings, what is the purpose of holiness "standards"? They apparently don't stop a wandering eye or unmoral thoughts and actions!

StillStanding, no, they don't.

In a previous post I mentioned the standards "shell game."

Legalism's heart is insidious. It dresses everything up really pretty on the outside, while its inside is filled with a deadly cancer.

That's how an Apostolic lady can have long, uncut hair, always wear dresses, never wear make-up or jewelry and still be full of bitterness, hate and gossip. We measure her appearance and think she's "holy," but God sees things differently.

It's how a preacher can rage at compromisers and emergents as he preaches at conferences but at the same time be carrying on with prostitutes at the same conference. He dresses the part and says all of the right Apostolic catch phrases, but he has missed the essence of Christianity.

He compartmentalizes. He feels justified because he's living up to Apostolic measurements. But he has failed to live up to God's standard.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Sounds like you're paraphrasing part of St. Paul's letter to the Galatians.

[houston]

Well, some people drink from doity cups... as long as the outside is clean...!

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Charnock

StillStanding, no, they don't.

In a previous post I mentioned the standards "shell game."

Legalism's heart is insidious. It dresses everything up really pretty on the outside, while its inside is filled with a deadly cancer.

That's how an Apostolic lady can have long, uncut hair, always wear dresses, never wear make-up or jewelry and still be full of bitterness, hate and gossip. We measure her appearance and think she's "holy," but God sees things differently.

It's how a preacher can rage at compromisers and emergents as he preaches at conferences but at the same time be carrying on with prostitutes at the same conference. He dresses the part and says all of the right Apostolic catch phrases, but he has missed the essence of Christianity.

He compartmentalizes. He feels justified because he's living up to Apostolic measurements. But he has failed to live up to God's standard.

Essentially, you've described the Pharisees and Saducees... there is no new thing under the sun... just different packaging, that's all. The same hypocrites that Jesus condemned in his day, would fall into the same condemnation were Jesus to visit most churches today, and to boot, they'd be trying to kill him again today too... especially if he brought their sins to light in front of whole congregations of people, just like he did to the Pharisees.

[tv1a]

What's in your red Solo cup?

Originally Posted by houston

Well, some people drink from doity cups... as long as the outside is clean...!

[houston]

Originally Posted by tv1a

What's in your red Solo cup?

Bro. I'm sober now. There was an intervention. It came down to sobriety and shelter or whiskey and a spot under a bridge. Winter is approaching...

[tv1a]

EB has a history of not applying the same rules to everyone.

Originally Posted by houston

That was his point.

[houston]

Originally Posted by tv1a

EB has a history of not applying the same rules to everyone.

I haven't noticed that. Carry on.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Charnock

But that's not we've been told.

We've been told that lines and fences make a difference.

You cannot logically espouse both positions at the same time.

If standards are powerful, and keep us from sin, then it stands to reason that this sort of stuff would never happen - especially among the very men who've created the lines and fences.

We've all heard...

• When a church loses standards it loses the power and favor of God.
• People who don't follow standards are loose, and sinful.
• Obedience to a pastor's standards builds a hedge from sin.
• You can't be saved without holiness (read "standards").

This is a man who firmly believed Lee Stoneking's tripe about the power of a woman's long, uncut hair. His church embraced the doctrine.

The doctrine states that a man and a church are protected so long as the women of the church keep the scissors out of their hair.

Protected from what? At various times LS and Ruth Reider Harvey have posited that uncut hair guarantees protection from adultery, accidents and other calamities.

In the end we see the foolishness of standards preaching. It creates a false sense of security based upon what we do. Instead, we should distrust our own heart and lean on Jesus to protect and keep us from evil.

This all leads back to a distorted soteriological baseline. Measurements save instead of Jesus. We lean to our own understanding rather than trust Him to direct our paths.

In the end, we fail. Miserably. Repetitively.

I truly wish those of you who so vehemently state "it happens among all groups" now would remember this, going forward, as you preach and teach.

First of all please don't say "WE" as if you speak for all of us.

Second you are making a classical mistake called a sweeping generalization. It shows your process is not based on thoughtful objective reasoning but emotive subjective reaction

Lastly nothing in the above proves such failures are systemic of Conservatism or Legalism. The facts are they happen across the board in all areas of Christianity .