Drawing Lines: Where Do Yours Begin?

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

dittos for me= I don't put anything on top of my Bible. I don't sit my Bible on the floor, either. Y'all aren't so weird after all becaue when it comes to writing anything that has to do with God, I will capitalize it also.

Convictions for me? I do not use slang curse words nor do I let my children. This is probably one that goes without saying, but I see no difference in saying the real cuss word or the slang. It all means the same.

My family does not swear either. One of my children said, "I swear" and it just went all over me. He's heard it from somewhere and I explained we don't say that.

We may be get upset or something and say, "oh man!" but we will NOT let any of our children say God's name in vain, or ever geesh or gosh. ( forgive me for writing it) Under no circumstances is that appropiate.

Originally Posted by Sherri

One of my major pet peeves is hearing Christians say, "Oh my God". I have worked my kids over on that one, and they are grown. But I will not allow it to be said around me. It's a very hard habit to break, especially when you hear so many preachers say it too.

Also, I can't stand "I swear". That one is a no-no in my house too.

THIS is the mindset that totally consumes my wife... she can't STAND 'slang swearing' (as she calls it). If she had been at a recent meeting where the speaker said the 'word' several times in the sermon she would have had the dishsoap waiting on him when he came out of the pulpit!

In the part of the country where we live there are things said that we would have been MORTIFIED to hear where we came from. After almost 20 years it STILL makes me uncomfortable to hear those phrases / words!

Originally Posted by Sherri

One of my major pet peeves is hearing Christians say, "Oh my God". I have worked my kids over on that one, and they are grown. But I will not allow it to be said around me. It's a very hard habit to break, especially when you hear so many preachers say it too.

Also, I can't stand "I swear". That one is a no-no in my house too.

It didn't matter who it was, when my dad would hear someone say "OMG" he would ask them immediately, "Are you Cussing or Praying?"

[LadyChocolate]

okay, I may step on some toes here or ruffle someone's feathers BUT, a huge thing for me is, I can't stand to see "saints" lay their hands on someone's head and pray for them. I grew up where that was for MINISTRY only and to see a saint take a command of authority like that gets under my skin to no end!

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

okay, I may step on some toes here or ruffle someone's feathers BUT, a huge thing for me is, I can't stand to see "saints" lay their hands on someone's head and pray for them. I grew up where that was for MINISTRY only and to see a saint take a command of authority like that gets under my skin to no end!

You're not stepping, sis, but I grew up TOTALLY different. In my home church, the "body" was expected to minister to each other. We would stop up church so the saints could go lay hands on each other, it is normal to me. It kind of takes that "Oooh, if the preacher will lay his magical hand on me, I'll be healed" effect away. But I hear what your saying.

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

You're not stepping, sis, but I grew up TOTALLY different. In my home church, the "body" was expected to minister to each other. We would stop up church so the saints could go lay hands on each other, it is normal to me. It kind of takes that "Oooh, if the preacher will lay his magical hand on me, I'll be healed" effect away. But I hear what your saying.

we weren't taught that the preacher's hand was magic. But more so that when a person lays their hand on your head, they were taking authority over situations in your life... Not exactly "them" but God. That is why it is for the ministry because saints really, imo, don't have the authority that God has given to the ministry to do this. That's just how I was brought up.

[KarenJo]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

You're not stepping, sis, but I grew up TOTALLY different. In my home church, the "body" was expected to minister to each other. We would stop up church so the saints could go lay hands on each other, it is normal to me. It kind of takes that "Oooh, if the preacher will lay his magical hand on me, I'll be healed" effect away. But I hear what your saying.

I agree with MM (of course we are from the same church) I believe that the gifts follow the believer. My own belief is that for ME, if I am praying for a man I will put my hand on a shoulder or back. But that's just me..

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

You're not stepping, sis, but I grew up TOTALLY different. In my home church, the "body" was expected to minister to each other. We would stop up church so the saints could go lay hands on each other, it is normal to me. It kind of takes that "Oooh, if the preacher will lay his magical hand on me, I'll be healed" effect away. But I hear what your saying.

Originally Posted by KarenJo

I agree with MM (of course we are from the same church) I believe that the gifts follow the believer. My own belief is that for ME, if I am praying for a man I will put my hand on a shoulder or back. But that's just me..

Ahhhhhhhhhhh yes.... sounds like Church at 'our place'! Had an incredible service tonight. Unbelievable what God did in that one single service. Tried to dismiss and the Gifts of the Spirit fell, drove us to an altar and the congregation prayed over 2 hours from that point. Probably had less than 5 in our entire congregation leave early.

We got out a little after 11 PM... and had to tell the people to 'go home' even at that point!

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by KarenJo

I agree with MM (of course we are from the same church) I believe that the gifts follow the believer. My own belief is that for ME, if I am praying for a man I will put my hand on a shoulder or back. But that's just me..

yes, there is definitely a difference in where i grew up. Me personally, and i know I am out numbered here by far, I do not like for women to pray for men. For me, it is a huge distraction for someone of the opposite sex to put their hands on anyone in prayer. Of course I do see a difference when a minister is praying for the saints, and so on. I have no problem with women praying for other women and men praying for other men. I think a man touching ME on the back will get him a good slap! There is a way to pray for people! I don't have a problem with people praying for eachother. It is when saints lay their hands on other people's HEADS. !

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

okay, I may step on some toes here or ruffle someone's feathers BUT, a huge thing for me is, I can't stand to see "saints" lay their hands on someone's head and pray for them. I grew up where that was for MINISTRY only and to see a saint take a command of authority like that gets under my skin to no end!

I can't stand it when anyone (but my wife) touches my head.
Psychologically speaking, touching a persons head is only one step removed from touching their "privates" in the personal-space department.

Oh yes, other than my wife, I let my doctor do it..... but even he is spending more time looking in my ear, nose, and down my throat than actually 'touching' me.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Well, folks, let's be honest here.

Everyone worth their salt should have convictions.

Gut convictions.
Deep rooted, heartfelt convictions.
Never fading, soul captivating convictions.

I don't mind telling you that, in my opinion, if you don't have some real convictions you probably don't have a real relationship with God. The difference in most of us is where we draw the line when it comes to fellowshipping around our convictions.

For instance, your convictions may be much more 'relaxed' than mine. Obviously, some of my convictions surely pertain to modesty of dress while other's don't put so much emphasis on spiritual disciplines pertaining to clothing.

If you are right with God you have, somewhere in your world, some serious beliefs upon which you build your spiritual disciplines. Again, the question is where do you draw the line and say, "I like you but that's a bit much for my spiritual comfort."

Among the spiritual disciplines in my life are things that would be insignificant to most but others would be critical to most as well:
EXAMPLE... I simply cannot bring myself to put anything on top of my Bible. It bothers me. It haunts me to think that I would disrespect the Word of God by chucking it into the back seat of my car and piling groceries on it! Hey, I won't even put a piece of paper on my Bible... strange to you? A conviction to me.

I wouldn't disfellowship anybody over it. I strongly teach my young ministers to respect it to the point that if I see something on their Bible they 'know' my displeasure.

HOWEVER... I simply could not, for any reason, put false doctrine in my pulpit to preach and don't think I could have any real fellowship with an Apostolic Church that thought the New Birth Doctrine so insignificant that putting a damnable doctrine in their pulpit was okay.

GET MY POINT?
Both of them are convictions to me;
Lines of fellowship, however, are drawn differently by various people.

Let's do something 'different' on AFF for a little while. Let's talk 'convictions' and where YOU draw the line of 'fellowship'. I'm NOT talking about 'hating' your brother or 'resenting' another Church or belief. I'm talking about a "I love you, Brother, but that is a very important issue to me that I can't 'overlook' in my pursuit of fellowship."

What conviction do you have that would be hard for you to fellowship 'around'? Where do you draw your lines.

Not looking for a 'standards' thread here... looking for a 'I'm close enough to God that my personal convictions can't be ignored on this issue.

Who is brave enough to admit to a conviction that strong?

I am more conservative than most think. I just don't believe in mandating everyone else be like me.

I draw the line at the New Birth experience.