Narrow is the way
 

Are very own AFFer (Narrow is the way)preached for us last night and did a tremendous job. He preached on deliverance. I know some of you are disappointed that he didn’t hit on any standards ;). We had a great time in the Holy Ghost.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Praise the Lord.......there's more to God than just standards.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

I know that but people think just because were uc, that we preach about them all the time.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

You don't???? :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny :ursofunny

Just kidding, glad to hear you had a good service!!!!

Re: Narrow is the way
 

I wonder. What does "narrow is the way" mean?

Re: Narrow is the way
 

"Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads unto life". I will go out on a limb and say that the user name "Narrow is the way" is derived from that scripture.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Oh, I'm sure you're right that his name is taken from that scripture. I was referring to the scripture itself. Wonder what that scripture means. Narrow is the way.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

It depends who you talk to. Mainstream Christianity believes they represent the narrow way (5 miles wide), whereas Apostolics believe their way is the narrow way (200 feet wide).

Figger, if there are 7 Billion people in the world, 650 million of them profess to be Christian, and 200 million profess to be Christian in the United States, and 4,036,945 of the world-wide population profess to be Apostolic...then you can kind of see how many are the narrow way however it is defined.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

So then, you believe, Carpenter, that all mainstream Christians believe the way of Jesus is narrow? It's hard to think that is so, for by their conversations and actions, it is quite difficult to see such ways as narrow. Not judging at all, but really, I wonder if most Christians believe they are walking a narrow way?

Again, what is narrow? Restrictive, difficult? Less wide of course, but how measured? Actions, thoughts, beliefs, doctrine?

Re: Narrow is the way
 

"Mainstream Christians" believe that you're not supposed to lie, cheat, steal, murder, commit adultery, etc. etc. They believe that you are to be Jesus to the world. To love your neighbor, and do good deeds whenever you can.

Of course some mainstream Christians don't live up to those standards, just as some Apostolics don't.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Hey, I'm just saying. I know lots of people who call themselves a Green Bay Packer fan, but they don't know the coach, the quarterback or even the fact that the Packers play football.

The fact of the matter is that the Lord told us HIS way is narrow and few there be that find it. I have to be concerned that I know the narrow way and my obstacles are not that which would tempt others to take a shortcut to the wide way.

The way is kind of like a pinball machine, I've never seen a ball do the exact same thing twice, but eventually it ends up in the same place.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Great Post, I agree, but it doesn't matter what you or I think about mainstream and Apostolic Christians that do or do not live up to those standards...just make sure you do.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Agreed. If we spent as much time worrying about ourselves as much as we do others, we'd all be better Christians. :)

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Amen! :thumbsup This thread kind of ties in with my thread about how did Paul live separate from the world?

Re: Narrow is the way
 

I really do worry about myself and my salvation. I certainly don't want to be judgmental and I carefully guard against that trait. But I wonder if there is a danger to us who sincerely don't want to be judgmental--a danger of becoming too accepting, too accommodating. The potential problem I see with such a stance, is not to me, but to my children and theirs...and theirs. After all, His way is a narrow one.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

I understand what you're saying... but I think as long as we teach our children THE BIBLE, and the principles it contains, we'll be okay. We can love others, and still understand that sin is sin.

A lot of times, we just have to tell our children.... "yes, but as for us and OUR house, WE have to live what we believe the Bible teaches.... everyone else will answer to God for themselves."

Re: Narrow is the way
 

We can love the sinner,but despise the sin,we need to shun what the bible calls sin,but at the same time we don't need label things as sin that the bible doesn't,like for example some people label hairspray or neckties or open-toed shoes as sin,the bible lists plenty of things as sin,and we must not be pratice what the bible labels as sin.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

It amazes me that someone would actually think hairspray or open-toed shoes are sinful. I try to be respectful of others' opinions and beliefs, but I just wonder how any sincere person could read the Bible and come up with such conclusions.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

I know but are people out there who claim the Holy Ghost and I don't say they don't have it,who make it harder to go to heaven than what God requires,and that is just as bad,and this anything goes bunch who uses grace as a door-mat to wipe their dirty feet on.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Not to open a can of worms, but it's a natural progression. If you start with makeup, you can go on and on. If makeup is wrong, why isn't hairspray wrong? It's not "natural". And then you can go on and on. Imo, that's the Pandora's box you open when you start requiring non-biblical things.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

And the thing is,when one requires things that are hard to prove by the word of God,it's leads to endless debates that gender strife,and too it's unpeaceable trying to meet demands and expectations that are not rooted in scripture or have true biblical basis to them.
It's lead one to feel like they can never measure up,and that leads to false condemnation,God's commandments are not grievious,and God asks for reasonable,not unreasonable service.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

I don't want to get into any worms tonight either, but I believe a solid case can be made to demonstrate a substantial difference between make-up and hairspray and the revealing of a toe, but that's not at the core of the question. The question is: What is the narrow way? How do we know when we're there? How do we know when we stray? How can we help direct others to the narrow way?

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Scott, I believe you're onto something when you speak of reasonable service...but then what seems reasonable to you, may definitely feel unreasonable to me.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

My best answer would be are we living up to what God requires in His word ?Which requires diligent study and a consistent prayer life,and how much does one listen to The Holy Ghost and follow it's leading.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

For me, I know I'm living the narrow way when I'm truly trying to follow Jesus, and live by his example. Sacrificing my time and energy to help others, giving of myself and my resources, being scrupulously honest, giving a smile and lending a helping hand whenever I can. Not living for ME, but for others. I struggle with this. I'd rather tell everyone else to jump in the creek, and live my life for myself alone. I'm selfish like that. But to follow Jesus, I can NOT live that way.

I have to truly love God and love my neighbor.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

In essential matters the bible is a level playing field for instance it's wrong for me to murder,as well as it is wrong for everybody else to do the same.

But we might differ in non-salvational matters for instance,you might feel convicted agains't wearing short sleeves,whereas I could but as long as we both don't violate the biblical principle of modesty,then to me we both could be acceptable to God.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

If you love God,then loving your neighbor will be a offshoot of your love for God,becauseif you love the creator with your heart,mind,soul,strength then loving His creation would follow.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

A powerful scripture that I think of often is Paul's words to the church at Philippi: "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Perhaps if we truly do this...with fear and trembling...we will be less likely to stray from the narrow.

I still wonder though: Could your path be more narrow than mine, and yet be God's path? Else what is there to work out? Maybe, as you suggested, Scott, it is such small things as sleeve length, what constitutes jewelry, and which kinds of screens are holy. :)

Re: Narrow is the way
 

Working out your salvation means to live out your salvation with reverence and a sacredness about you.
Thinking you might feel that in your concecration to God you might that are things you can't do where somebody else might have liberty in certain areas,you might in your concecration to God,you shouldn't eat I might feel I can eat a candy-bar,I shouldn't flaunt my liberty in front of you neither should you condemn me.
That's a radical example but a biblical priciple,God is not a cookie-cutter who cuts everybody out of the same mold.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

While I'm posting if someone has stricter convictions that me,and they are doing what they do to please God my ball is in their court,I respect that.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

See I have two daughters who are as different as night and day,there are my offspring,but I love them the same they both are my children.

In the family of God,all of God's children are not the same are they ?
If everybody in the body of Christ was the same,how boring would the church be ?

Re: Narrow is the way
 

I think the same question in a different perspective is how do we know we are Christians, how do we know when we are able to apply that title to our life? How do we know when we stray? How do we know when we do not live up to it, how can we direct others to be Christians?

Re: Narrow is the way
 

You're absolutely right, fear and trembling. We have to be honest before God and truly seek to please Him. Not just assume our way is His way, and go about our business.

I think definitely one person's path can be more 'strict' than another's, and still be in God's will. Because each of us reacts to certain things in different ways, and different things affect us. This is why we have God's spirit to lead us.

Where we have a train wreck is when we start expecting others to follow what God has placed upon our hearts.

I know someone who felt that they should stop going to amusement parks because they were having a bad affect on them. But, unfortunately, they then thought that everyone should not go, and were sinning if they did. THIS is where we go off the rails.

Re: Narrow is the way
 

You, your wife and two daughters are one family. God's family is
made up of many families.:heart But God loves us all. HE SO-LOVED
the world that HE gave His only begotten Son that anyone who would
believe in Him would not perish but have life everlasting.

Blessings,

Falla39