Quote:
Originally Posted by Dagwood
True, but this thread isn't about marriage rituals. I mentioned rituals in response to NITW's comment about Love and Conviction from Holiness preachers.
IF, and that's a big IF, love and "conviction" are conveyed from holiness preachers, there wouldn't be near as many backsliders, IMO...
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I've not heard it without love in nearly 20 years of church. We may argue the necessity of the "rituals' of holiness, but I can't argue the love for God and the people by those who preach them. I have always heard it from men who are convinced, even if convinced of a falsehood, that following such rituals is our means of expressing our love and representin our relationship with God. Many do what they do because they have been convinced that doing said things is "how" they demonstrate their love for God.
We can agree that many such rituals are not necessary, but if it makes them happy then who cares?
Now, when they forget about relationship and the rituals become their limus test fo rwhetehr someone else really loves God or not...then I am with you that they have missed the point and are out of line.
I buy my wife the Reeses Ice cream whenever I go to the grocery because I know she loves it and I wish to please her is vastly different from "if I don't buy her the ice cream I must not really love my wife". In the same way, a person following the "standards" because they love God and feel that is the way they demonstrate it is fine and need not be comdemned by those who feel they are "free" from "bondage". However, when the rituals they follow seemingly give them the right to say those who don't follow as strickly as them just don't really love or have a relationship with God...that individual has elevated the rituals over the relationship.