Just Typing Truth ...

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Aquila

So, let's follow the flow you created here. You said quite well that if we love Him, "we will keep His Word".

What specifically does that mean?

Because without definition, it's just a very general statement that could mean... anything.

since you see the word of God as being a bucket of cold water, I will bow out of the conversation.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

This is great!

This sounds like a sermon I heard from Rev. Cody Marks titled "Heart Condition." You can preach doctrines and convictions, standards and separation until you're blue in the face. But if the heart isn't changed, it won't matter.

Also listened to another sermon by Rev. Scott Graham, in which he mentioned how sermons many times aim for the heart, but only hit the ears.

Amen.

But, let's elaborate on this.

What do we mean by "the heart being changed"???

I remember when I'd preach, I got a lot of "Amens" on the statement, but there were blank looks in people's eyes. What kind of "change" are we talking about? Imagine a teen or youth hearing this. Will they think that at some point they'll wake up in the morning and suddenly, "Bam!", heart change! They want to go to Jackson College of Ministries and dress like a mortician? lol

Or does it mean a heart that is lovingly sensitive to the Spirit?

I've discovered, we use a lot of lingo that isn't even defined. So frankly, everyone assumes we mean what they think we mean. And we're happy about those generalizations. It becomes rather subjective. We don't define our terms objective spiritual realities.

I remember after a two week revival, I asked my wife, "What did the guy say?" She said, "He told us that we need to be more sold out." And I said, "But what does that mean?" She stared blankly at me and said, "Ummm... willing to go without television?" After we talked about this, we got the tape. We listened intently... and we were amazed at how many vague generalizations were made without specifics.

And our youth grow up with this sort of thing. We're old enough to fill in the blanks and assume we know what a brother or sister might be saying. They aren't. In the end... what do they really walk away with?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Amanah

since you see the word of God as being a bucket of cold water, I will bow out of the conversation.

Please don't make that assumption. I don't think the Word of God is a bucket of cold water. However, I've discovered that a lot of people only use statements like that as a segway to draw people into their... interpretation... of that Word. For example, some might move forward and demand Sabbath keeping, a dietary standard, or even head coverings on women. Some might move forward and insist that one must give up the internet. Another might move forward and insist that we use the name Yeshua over Jesus and celebrate feast days I can't even pronounce. I mean, such a statement is often a bucket of cold water because... so many have made it one. We hear that statement, and we wait for the other shoe to drop... "What are they going to hit me with next? No short sleeves? No beards?...or I don't love Him?"

It's not your fault that it can be like this. I'm just using your post to illustrate a very important point. It is like we're all conditioned to some degree to keep that bucket of water at the ready, just in case someone gets too excited about this Jesus thing. I've done it too. lol

It's almost as though if one were to preach some form of legalism under the guise of "loving Him"... no one would bat an eye. We'd actually have some "amens", and have a few hard lines drawn by some brothers beating their chests to remind us that without their version of "holiness", no man will see the Lord. But if someone starts talking about love and grace... people lose their minds with fear that we'll go too far off the deep end of trusting in the love of Jesus just a little too much. LOL

[Aquila]

I remember when I loved Jesus and Jesus loved me. It was that simple. And when I messed up... I had to confess it and bring it too Him. And it was an important lesson learned.

Ever see those overly protective parents? You know, those who put their kids in plastic bubbles, and they bleach every surface twice a day? They rarely if ever let their kids go outside. And those dusty bikes they bought the kids have only been ridden once... on the day they were purchased. Ever see parents like that? They never give their kid Mac n Cheese, because it has *gasp*.... yellow dye. And ketchup has *gasp*... red dye.

What happens to those kids? Their immune systems are typically weaker than most. And when they get a little freedom in college... THEY ARE OFF TO PARTY TOWN.

Do we do this to our youth spiritually?

Because when I was a teen, I made some really stupid mistakes. Yep, I did some doosies. I fell on my face spiritually quite a few times and it drove me to the altar to talk to the Jesus who loved me and wanted me to be the best me I could be, as long as I tried to reflect Him. I learned from quite a few mistakes. I still do. lol

But my immune system fought off the devil's lies when he said, "You've gone too far son. Give up. This Jesus thing isn't for you."

Sometimes we need to fall down and scrape our knees. It's good for us in the long run.

[BrainWashed]

Originally Posted by n david

You should really consider establishing a new church. I would imagine it would be the PERFECT church, because you would be the PERFECT pastor.

David,

Last week I was out-of-state and a pastor friend offered me a position within his church. However, I didn't reply with an answer.

I can't tell you I would be perfect, but I will tell you something. If I were ever to become a pastor, I would be the man that I would want leading me.

[houston]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Aquila, there is something to what you say. I will only add one thing. If we love Him we will keep His Word.

What does that have to do with anything that he said?

[LOVE JESUS]

My My My and good grief (as the one sister used to say). Let brotherly love continue...

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by houston

What does that have to do with anything that he said?

It's a conditioned response. Amanah, was just responding as typically expected.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Aquila

It's a conditioned response. Amanah, was just responding as typically expected.

I was thinking that just emotion would not keep kids saved. That unless they were grounded in the word of God, the emotionally feeling of *loving God* would not be enough to keep them. That love is what you do, not what you feel. But you took such offense to my statement that I backed off, I didn't really want to debate or argue.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Aquila

It's a conditioned response. Amanah, was just responding as typically expected.

You are so full of yourself it's hilarious. Do you realize you come across as one of the most pompous, arrogant know-it-alls this forum has ever had? No, of course you don't. Your too blinded by your own moral and religious superiority complex to see something like that.

No wonder you're a democrat. Like all democrats and liberals, you have a mental disease, called "I'm Above Reproachitis", with an intractable case of "Hypocrite Maximization Syndrome."