How should Pastors deal with contemporary issues?

[Pastor DTSalaz]

1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat.

[Pastor DTSalaz]

Originally Posted by Rico

Brother Salaz, you type with an accent. I love it, Bro.! Bendicion mi hermano!

Pues soy Latino

Dios te bendiga mi hermano

[Pastor DTSalaz]

All of these things in the verse below are specifically listed in the Word of God.

Clothing has some references in some places. Mainly modesty of apparel

Hair is a highly debated issue as to its clarity and our understanding of it.

Drinking was permissible by Paul, I preach total abstinence.

Gambling? Casting Lots.

Music? Gospel Gansters, Gospel Rock, Country Gospel, Black Gospel we all make our own judgments as to what is permissible. Paul never knew of these things


1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

[U376977]

Originally Posted by Pastor DTSalaz

All of these things in the verse below are specifically listed in the Word of God.

Clothing has some references in some places. Mainly modesty of apparel

Hair is a highly debated issue as to its clarity and our understanding of it.

Drinking was permissible by Paul, I preach total abstinence.

Gambling? Casting Lots.

Music? Gospel Gansters, Gospel Rock, Country Gospel, Black Gospel we all make our own judgments as to what is permissible. Paul never knew of these things


1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

I know what you are asking and as an evangelist I stuggle with being relevant just like you. I love to get into theological debates ect. One of the most ridiculous was how many angels could stand on the point of a pin? In other words, Do they occupy physical space?

But who cares?

Even here on the AFF, magic hair, can someone smoke and have the HG, can a christian be demon possessed? Can a person drink moderately, not to mention cutting hair, long hair on a man and being gay, how to be baptized, ect. etc. The average person coming to the church does not care!! They do not care about hearing the Greek "sozo" or "zoe" "huios" "monogenes" etc. etc.

Here is what they want to know and what we need to preach about.

How do I save my marriage? My wife cheated on me, what should I do? My husband has a girlfriend, should I leave him? My wife will not have sex with me, what is wrong with her? How do I pay my bills? My childern are on drugs? My son is backslide? My daughter is going with a thug? I am sick I have diabetes, what should I do? I am in foreclosure? I need a job? My dad is having sex with me, please help.

All the above has come from my meetings prayer requests.

Start passing out some prayer request cards, leave an "other line" Let them write out what they are dealing with. Start speaking to that. You will help more people and be relevant. Catch them, then teach them.

[Pastor DTSalaz]

Thank you my brother

I am new here and I believe in good evangelistic preaching on Sunday. Solid teaching midweek and in Bible study. In reading some of these posts I find a great divide in non essentials. Like you say the souls that are coming in are in need of serious help. If we don't come to some understanding as to our stance within the church though, what will we bring then into. Condemnation because they do not live up to our imposed standards. How long does it take to break many of the habits we have developed overs years of living in sin. It will take a long time for these new converts or visitors to begin be be lead by the spirit. We will always have to contend with the flesh no matter how long we have been serving the Lord. Our benefit is that we have learned how to hear and be led of the spirit (our spirit that is now alive to Gods Spirit), no longer controlled by the flesh.

To this end I am speaking to the teach them aspect of believers.

I thank you for the reminder of the catch them portion of preaching.

[Pastor DTSalaz]

We still have to contend with the flesh.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

[tstew]

I think that the safest approach is a return to focussing on instilling solid Biblical principles. I believe that the principles transcend time and culture, and have done so successfully for centuries. If one prayerfully and earnestly applies Biblical principles it can give clarity in the conemporary issues.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by tstew

I think that the safest approach is a return to focussing on instilling solid Biblical principles. I believe that the principles transcend time and culture, and have done so successfully for centuries. If one prayerfully and earnestly applies Biblical principles it can give clarity in the conemporary issues.

And the NT combined all the laws of the old into only two. THOSE are the principles that everything we think and do need to be filtered through.

[tstew]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

And the NT combined all the laws of the old into only two. THOSE are the principles that everything we think and do need to be filtered through.

I think sometimes we are afraid that instilling principles and relying on the Holy Ghost to convict and guide are not sufficient, and that we need to get in their and really help. The paradox is that if one is whole-heartedly trying to apply Bibloical principles while being led and convicted by the Holy Ghost, their life will probably reflect a higher standard of Holiness than we can legislate. Conversely, one can find a way to abide by the strictest legislation and be as unHoly and unChristlike as any unsaved person in the world.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by tstew

I think sometimes we are afraid that instilling principles and relying on the Holy Ghost to convict and guide are not sufficient, and that we need to get in their and really help. The paradox is that if one is whole-heartedly trying to apply Bibloical principles while being led and convicted by the Holy Ghost, their life will probably reflect a higher standard of Holiness than we can legislate. Conversely, one can find a way to abide by the strictest legislation and be as unHoly and unChristlike as any unsaved person in the world.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!