The pendulum swings from one extreme to the other, but it always comes back to center.
I don't know about that. I know too many folks who are stuck in the extremes. When I see Christians of either extreme mistreating one another it makes me a bit angry.
I don't know about that. I know too many folks who are stuck in the extremes. When I see Christians of either extreme mistreating one another it makes me a bit angry.
I have to agree with you!
Well, I don't HAVE to, but I choose to agree with you!
__________________
Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
I don't know about that. I know too many folks who are stuck in the extremes. When I see Christians of either extreme mistreating one another it makes me a bit angry.
Paul didn't have kind things to say about the Jews that were demanding that the Gentiles be circumcised. he also made some harsh remarks about those that were saying the resurrection had already happened.
__________________ Jeremiah chapter 4 and verse 21 KJV
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
1 Cor. chapter 14 and verse 8 KJV
8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
Joel chapter 2 and verse 1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
Paul didn't have kind things to say about the Jews that were demanding that the Gentiles be circumcised. he also made some harsh remarks about those that were saying the resurrection had already happened.
There is a big difference between the teachings of Hymenaeus and Philetus and whether or not short sleeves are appropriate men's wear.
I think there are two ways standards can become a heaven or hell issue:
1 - go to a church where standards are taught and use them as a point to rebel and cause division with backbiting and complaining
2 - to be so strict on them that a person despises and mistreats everyone who doesn't line up to what they believe.
that's it!
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Last edited by John Atkinson; 07-01-2010 at 08:41 AM.
There is a big difference between the teachings of Hymenaeus and Philetus and whether or not short sleeves are appropriate men's wear.
I think there are two ways standards can become a heaven or hell issue:
1 - go to a church where standards are taught and use them as a point to rebel and cause division with backbiting and complaining
2 - to be so strict on them that a person despises and mistreats everyone ewho dosn't line up to what they believe.
that's it!
If a line is not drawn somewhere, you will have men wearing sleeveless shirts in church. I don't respect a man that's too much a wimp to draw a line.
__________________ Jeremiah chapter 4 and verse 21 KJV
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
1 Cor. chapter 14 and verse 8 KJV
8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
Joel chapter 2 and verse 1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
nope... My point was to people who deny the truth.
I can't think of any people who fall into that category with whom I have close fellowship. Usually folks like that will pull themselves away from the pack--no one has to publicly disfellowship them. There are some cases when they are interested in sowing seeds of discord among the saints in a church, [overthrowing the faith of some] and in those cases I can see where a pastor would need to make a public statement or take a more extreme stance.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
If a line is not drawn somewhere, you will have men wearing sleeveless shirts in church. I don't respect a man that's too much a wimp to draw a line.
I don't have any respect for folks so full of themselves that they draw lines where lines aren't supposed to be. God already drew all the lines we need, it's called the Bible. And it does set some standards and draw some lines.
I don't have any respect for folks so full of themselves that they draw lines where lines aren't supposed to be. God already drew all the lines we need, it's called the Bible. And it does set some standards and draw some lines.
AMEN!!!!
__________________
Master of Science in Applied Disgruntled Religious Theorist Wrangling
PhD in Petulant Tantrum Quelling
Dean of the School of Hard Knocks
I don't have any respect for folks so full of themselves that they draw lines where lines aren't supposed to be. God already drew all the lines we need, it's called the Bible. And it does set some standards and draw some lines.
Amazing, the number of people who privately feel the Bible is inadequate.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
Amazing, the number of people who privately feel the Bible is inadequate.
I have found that if people are taught and preached the word that the Holy Ghost will help them get where they need to be in terms of modesty and all the things we sometimes try to "make" happen. No, they might not dress like its 1935, but they won't go strolling down the street in a speedo and tank-top either.
If the Lord can deliver them and change them to a degree that they quit drinking, smoking, drugs, adultry and etc he is able to change them to the degree that they will be modest in atire, won't feed themselves with bad TV, internet books etc.
He is still God and we, even preacherly we's... are not. It is kind of funny that we can have enough trust in Jesus to deliver the drug addict, yet not trust him enough to teach the same former drug addict how to live in his new life and grow in grace without a bunch of junk we make up.
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Last edited by John Atkinson; 07-01-2010 at 09:03 AM.