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To: ConservativeDude

You know, the divorce rate in church's are equal to that of society in general. People get divorced for many bad reasons as well as good reasons. According to the Bible, infidelity is a reason to divorce. And in todays society, infidelity is huge and one of the major causes of divorce. And, she could have been on the wrong track prior to finding God. So judge not lest ye be judged. Every one has sinned, but everyones sins are different and may be less noticeable.


9 posted on 11/22/2005 7:27:09 AM PST by nckerr (Army)
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To: nckerr
You know, the divorce rate in church's are equal to that of society in general.

Study says churchgoers are wealthier, less likely to divorce, better educated

By Janet Kidd Stewart
Chicago Tribune
Posted October 17 2005

Religion, it seems, pays. But why?

Identifying communities of frequent churchgoers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist Jonathan Gruber found higher incomes and education levels and less welfare participation, along with more marriages and fewer divorces than in the general population.

The Religious Market Structure, Religious Participation and Outcomes: Is Religion Good for You? study was published in May for the National Bureau of Economic Research.

13 posted on 11/22/2005 7:30:28 AM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - They want to die for Islam, and we want to kill them.)
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To: nckerr
A few thoughts. I believe the average size church in the United States is less than 100 and a very small percentage of churches are "mega" churches. In fact many large metropolitan areas have no "mega" churches. So the vast majority of Christians attend small to less than 2,000 member churches but that doesn't make a good story because it has been that way for nearly 2,000 years.

As far as the "mega" churches go. What I have seen with a few of the more famous ones is that they are more about psychology than Christianity. They are pop psychology churches masking themselves as the body of Christ. They are about what I get out of church, what the church can do for me. They are not about Jesus Christ wanting disciples to become in John Wesley's phrase, Christlike. Which requires surrender, humbling yourself before God which leads to exaltation and glory in Him on Earth as it is in heaven.

Instead at the "mega" church you get coffee and a book telling you what a good person you are. I prefer the Apostle Paul who simply wanted to preach Christ and Him crucified.
16 posted on 11/22/2005 7:35:29 AM PST by Patrick1
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To: nckerr

I have no comment on her individual situation...how could I? I know nothing about it. But I do know that objectively, if a father is not present, then passing on the faith to the next generation is much more difficult. And though I don't know for sure about this particular pastor, but, in general, I think it is more than fair to say that most megachurch pastors would go pretty easy on divorce, out of wedlock births, etc., lest they "offend."

Now, since you brought it up, I would suggest rethinking your assertion about what the Bible says about divorce.

Here is an article by John Piper which addresses that issue head on. I think it is pretty bullet proof, if one approaches the Biblical text with an open mind, rather than through the lenses of our culture:

http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/divorce_remarriage/dr_adultery.html

Finally, obviously we are all sinners. But, there are only a few times in Scripture where it says God "hates" something. In Deuteronomy it talks about God hating pagan idols and their accompaniment, child sacrifice. Several places it talks about "Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated." And in Malachi, God says bluntly, "God hates divorce."

I doubt if there is a megachurch pastor in America who would read those words from the pulpit. Because if he did, half of his congregation would walk.


20 posted on 11/22/2005 7:39:07 AM PST by ConservativeDude
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To: nckerr
So judge not lest ye be judged.

Lib trick...to use that passage.....

Read in context....it basically say's IF...YOU are currently involved in the SAME sin...you have NO business pointing THAT sin out in another.

Many times people who have BEEN THERE ( but no longer practice that particular sin...) can see the signs and symtoms of it...one heck of a lot easier than others. And many times become the best to counsel others in that regard.....

Does that make sense? Hope so....

FREgards,

123 posted on 11/22/2005 9:01:50 AM PST by Osage Orange (A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -M. Twain)
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To: nckerr
You know, the divorce rate in church's are equal to that of society in general.

yeah, that's not a surprise when you have churches built on worldly principles and teaching vain worldly philosophies (Colossians 2:8) e.g. purpose driven/entertainment based, church growth, emergent churches, word-faith fulfillment gospel, or other experientially based churches rather than preaching the whole truth, the hard truth, and nothing but the truth.

231 posted on 11/22/2005 12:05:50 PM PST by Terriergal (What is the meaning of life?? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever.)
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