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To: Aquinasfan
I have admiration for those who are quitting Pampered Chef on principle, that is a choice that they are making that is glorious. But I will remind those who are demanding this type of action to listen to the words of Paul the Apostle:

Rom 14:1-8

1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
2 One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.
8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

We are not to judge each other on matters of personal faith. Paul is clear on this that there are matters of faith that are not clear and each person must determine between them and God what is right. And once they have determined that, they are not to condemn others who have determined differently. Christians are not to behave this way, this behavior drives those that need Christ away from Christ and his Church.

31 posted on 06/18/2003 7:52:29 AM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
Thank you! Those exact verses came to my mind last night while I was reading Dr. Mike's "Christlike" response. It's the job of the Holy Spirit to convict. Satan condemns.

It's a little ironic that only a few months ago you all would have commended me for giving up a fulltime job to stay at home with my two little ones and, beginning next year, to homeschool my oldest. I would have gotten numerous pats on the back. However, with a couple of signatures on a contract, I am now being condemned by you because the ownership of our company changed hands.

So, I guess to become righteous in your eyes, I could quit Pampered Chef. Of course then I'd be required to get a fulltime job to replace my current income. That would mean I'd have to put my little ones (ages 1 and 4) in fulltime daycare. Then I'd be unrighteous again. Since my degree and background is in public education, I'd have to get a job teaching. I guess then I'd be forever condemned in your eyes. Oh, but I could always teach in a Christian school, and earn half of what a public school pays. Then I'd be righteous. But working fulltime would make it nearly impossible to homeschool. Uh oh. Unrighteous again.

It's a good thing I've been depending on the Holy Spirit to convict me, or not, as to my participation with the Pampered Chef. I cannot believe that God is directing each and every Christian who works for See's Candy, Geico, American Express, Dairy Queen, etc. to give up their jobs because their companies are owned, in whole or part, by Berkshire Hathaway. Who would be left? Who would be the "salt" in those companies? By the way, when Jesus told his followers to render unto Caesar that which was Caesar's, surely he knew the evil nature of the Roman Empire.

In an article published yesterday, I read that Ted Turner is not going to do any charitable giving this year due to tough times for his company. These billionaires may think they're gods, but they do God's bidding without realizing it. That's why I'm not afraid of Warren Buffett's money or his intentions. Ultimately, God will direct his path.

One more comment. Those of you who have so roundly condemned me, take a look at your computer. Are you enriching Bill Gates by using a Microsoft platform? Is there Microsoft software on your computer? Are you enriching the Packard foundation by using a Packard Bell or Hewlitt Packard product? You're demanding that I quit a business that provides for myself and my family, but are you willing to take a much smaller step to back up your convictions? I thought not.
35 posted on 06/18/2003 11:02:35 AM PDT by 2Smart2BLiberal (I'm the nicest litle lady you'll ever meet. Really.)
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
Your argument is a bait-and-switch.

Whether or not a person eats meat sacrificed to nonexistent "gods" is a morally neutral situation as far as a Christian is concerned.

Whether or not a person lines the pockets of an abortionist WHO MURDERS INNOCENT CHILDREN is not a morally neutral situation.

St. Paul's teaching on scruples regarding indifferent matters cannot be shanghaied into moral relativism on matters of great importance.

65 posted on 06/18/2003 3:15:34 PM PDT by wideawake (LIE PAT! LIE!)
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