Posted on 03/09/2023 7:09:37 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Correct. Only for those who could endure.
The Pastor appeared to try a little too much natural to discuss the spiritual.
Or the natural folks couldn’t get past focusing on the natural to get the spiritual.
It’s a fine line..
Male and Female are gender to us, but there are spiritual nonsexual roles that Male and Female play, that are at work in His Patriarchy system.
If one accepts the premise that today’s Church is the female role of the Bride, where’s the offspring that get to live forever without taking their last breath? (Promised Spiritual Land is eternal life, not some natural property)
For about 2,000 years, the ‘Bride’ then, has had to die with this Pastor’s premise.
That’s the Male Role.
The Body of Christ goes to the cross and sleeps, so a Bride can come forth.
That’s the pattern we see.
With Adam and Christ.
Why not the Spiritual Body of Christ too?
A hidden Bride, so to speak?
Two choices on that premise? Maybe 3.
Is today’s Church a Bride?
Is today’s Church the Male Body of Christ?
Will there be an end times Bride that comes forth after these 2,000 years of the Body of Christ following Christ to the cross and sleep?
And she never has to taste death.
And she’ll never be beguiled by Satan.
She’ll be a perfect Helpmate.
She’ll bring forth children/offspring.
Maybe the Pastor’s premise is flawed.
Any Bride today isn’t a Bride yet because the wedding hasn’t occurred. She’s preparing for her Bridegroom.
She’d be called a Whore today, sleeping around on Her Bridegroom..
Now try to have the Pastor preach that
:)
In church, men who are qualified are to be considered or such positions. How do people know they are qualified? Their lives are transparent and the people are a known quantity and quality.
Blameless would mean right with both God, and fellow Man. This would be someone who has no valid known issues with business associates and customers, other families, their own families, and within the Church. It does not mean unfounded accusations couldn't still linger, but they would appear equivocal, at worst. His wife would speak honestly well of him and their friends and acquaintances would be expected to honestly, before God, speak to his Christian walk.
In sum, no man can be sin-free, but can be effectively blameless in his walk. He must repent and seek God through his transgressions, though, and others need to see that, too.
Too many Christian pervert authors. Can’t keep his theology out of his pants.
True, but Christ is elsewhere referred as a "Bridegroom," such as in John 3:29, Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35) and it is implied in Matthew 25:1-13.
Feminist malarkey
It is Sodomy versus non-Sodomy.
I have long believed that I will never “understand as deeply” the meaning of “the bride of Christ” as most teen girls who spend hours practicing/pretending/preparing to be a bride. Knowledge v Experience!
If he got thrown out of his congregation he is in good company. Jonathan Edwards got thrown out of the little church he led also. Turns out that too many non-believers had become members and he got voted out.
Think of that! Woke-ism has been around since before 1776.
This author fails to point out why the critics are “hysterical” and is simply sweeping this under the rug. The critics are tired of the new age pastors like Mark Driscoll and his ilk who worship at the alter of the penis and turning Christian into cult similar to Islam. The church needs to be cleaned out. Porn addicted pastors need to be kicked out. Sexual abuse of minors need to be reported and the men who commit them need to be kicked out of the church. It’s truly sick how corrupt the church has become and how people are easily lead by narcissistic leaders.
Frankly, people are not reading their Bibles.
If people read their Bibles there wouldn’t be such bad theology or false doctrines. There are minor differences here and there, but the garbage preached from too many pulpits would not be allowed and shut down immediately if people simply read their Bibles.
The Constitution doesn’t recognize a new birth. Christianity did and does.
Does “one wife” mean a widower cannot marry again and serve?
You DO realize polygamy was common at the time, don’t you?
How many deacons or pastors are asked about how HOSPITABLE they were BEFORE coming to Jesus?
Could a FORMER alcoholic, who changed after believing, qualify?
“make his children obey him with all respect. 5 For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?”
Umm...how many deacons and pastors would pass THAT test? Seriously, “PK Kids” have a reputation and it isn’t a good one!
How many deacons WERE “sober and self-controlled” before conversion? How many refused to chase money BEFORE conversion? In short, how many lived like mature Christians BEFORE they were believers?
Any?
I’ve never met one. If they didn’t change at conversion, why would I believe they converted?
To get the full story, read who this author refers to as the “critic”, Sheila Gregoire. One of her sticking points that she argues is that older married men don’t have sex with teens, they rape them. Minors can not give consent and yet so many christian authors, pastors and churches cover this up and blame girls for their rapes and abuse.
The “one wife” was already covered in an earlier post.
For the rest, former drunks and others could, in fact, be elders. There is no ban on such people, who have changed.
Well controlled children means they behave reasonably and with no outlandish behavior.
Deacons and ministers are not elders.
“Deacons and ministers are not elders.”
If neither is, then whom?
Elders are in charge of a church. Deacons assist. Ministers are hired by the elders, typically.
By your definition, deacons ARE elders in many Baptist churches. Although it is the congregation that hires the pastor, in many churches the deacons are expected to keep a check on (and help) the pastor.
Oversight of the church is done by elders.
We’re you also an elder assisting on leading the local church?
Do they need to prove you every detail or was it a church body vote after the existing elders / pastors interviewed the proposed elder and found the reasons within the churches guideline.
Wife is adulterous, lies about it, denies it for years. Will not be contrite, repentant and the blames the husband with the entire “if I did it was because you didn’t meet my needs “ …
Does the entire body of the church need all the details or is it good enough that the church leadership know and you trust their judgement.
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