Posted on 04/25/2005 7:59:46 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
See #199
I can tell you didn't read what i posted or the context of it in Galatians.
"I do not believe the issue is a matter of anyone "paying homage" to anyone else, or to any other "Church". The joint effort is not a "missionary" effort to "spread their version of the truth through ministry". As individuals and as contributing churches the joint effort of helping the poor is a mutual expression that comes, individually, from the persons and from each church, as an expression of something they feel called to do - helping the poor. It is not an effort that makes any attempt to say "I endorse you" or "you must endorse me". It is a mutual effort that endorses something they each feel called, in their own way, to do."
Refusing to work with other denominations is about pride (a sin), not faith. Many churches compete with one another, it seems, for tithes, rather than working together for universal salvation and charity. Within 25 square miles of my town, there are several churches. A large, well funded Baptist church, a tiny, home-based Pentescostal church, a larger Pentescostal church, a Kingdom Hall (Jehavoah's Witnesses), a Catholic church, a non-denominational church and a 7th day Adventist church.
Guess who cooperates for purposes of charity and gets the most done in the community? Roger, a lay pastor, who runs his Pentacostal church from his home (and has a huge cross on his mountain). He goes to town weekly and collects food for the needy, and distributes it to the churches with food programs, refusing to involve himself in inter-denominational warfare. The large wealthy Baptist church gets little done, and they refuse to deal with Roger and the Pentacostals. The Paster doesn't believe in working with non-Baptists. But Roger has put several travel trailors on his property and welcomes people who are down and out. If I called him today and said "my neighbor has no wood," Roger would bring him wood. The lady who runs the non-denominational church delivers food and clothing, etc..to those who don't have a car, and after a fire went through the area, she found two trailor homes for poor families who were burned out. She even obtained cat food for her pets. She found a man who gave several thousands of dollars to a formerly homeless woman (a pack rat with a dream to open a thrift shop), to rent a building for it.
Which "church" does Christ like the best? I don't think it's the one with the "correct" doctrine, rites or rituals. Or the one that emphasizes prophesy. Or the one that sends people door to door. Or the ones who believe they are the only Christians.
He would like them better if they were showing His love through their actions, rather than their doctrinal pride.
I literally cannot remember how many times over the years I have heard the phrase "Faith without good works is dead". I believe that, and I also believe that you don't have to belong to a denomination to be enriched by helping those in need. I have heard good sermons on the subject of dead faith and I believe Jerry Falwell gave one of them. Never can I recall giving consideration to a need based on religious denomination. Obviously, this Charlotte church isn't hurting for money and that is not the basis for removing themselves from the ministry. It seems to me they could have just announced that they had decided to allocate their money in another area without dragging theology into it. I would bet that many of their 6000 church members are not at all pleased with this decision anyway. It's OK to set up their own soup line without making a big deal of withdrawing their paltry contribution to the existing one. They just need to be sure and put up a notice that hungry Catholics won't be allowed to take food out of the mouths of non-Catholics.
I'm not in the conversion business.
My job as a Christian is to spread the gospel. Conversion is up to the Holy Spirit.
He knows the gospel, he rejects it. I can do nothing about that. What I can do, is point out that he is rude and insulting to me, and should be to all Christians.
And I'm not trying to convert you either. I merely point out that your behavior was akin to his when you entered the thread with an insult towards believers.
What they do not understand is when you have faith with respect of persons you commit sin. The meat of the Gospel is lost on some of these simple minded.
Pardon me, but I said nothing insulting to believers. I only stated the truth of the matter as I see it.
I read it. If I didn't understand it, it wouldn't be the first time.
The job of a true Christian is to set an example, spread the Gospel wherever you can, take whatever actions you can to ease the suffering in the world. You know, like Jesus said, "even unto the least of these".
"Your condescending attitude is sickening. If atheists were capable of shame, you would be ashamed of yourself."
Most of my family are atheists or agnostics. They DO have shame and are NOT evil people because they lack faith. The truth is written on their hearts and I believe they will come to the Lord, as I did when I was an atheist. Being unkind to and insulting unbelievers will win no souls. I had many zealots try to convert me with anger and threats of hell, and it convinced me Christians were mean, crazy people. When I started meeting nice Christians my opinion of the faith got better and I read the bible more often. This showed me that Christ was being represented badly by many of His followers, and I came to admire Him. My heart opened up to Him and I accepted Him into my life.
Yeah, yeah, I know MM has said derogatory things. But Christians turn the other cheek and repay unkindness with kindness, and that is what brings shame to those without it.
Of course you did. And purposely so IMO.
I only stated the truth of the matter as I see it.
The truth isn't determined by how "you see it".
Amen.
Sorry you take the truth as an insult.
" "even unto the least of these".
What? Where's the "unless these are Catholics or Muzlims. Jesus can't STAND those guys!!" clause that this faux Christian church appears to be following?
You are hitting the nail right on the head. They are being poor stewards of the Gospel and insulting the Lord. He will cause commotion in that church to discipline these people and their faulty doctrine.
Believer or not, I would think anyone with a brain would be insulted by that sort of belittling.
Thanks for sharing, but I never did anything rem,otely like that, so why you are telling me is anyone's guess.
When I started meeting nice Christians my opinion of the faith got better and I read the bible more often.
Excellent.
This showed me that Christ was being represented badly by many of His followers, and I came to admire Him. My heart opened up to Him and I accepted Him into my life.
Great witness, thank you for sharing your witness.
Yeah, yeah, I know MM has said derogatory things. But Christians turn the other cheek and repay unkindness with kindness, and that is what brings shame to those without it.
Point well taken.
Sorry, I don't practice that.
"The truth isn't determined by how "you see it"."
Something you'd do well to remember yourself.
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