Posted on 01/10/2006 10:06:56 AM PST by Terriergal
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."
The phenomenon you describe exists among all religious cultures and groups, so your choosing to identify it by the term "hillbilly" is certainly unjustified and uncalled-for.
Possibly true, but "robot" and "pirate" don't work quite as well, and I believe "ninja" was already spoken for.
What is your scriptural basis for that?
Will you do it -- (compel them to come in)-- if I tell you?
Much of the praise and worship music today affects the flesh, hence the toddlers shaking their hips when they hear it.
It's also very doctrinally weak.
In many cases it is disrespectful to God, calling him "you" over and over again.
Much of it is somnambulistic, which doesn't make the mind aware of God, but more trance like.
I think we should remember that Worship is for GOD, not for us, not to get us all emotional and/or jazzed up.
Paul isn't saying he became a sinner to win sinners, if that is your implication. Paul says in many places that we should live pure and holy lives, not worldy lives.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Sounds like something Celine Dion would sing.
John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
46 And [Jesus]said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives,
and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit:
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
I'm a firm believer in Alex's Socratic Axiom:
Comedian, Amuse Thyself.
You answered: Will you do it -- (compel them to come in)-- if I tell you?
Your answer is not an answer. You assume that I don't. If so, then you assume wrongly. I am curious where you find in scripture as a command and as an example where we are to bring believers into church. Being commanded to be fishers of men, and preaching the gospel to all, to lift up and exalt the name of Jesus is not the same. Those are individual commands, not just corporate commands. The work of the pastors/shepherds are to encourage their flock to seek Christ Jesus, to know Him and be known by Him more and more. And a direct result of that is to lift up His name to both believers and unbelievers.
Too often in the seeker sensitive type churches of Warren and Hybels, et al is that all they are doing is training the sheep to bring in anyone from the outside into their pen. But throughout scripture, and very clearly depicted in the OT model, the aliens and those not not living their faith, but out of favor with God were put OUT of the assembly. Same with the NT.
As Gamecock said earlier, the church is the goal. But for the most part, we are to be speaking the gospel - always. We are to be extending the kingdom to them - not just an invitation to go to a worship service. What I see happening in most of the seeker churches (and others not so seeker sensitive) is that the responsibility to evangelize is seen as that as the pastors and not the individual believers and many of them do not know how. But if we are known more and more by God and are growing in Him, then rivers of Living water flow out of us to those who are thirsty.
Conversion/salvation does not happen because someone is brought to a building with a certain type of music they like, or a place where they can dress how they want or whatever floats their boat as far as church is concerned. But instead, it happens because they realize they are a lowly sinner in the presence of the Almighty God - the same God who paid the price for their Redemption - the God who work was finished on the cross.
Paul says he does the things he shouldn't and doesn't do the things he should. That is what I was referring to.
It's all about grace... Of course James elaborates a bit.
Your post #376 is absolutely excellent and true. Thank you for adding your wisdom to this thread.
I'm missing your point.
I think you are right on with that post, actually. But this is sort of a slap in the face to both of us: My sister who will never talk religion with me will be going to Alpha with us next weekend.
I suspect many of you here are aware of what alpha is...
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