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To: P-Marlowe
We are commanded to compel them to come in.

NO we are commanded to compel them to come in to the FOLD of the true Shepherd (by abandoning their sins and realizing their state before God, and turning to him alone!), not into the church building on Sunday morning. Once they are in the fold, they *then* come into a church that is truly honoring the Lord, ideally.

If you equate the church organization with the Kingdom of God, well... you're ripe for the picking for the wolves waiting to exploit you. You *know* churchES can go apostate, but the true church never will. You have got to be able to somehow discern between church visible and church invisible. I cannot explain to you how to do it, but the more you delve into and strive to understand the Word (I wouldn't bother with some of the newer translations, especially the NRSV, the newer NIV versions coming out, etc) by the help of the Holy Spirit, you will know.

494 posted on 01/12/2006 10:52:43 AM PST by Terriergal (Cursed be any love or unity for whose sake the Word of God must be put at stake. -- Martin Luther)
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To: Terriergal; xzins; blue-duncan
NO we are commanded to compel them to come in to the FOLD of the true Shepherd

Our job is to compel them to come in the door. It is Christ's job to compel them to come into the FOLD. Or don't you believe that?

Our job is to get them to the place where they are confronted by Christ and his word. Christ's job is to convict them of their sins and draw them unto repentance. Or don't you believe that?

Obviously you disagree with Gill who insisted that we need to compel them to come into the place where they are then confronted by the word of God, i.e., the house of worship.

In the reformation period they didn't have to entice people with smiles and coffee and a relaxed atmosphere to get the unchurched in the door, they could simply threaten them with bodily harm. We don't have that luxury anymore. Now all we can legally do is to entice them with our love and hit them over the head with the Gospel when they show up. Cast your line and reel it in. Tough love.

501 posted on 01/12/2006 11:11:56 AM PST by P-Marlowe
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