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Locked on 02/07/2013 8:58:03 AM PST by Religion Moderator, reason:
Childish behavior |
Posted on 01/16/2013 8:57:49 AM PST by marshmallow
It certainly has been enlightening.
It's been a real eye-opener as far as people's reactions to someone sticking with just Scripture, depending on the leading of the Holy Spirit to lead one into truth, and refusing to be labeled.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Denominationalism divides the body. Of course not all people can go to the same church. People go to the local assembly that's near them.
But once you start going down the road of denominations, it fosters an *us vs them* mentality, which should not exist within the body of Christ.
The body of Christ is comprised of all believers in the church age where ever they are. It is a unity that transcends denominations.
The problem with naming a denomination is that you are then broad brushed with ANYTHING that that denomination is reported as doing, whether you agree with it or not, as has happened with predictable regularity on the Catholic threads.
The other thing is that while Catholic churches abound in NY, that can't be said of all denominations. For many denominations, there are only a handful of churches within that denomination which exist in an hour's drive of our home, and that would indeed allow for someone to track me down by knowing my denominational affiliation.
Which BTW, is affiliation only. We are not members and do not identify as a denomination - ist, because our salvation is in Christ, we are followers of Christ, we trust Him for it, not the church to which we belong.
If I felt that it was the church that saved me, I would not doubt proudly announce that membership or affiliation. But the church we attend is for the purpose of worship, fellowship, and ministry opportunities.
What I've concluded , though, is that even if I did give a denominational affiliation, someone would still attack me for it because they disagree with the doctrinal statement of that denomination. Damned if I do and damned if I don't.
My goal is to present the gospel so that people get saved not to drum up members for my church/denomination. And if I give that affiliation, that's what I'm going to be suspected or accused of doing. People will automatically consider that you have nothing to say if they don't like your denomination.
What a beautiful testimony you have, dear brother in Christ, thank you so very much for sharing it with us!
You were His and you didn't even know it - and you always will be His.
That it was grace. It was all grace. (And that grace probably in God’s mystery responding to the prayers of parents and loved ones.) Certainly Not by works of righteousness, because I didn’t have a single one to my credit.
Truly, even a relatively small thing - like what the bakery shop owners did - can have a big effect.
Someday perhaps we will all be able to see those effects - or conversely, the way things could have been.
But what is better is for you to share with them what God has taught you over your years here on earth. And that requires communicating it to them.
You've got to let them know about salvation, about eternity, about God Himself.
Don't let those kids down. "TRAIN up a child in the way he should go...."
How would you know or why would you presume that I didn't?
For all my adamant insistence of adherence to Scripture, the simplicity of the gospel, and the necessity of salvation by grace, through faith in Christ, not of works, is there something I said that would give you the impression that I would let my own children, my own flesh and blood, slide?
You have described what happens here on the RF at times when someone divulges the name of their denomination. DrEckleburg and Rnmomof7 come to mind. No sooner than they said they were Presbyterian the posts and retaliatory threads started up with everything the OPC or PCA ever did that was remotely wrong and every time a pastor was caught in sin, they would come flying out again - as if DR.E and Rnmom were personally responsible or approved of the wrong! I mentioned I was saved in an SB church, and I STILL get digs about what they "officially" state. It doesn't matter what I personally believe, I am broad-brushed with everything the denomination says or does. Usually, it is the Catholics who resort to this and it is mostly revenge motivated because they might have felt they got unfairly blamed for priest's shenanigans or the Inquisitions.
For Catholics, they MUST be obedient to ALL the doctrines and official pronouncements put out by their magesterium and, should anyone veer away from any of them, they are considered excommunicated (not officially, but personally in a state of). They don't have the real freedom of conscience other Christians do to study Scripture and determine that the article of faith really IS Biblical. In fact, being Biblical isn't even a prerequisite for many of the tenets of Catholicism.
I understand why some here want some kind of identifying label with which to have a semblance of an outline of what is believed on certain issues, but, on a religion forum such as this, it should be sufficient to discuss doctrines individually and those who participate can share their own beliefs without having a preconceived label attached to them and their views taken for granted. I know there are a few minor areas I disagree with some Baptists about and I like being able to express my thoughts and why I hold to them. Those who "know" me from here, know I'm not shy about speaking up if I feel I can contribute to the dialog.
Maybe we SHOULD try to be more understanding of the sensitivities of others and be forthright in saying what we believe in the course of the conversation and not take offense when none is meant. It's been said, "There are those who try to make up by zeal and obstinacy what is wanting in reason and argument.". We should try not to be one of "those", but have reasons and arguments for what we hold to be truth.
I pray that there can be forgiveness among us and a new determination to trust each other more and give each other the benefit of the doubt before we draw up our shields. May we learn to live in peace with each other as much as lies within us and love one another as Christ loves us!
Same here bb.
When I finally actually "accepted/believed on Jesus" it was at a Catholic charismatic event.
Great post metmom. Spot on.
Isn’t it amazing that God reaches a person wherever that person is? God saves individuals in so many different situations. It’s not man touching the heart of a person. All too often man puts stumbling blocks where there should be none.
The focus of God’s word is salvation through shed blood of Jesus and His perfect, final, and complete payment for our sins. Scripture is not just some book relating what happened. It’s God’s word. Think about that. The Holy Spirit put the words on those pages as if He wrote them Himself.
When the jailor asked the question “what must I do to be saved” the Holy Spirit’s answer was a simple “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”. That is what God’s answer to that question was. There was no “and also” or “but in addition” statement made. Immediately the jailor began to rejoice. God didn’t say “but hold on there, you also need too….” He let the jailor understand that if he just did that he would be saved for eternity.
That’s the simplicity of the Gospel of Christ. The bottom line if you will. From that point on we need to fit the rest of scripture into that one simple statement. Not add the rest of the stuff to it, or try to diminish that statement by trying to correct God by explaining how that really isn’t enough.
When someone who is wondering what the road to salvation is and reads these threads are they getting God’s answer to the question “what must I do to be saved”? Or are they getting some man contrived additional demands? When I read through the New Testament and notice contention or division or error I find that each time it resulted from straying from that one answer by God to “what must I do to be saved”. Every division in the “body of Christ” has resulted from man adding additional requirements to the answer that God gave to that question.
It would be my hope that when people read these threads and those who post to it would hold steadfast to the simple answer God gave to the question “what must I do to be saved”.
“believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved – and your house”.
God said it, I believe it, that settles it.
When I finally started to grasp the enormity of that I began to see it all over the NT like a rash.Practically every prayer of Paul's in the NT is to that same end.That people would comprehend,grasp,take hold of,understand,be persuaded.Check the context whenever you see,be diligent,labor therefore,this is the work,this one thing I do etc etc. It is in almost every instance talking about that same thing,striving to believe.It is work,it's not something that comes 'naturally' to us,it is hard work and it is constant work.It is the "work of God".
It brought me to my knees and lifted me up like nothing ever did before.All I could utter was "why me?" and even then the very question seemed like an affront to the love of God.Believing will bring you undone.It's entirely about Jesus Christ.
Sadly true and also sadly true is that so much of it comes from the heart of the man I see in the mirror.Wretched man that I am!In the really big scheme of things,none of really know a fat lot at all.If not for His will toward us we'd all be little more than dust.
Amazing,scary,uplifting,humbling and sometimes falling flat on your face as one dead!.To really begin to scratch at the surface of that treasure in the field is enough to make the mind reel.
God help us all.
Amen.
I do and sometimes it makes me shudder at the enormity of it all.In the end it sometimes seems like the biggest stumbling block is that it is all just too unfathomably good to be true!
I'll stop now.
I feel the exact same way.
The other reason I cringe at it is because the term *Christian* is so ambiguous these days. It can mean anything from being a born again believer in Jesus by grace through faith, to simply meaning that someone is not Jewish or Muslim or Hindu, or whatever.
As far as not answering questions, if I perceive that the only reason for the line of questioning is to then pass judgment on whether I am saved or not according to some arbitrary man-made standards, I just won't go there. Not here and not in real life.
In case anyone hasn't noticed, I HATE labels and being labeled.
There are those who are saved and those who are not and it is not my determination to make. If I think someone is saved, I pray for them. If I think someone is not saved, I pray for them to be. It doesn't affect how I relate to them. We are commanded to show the love of Christ to ALL and to forgive all when they sin against us.
I'm with you on the rest of that post.
As far as not revealing my denominational affiliation, I have posted the reason why and while some do not respond to it well, I have never seen the mods react unfavorably to someone wanting to protect their privacy for reasons of safety. It is not a matter of being fearful. It's wisdom considering the day and age.
Isaiah 8:14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Romans 9:33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
1 Peter 2:6-8 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”
Jesus, the stone of stumbling, the rock of offense.
It CAN'T be THAT easy.
Praise God, it is.
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