The World Doesn't Buy Your Explanations

[Trouvere]

Originally Posted by tv1a

Topic came up at work about television. I mention the denomination our church belongs to doesn't allow television, but allows the internet. I attempted the Larry Booker explanation and was shot out of the water rather quickly by those pagans. Everyone person in that conversation agreed the internet is more dangerous than television. Not one of those heathen thought the anti-tv/pro-internet made sense.

The problem was not with the no tv stance.The problem was that you don't have a deep conviction about it.You used the church organization as your excuse.That is why it was shot out of the water.I have explained the reason
that I don't have tv to many people and its never been treated wierd.Even
non religous people don't have tv's.First of all they don't want their minds programmed with the worlds propoganda.Secondly they don't want their children viewing trash.Thirdly they realize that what is put into their minds
makes it into their spirits.The eyes are the windows of the soul.There are
alot of other reasons people don't have tv's.The internet does not have
to be dangerous.You can get a AFF filter.You have to type into the browser.
If you are having alot of pop ups that are wierd you may have a trojan virus.
TV is lazy.You are getting entertained.I doubt the truth would be that you
would always only watch cooking channels or LPB.If you did though have
a deep personal conviction about it though your answer may have been
received differently.The explanation you gave probably made the folks not want to attend church whereas if the only issues you have are tv and some minor things you might agree that real bible salvation is present there for people who need to make it to heaven.Try some more positive conversation
than the we don't do tv thing.

[Coonskinner]

I suspect Troy probably presented this particular issue in a way that he knew would be shot down, in order to make good fodder for a little fun here on AFF.

He doesn't agree with it himself, and thinks it is crazy, so no doubt his "presentation" wasn't all that convincing.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I would lose some votes from those who prefer to have others think for them.

Life was so much easier when all was black and white... when my Old Order Mennonite church told me exactly what was permissable and what was forbidden... or was it????

So true...

Takes me back to a thread I started sometime ago.


Is There Any Power To Transform In Standards.

In the past... I knew all the rules... I followed all the rules... but I missed the point.

[Digging4Truth]

By the way...

I think that someone can give a good explanation for a personal conviction against TV and it be believable and substantial.

It is the blanket prohibition of TV for everyone resulting in the formation and enforcement of this conviction on others that doesn't hold water especially in the sight of then ALLOWING internet.

It is so much wiser to lead people with basic Godly principles to then take and apply to their lives.

When we spell out the specifics then we need help the next time a new specific comes along.

But when we teach basic principles to guide ones life then the people have an ability to pray, seek God and form their own convictions.

The problem comes in with the fear of all fears... that they would come to a different conclusion.


Can't have that.

[Ferd]

Uhm, i am against the anti-TV position. I think tv1a did a silly thing.


and if there was any witness what so ever here, and IF he actually did as he said, he killed his witness.

good job tvguy. you just made the job of the rest of us more difficult.

We should keep these inconsistencies secret until we have them too scared to leave.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Sheltiedad

We should keep these inconsistencies secret until we have them too scared to leave.

In a nutshell.

Personally... I find that people who do not attend church find frank, open & honest conversation refreshing and encouraging. It is, quite often, less a conversation like this one and more the head strong "We're right... your wrong... get over it or go to hell" stance that turns them off quicker and more completely.

Some have said that tv1a was wrong and messed up...I wasn't there for the entire conversation so I couldn't say one way or another without just jumping out there and chunking some wildly speculative opinion based on nothing....

I'm not comfortable doing that.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Probably this shouldn't have even been said to them, because no one outside of Pentecostal circles would understand this type of logic. It only makes the Pentecostal church world seem foolish to outsiders...they think these things are ridiculous and if you look at it from the other side, you see it that way too.

I agree; some things are ridiculous and inconsistent, but I see no reason to let the general public know all about our faults and failures. The time would have been better spent sharing the Gospel message.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Sheltiedad

We should keep these inconsistencies secret until we have them too scared to leave.

I don't go about trying to win people to our organization...I try to win people to Christ. What inconsistencies the organization may possess, has no bearing on that process, and in my opinion, shouldn't be shared at all. Hopefully, those inconsistencies can be resolved, eventually, from the inside out.

[Digging4Truth]

I think that it could be generally agreed that they are fully aware of our inconsistencies and that there is no big secret.