Sworn oath? Where did that come from? lol. Nobody swears an oath with the affirmation. That is why it is called an AFFIRMATION and not an OATH. Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay. Nobody swears by anything in earth or heaven to it. Come on, people. lol I disagree with the affirmation requirement, but it is not an oath that people swear to keep.
Many times a statement is made that has in mind prior conversations including the one you are in. I'm not going to bring up any past conversations to explain what I meant, and will just leave the statement as it is. I'm tired of all the baiting, gossip, ridicule, picking a part, etc., etc.
Nobody forgot the previous conversations. Just sayin'.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
The difference is that a modified document is true, and signing it would not be dishonest.
So now you agree that it would be dishonest to say you agree with it, if you don't? Cool!
Oh. Never mind.
1. I couldn't in good conscience sign the AS. I'm not a minister, so that's a moot point.
2. I'm not going to put myself in the position of passing judgment on those who do, for whatever reason, even though they aren't in agreement with the contents. I'm definitely NOT going to call them names and shred their character.
People make their own decisions. Unless I felt someone was being blatantly, deliberately dishonest, I would have a hard time being the one to hold their feet to the fire. I would probably have a hard time, even if that was the case.
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"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
1. I couldn't in good conscience sign the AS. I'm not a minister, so that's a moot point.
2. I'm not going to put myself in the position of passing judgment on those who do, for whatever reason, even though they aren't in agreement with the contents. I'm definitely NOT going to call them names and shred their character.
People make their own decisions. Unless I felt someone was being blatantly, deliberately dishonest, I would have a hard time being the one to hold their feet to the fire. I would probably have a hard time, even if that was the case.
Although I'm sure some would disagree, I'm am NOT "Passing judgment" on those who sign dishonestly. I'm attempting to point out the hypocrisy of it all and the phony, surfacy, rhetoric on the TV issue.
I grew up in a pastor's home and there was NO ONE that would go off on TV like my dad. It was legendary stuff. But when we checked into a hotel, the TV was on inside a minute every time and was NEVER off unless we were all asleep. SO, what message do you think was unspoken, but CLEARLY spoken to my young mind? What I witnessed repeatedly was hypocrisy and lying. I was hearing, "I don't really believe what I say in my sermons." If he didn't believe that, what else didn't he believe?
When someone signs that sworn oath, they're saying, "Everything I ever preach, ever support, ever encourage, ever teach, is potentially a lie...something I don't really believe." I think that carries ENORMOUS consequences.
That stupid oath needs to be trashed and this entire culture of TV phoniness needs to be abolished.
I've always had way more respect for those that I disagree with terribly, than those I agree with but don't really back up their beliefs. What I mean is.....I always thought it was pretty goofy when people would walk into their hotel room and either unplug the TV or cover it with something. But you know what? At least they actually believed what they said.
Although I'm sure some would disagree, I'm am NOT "Passing judgment" on those who sign dishonestly. I'm attempting to point out the hypocrisy of it all and the phony, surfacy, rhetoric on the TV issue.
I'm trying to point it out, too. Without the acid. I understand the frustration, though. It is annoying.
Quote:
I grew up in a pastor's home and there was NO ONE that would go off on TV like my dad. It was legendary stuff. But when we checked into a hotel, the TV was on inside a minute every time and was NEVER off unless we were all asleep. SO, what message do you think was unspoken, but CLEARLY spoken to my young mind? What I witnessed repeatedly was hypocrisy and lying. I was hearing, "I don't really believe what I say in my sermons." If he didn't believe that, what else didn't he believe?
Major beef between my Dad and me, too. (And between him and my sisters) He has thrown major fits because my sisters had videos playing in the house when we were visiting. To the point of causing major upheaval and we would have to leave. And go to a hotel. And watch baseball. He was always conflicted about it. For some reason, he felt that he publicly had to save face about it. It was so very frustrating, and this particular issue caused unnecessary pain and conflict in our family. When I got up the nerve (as an adult) I had a [rather heated] discussion with him about it, but it didn't really resolve much. I just couldn't understand why it was such a big deal to have it in your house, but fine to watch tv elsewhere.
Quote:
When someone signs that sworn oath, they're saying, "Everything I ever preach, ever support, ever encourage, ever teach, is potentially a lie...something I don't really believe." I think that carries ENORMOUS consequences.
That stupid oath needs to be trashed and this entire culture of TV phoniness needs to be abolished.
I couldn't agree more.
Quote:
I've always had way more respect for those that I disagree with terribly, than those I agree with but don't really back up their beliefs. What I mean is.....I always thought it was pretty goofy when people would walk into their hotel room and either unplug the TV or cover it with something. But you know what? At least they actually believed what they said.
Yep. I respect consistency.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
NOW, your admission that this is about setting things straight from your childhood and your convenient oversight of Notforsale's post speaks volumes.
Folks the reality is, even the self-proclaimed puritans among us fall short, all the while engaging in pretentious policing of the ethics and morality of others.
The reality is, your moralizing as a total outsider has zero impact, and if anything would very likely set progress back a notch.
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
NOW, your admission that this is about setting things straight from your childhood and your convenient oversight of Notforsale's post speaks volumes.
Folks the reality is, even the self-proclaimed puritans among us fall short, all the while engaging in pretentious policing of the ethics and morality of others.
You've made some good points in this thread, Stephen.
NOW, your admission that this is about setting things straight from your childhood and your convenient oversight of Notforsale's post speaks volumes.
Folks the reality is, even the self-proclaimed puritans among us fall short, all the while engaging in pretentious policing of the ethics and morality of others.
If "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone" always applies, what would preachers preach about?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I also grew up with the inconsistency. No TV at home. But when we were on vacation, whole other story.
I will never forget the day we came home from one such vacation and my grandmother, who was living with us at the time, had purchased a TV and moved it in while we were gone. I thought my mother was going to have a coronary.
I was too young (7 y/o) to understand it at the time, but to this day, I still find it odd that my parents got a TV from somewhere to watch the first moon landing. I can still remember watching that.