Quote:
Originally Posted by originalsecretplace
I have to post on the position of the laity in this instance since I am not in the ministry. I'm not sure the ministry fully understand the position we, as laity, find ourselves in when dealing with judgements of others with outward appearance.
The placement of these measuring devices leads to our judgement and separation of ourselves from our Bros and Sisters in the Lord. The measurement is fundamentally devisive. It does not divide light from dark as the Gospel does but brother against brother (light vs light).
If you preach that the way to express holiness is in "such and such" absolute which is based on appearence then the laity will judge others by that measurement. One of the major principles in scripture (one of which all the law and prophets hang) is love your brother. If you don't have love you don't have God. If you can't love you brother who you see, how can you say you love God who you can't see? If you separate yourself from your brother how can you still say you love him? I think it's hypocritical to say one thing and do the opposite.
Under no circumstances can I find in scripture where I am to separate myself from my brother except for sin and then only until the brother repents. Time and time again in scriptures, in the Gospels and the epistles, we see where we must forgive and must not judge or cause someone to stumble. Yet the great divide goes up between us based on outward differences.
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The light dividing light analogy is accurate, I believe.
Also, when Pastors specifically preach AGAINST other Pastors standards they shoot themselves in the foot.
How can they do that without impugning their own efforts (rights?) to minister?
Nina
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