Now see... this is where you aren't going to like what I say...
I think that teaching rules rather than concepts causes one to begin to take their eye off the prize of an indwelling writing of the law & nature of God that walks us to maturity and relationship and begins to set their eyes on an outward set of rules which do not necessarily deal with the core spiritual issues.
Instead of a list of rules... teach modesty and let them work out their own salvation.
Instead of a list of rules... teach honesty and let them work out their own salvation.
Instead of a list of rules... teach good stewardship and let them work out their own salvation.
After all... is He slack concerning His promise to lead and guide us into all truth?
There is, of course, always the availability of counsel because people have questions and need someone to be a mentor. But even then... we don't make the decisions for them... we teach them how to search out the mind of God for themselves and they build relationship.
I see my role as a mentor equal to my role as a father. My greatest achievement would be that I work myself out of a job.
My greatest achievement would be that I teach them enough about relationship with their savior that they learn to find His nature & spirit on their own.
But... the great fear is... what if they come to a different conclusion than I have? (Shudder) And so we teach them our version of the rules just in case.
What's not to like, D4T?
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
Rules can never replace relationship, but there is no relationship without rules.
I agree that legalism is rampant, but that doesn't mean we throw the baby out with the wash. Far better to taken a reasoned, biblical approach to all things.
Consider this rule "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
Rules? Principles? Commandments? I think we need to sort these out. D4T is saying something is a general principle and leaves the finer points to the conviction of the Holy Spirit where PP applies the doing of the verb, believe, as a rule.....
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His banner over me is LOVE.... My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
To be a servant of God, it will cost us our total commitment to God, and God alone. His burden must be our burden... Sis Alvear
Rules can never replace relationship, but there is no relationship without rules.
I agree that legalism is rampant, but that doesn't mean we throw the baby out with the wash. Far better to taken a reasoned, biblical approach to all things.
Consider this rule "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
Everyone who seeks Him?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Rules can never replace relationship, but there is no relationship without rules.
I agree that legalism is rampant, but that doesn't mean we throw the baby out with the wash. Far better to taken a reasoned, biblical approach to all things.
Consider this rule "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
There is nothing in the word of God, properly understood, that is not beneficial to our salvation and bringing us to relationship.
But I guess we will never really get a chance to discuss this productively because we cannot find an agreement on what is meant when I say rules versus what you mean when you say rules.
By rules I mean... Don't wear this... Don't go to that type of function, Don't listen to that...
These types of things which are not basic concepts to apply to ones life but specific instructions given to another for which there is no need or room for interpretation but are, instead, a dealt out interpretation scripture.
There is nothing in the word of God, properly understood, that is not beneficial to our salvation and bringing us to relationship.
But I guess we will never really get a chance to discuss this productively because we cannot find an agreement on what is meant when I say rules versus what you mean when you say rules.
By rules I mean... Don't wear this... Don't go to that type of function, Don't listen to that...
These types of things which are not basic concepts to apply to ones life but specific instructions given to another for which there is no need or room for interpretation but are, instead, a dealt out interpretation scripture.
Those are applications of principles;therefore, man-made rules. I was speaking about God-instituted rules.
Ten commandments, love your neighbor kind of stuff. Those are rules that are not really application based or interpretive. You are either obedient or disobedient to them. Right relationship is predicated upon obedience to those rules.
So I think we agree.
But wouldn't a KISS tee shirt be wordly? How could God (forget the pastor) be pleased with us marketing such garbage on our bodies?
So am I quench'n
If I don't love,
If I don't exhibit the joy,
If I'm not at peace,
If I'm short tempered,
If I'm all about me,
If I'm treat'n others like in a way I would not want to be treated?
In short am I quenching the Spirit if I'm not producing the Fruit of the Spirit?
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Psa 119:165 (KJV) 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
"Do not believe everthing you read on the internet" - Abe Lincoln
My soul followeth hard after thee....Love one another with a pure heart fervently. 
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