The poor in America - Page 29

Socialite · #**281** 04-07-2011, 06:20 PM

The "Apostolic Pentecostal" culture is damned with this one problem -- trying too hard to find their niche, and trying too hard to be different. If it's social justice, we can't do that because it's popular among this group. If it's caring for the sick and feeding the needy, well those Baptists and Catholics do a pretty good job already. So we resort to rhetoric over clear scripture, trying to scratch out our unique place in the market of religion, peddling our gospel, in lieu of the Gospel.

Thankfully, there is a trend among Apo churches to cross that bridge. It's a small trend but I think it will only swell and grow bigger. Enough comparing ourselves one among each other, and more asking what the Spirit wants us to do, and listening to the counsel of scripture.

coadie · #**282** 04-07-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socialite

Do we care for the poor or evangelize?

Do we love our neighbor or get baptized?

Do we proclaim the Gospel or carry one another's burdens?

Do we declare the Good News or buy groceries?

Do we visit the sick or worship God?

..... WE DO IT ALL!

You need to consider compassion.

You create dichotomies. False dichotomies.

Socialite · #**283** 04-07-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coadie

You need to consider compassion.

You create dichotomies. False dichotomies.

ROFLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sandie · #**284** 04-08-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socialite

Those freaks may as well wear black robes, tassels down the side, and carry stones, pelting the crowds as they walk by.

The Gospel is GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!

What part of that is so hard to get! If what you are peddling isn't such a great proclamation, it's not the Gospel.

It must have really got to you that I can see the better part of those who try, maybe they fail to live up to your views and expectations, but at least they try.

I won't stoop low to call those who act differently names or judge their intent or God's ability to use even a lowly animal or people who stand on street corners to get our attention.

Yes, the Gospel is Good News, but try not to fear the first step that gets us to that Good News: repentance.

Socialite · #**285** 04-08-2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandie

It must have really got to you that I can see the better part of those who try, maybe they fail to live up to your views and expectations, but at least they try.

I won't stoop low to call those who act differently names or judge their intent or God's ability to use even a lowly animal or people who stand on street corners to get our attention.

Yes, the Gospel is Good News, but try not to fear the first step that gets us to that Good News: repentance.

It definitely got to me. It got to me enough that I had to stop and let them know how much it got to me. Those men were full of dead man's bones, white-washed tombs, peddling something that wasn't the Gospel at all. They were peddling morality, judgment, there was no good news in what they were saying, and no one wanted to hear. They "crashed the party" with doom and gloom, and still everyone walked to the other side of the street to stay away from them.

After speaking further with them, they were preaching triumphalism, Grace as a "second chance" to be perfect, and screaming out random sin's (supposedly being prophetic to those walking by).

I don't fear repentance. But that's not the whole Gospel... in fact, repentance isn't the Gospel

Socialite · #**286** 04-08-2011, 09:46 AM

Sinners were attracted to Jesus... they wanted to hear what he had to say. Sinners were repulsed by these weirdos... they should get a clue.

aegsm76 · #**287** 04-08-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socialite

Sinners were attracted to Jesus... they wanted to hear what he had to say. Sinners were repulsed by these weirdos... they should get a clue.

Tell that to the sinners in the temple who had the whip laid on them.

jfrog · #**288** 04-08-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Tell that to the sinners in the temple who had the whip laid on them.

While you can nitpick all you want but Socialist made a great point. The reception of Jesus by sinners is totally different than the reception of Street preachers by sinners.

aegsm76 · #**289** 04-08-2011, 02:59 PM

JF - my point is that sometimes "sinners" felt the sting of the whip/words/actions.
It was not always sympathy, empathy and compassion.
It is the same with us today.
We need to be discerning to those who really need help, as opposed to those who are using our "help" as a crutch.

Socialite · #**290** 04-08-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Tell that to the sinners in the temple who had the whip laid on them.

Were those "sinners" or was that a rebuke of what the religious had made of this festival, ironically, making it a difficult time of year for the poor to participate? Are you sure? Were these those "outside" the Church or those "inside" the Church? Was Jesus playing the role of a prophet here, or an evangelist? Seems pretty consistent, that Jesus corrected the religious, and that's exactly what we eavesdrop in with the Temple.

BTW, he didn't beat anyone. He whipped the cattle out of the temple. Nowhere does it say he beat people.