Maybe I am misunderstanding the man's point.....but I took his comment that it isn't unusual to have certain boundary markers for groups. (secular or church) Could we say that the other groups need to look inward and not adopt these practices? And if it is okay...why isn't it okay for a church to adopt these practices? Set any boundaries that they would like to seperate themselves.
THese are just questions that I was pondering after reading the initial post....just curious what you all think.
I know you didn't ask me but I think that everyone needs boundaries. Everyone needs limits. One persons ceiling or limit is anothers persons floor. I think that everyone should set tough goals and limits. That way it is not a truely easy thing to do. Example-don't set your limit at 1 beer if you are used to drinking 5 the limit should be none. See what I mean?
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"If we don't learn to live together we're gonna die alone"
Jack Shephard.
We all need absolute boundaries. And be spiritually separate from the world. If it's not right on the inside the outside doesn't matter.
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If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 KJV
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2 KJV
Maybe I am misunderstanding the man's point.....but I took his comment that it isn't unusual to have certain boundary markers for groups. (secular or church) Could we say that the other groups need to look inward and not adopt these practices? And if it is okay...why isn't it okay for a church to adopt these practices? Set any boundaries that they would like to seperate themselves.
THese are just questions that I was pondering after reading the initial post....just curious what you all think.
I think several people have missed the point. The point is when people aren't transformed by Christianity they substitute markers for real change. Instead of focusing on changing what matters they resort to becoming exclusive and making outsiders feel like...outsiders.
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"Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." ~Aesop
I think several people have missed the point. The point is when people aren't transformed by Christianity they substitute markers for real change. Instead of focusing on changing what matters they resort to becoming exclusive and making outsiders feel like...outsiders.
"Transformed"? Elaborate please.
__________________ "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it."
The idea is that instead of becoming more loving, more Christ like, transformed on the inside (he likes the word morph) we instead substitute a system where we create artificial differences to be separate from the world.
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"Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow." ~Aesop
The idea is that instead of becoming more loving, more Christ like, transformed on the inside (he likes the word morph) we instead substitute a system where we create artificial differences to be separate from the world.
Part of the problem is that were are saved 'from' and never taught what were are saved 'to'.
__________________ "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it."
What makes us different can be found in this verse
2 Cor 6:14Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness?
15. What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?
16. What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17 Therefore, "`Come out from among them, And be separate,' says the Lord, `Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
18. I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."
dont take this the wrong way. and I mean that.... but here goes.
that is a personal issue. settle in your own heart what God wants and live up to what is in your heart.
My family holds to pretty tradtional moderate OP standards. I go to church with folk that dont. I dont own their walk with God and they dont own mine.
Thanks for your wise words!!! And they truly are wise and often very hard to do! I too am a moderate OP...I do have outward standards...And I go to church with those that don't....it's amazing that somehow we have an awesome worship service, incredible messages and powerful altar calls! LOL!
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"Just a sinner saved by grace!"
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