Unnecessary Obstacles to Christ - Page 4

Sister Alvear · #31 03-11-2007, 07:57 PM

Wonder what color card they carried? ha....

SDG · #32 03-11-2007, 09:53 PM

bump .. FOOD FOR THOUGHT.

Nahum · #33 03-11-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Where do you go from here? When my pastor came to this realization back in 1990, he had to disfellowship with the UPC because he could not sign a paper agreeing with all the "holiness standards" of the UPC. It was one of the hardest things he ever had to do.

God can repair potential "eternal damage".

Please do not bring the UPC into this, as that was not my intention.
I am not speaking about an organization as much as I am speaking about the condition of my own heart.

I think all of us have the potential to be legalists if we are not careful.

SDG · #34 03-11-2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I think all of us have the potential to be legalists if we are not careful.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Sister Alvear · #35 03-11-2007, 10:28 PM

well, every man is right in his own eyes...

stmatthew · #36 03-11-2007, 10:43 PM

While I am not an advocate of preaching against everything and its mother, I do see that if we as individuals do not put fences (boundaries) in our lives, we will find ourselves on the outside looking in. The thing I have noticed about some folks like this is that they start excusing and allowing more and more things that are of this world into their life, and in the process they begin to drift in their dedication and total commitment to God. They become passive christians, where they once was active and even aggressive in their walk with God.

Nahum · #37 03-11-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stmatthew

While I am not an advocate of preaching against everything and its mother, I do see that if we as individuals do not put fences (boundaries) in our lives, we will find ourselves on the outside looking in. The thing I have noticed about some folks like this is that they start excusing and allowing more and more things that are of this world into their life, and in the process they begin to drift in their dedication and total commitment to God. They become passive christians, where they once was active and even aggressive in their walk with God.

In my OPINION, I think its great that we have personal convictions (fences).

The problem comes in when you think that I am lost if I don't build my fences in the same place you would. Not you personally Matt, I mean anyone.

stmatthew · #38 03-11-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

In my OPINION, I think its great that we have personal convictions (fences).

The problem comes in when you think that I am lost if I don't build my fences in the same place you would. Not you personally Matt, I mean anyone.

I understand. I heard a message preached by Bro Couch on time title "Negotiables, and Non-negotiables". There are things that are out right scripture that cannot be dismissed or set aside. They are absolutes. And then there are what you are calling fences. They are standards set in place because a danger was seen to be ahead of taking that particular path. These are the things that will very from church to church.

I think my post more than anything was to just give the balance of what you are posting. No, I am not in favor of the ministry putting up fences that are not God ordained in scripture. But those that seem to balk the hardest seem to go to the opposite extreme and just let anything go. They find it easier and easier to entertain themselves with this worlds entertainment, and go shout on Sunday morning at their local charismaniac church, and know not that the Spirit has departed from them.

J-Roc · #39 03-12-2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

1. A heaviness of heart when realizing that I have been guilty of the very thing I am posting about.

2. A sorrowing spirit when I realize the potential eternal damage I may have inadvertently inflicted upon innocent souls.

3. A newfound appreciation for the Truth that is found in the unpolluted Word of God.

4. Real conviction and determination to never again be guilty of the first two.

Tears welled up in my eyes reading this... I appreciate your passion in these words...

tbpew · #40 03-12-2007, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

In my OPINION, I think its great that we have personal convictions (fences).

The problem comes in when you think that I am lost if I don't build my fences in the same place you would.

IMO, if we move toward this approach/conduct with each other as members of the body that God has annointed, unity in the Spirit will fully displace striving and the foolishness of comparing ourselves, one with another.

The Spirit will lead us in all truth pertaining to the motives that flow from our heart but I think these [principles or premises] will be level at which we share a uniformity, not in any particular set of specifics. How we act in response to the principles that God's Spirit has written within our hearts will be lived as our own set of "personal fences".

Then, each one of us, as individuals, will give account to our own master for what we understood when standing in the light of his Spirit illuminating his Word.