It's been interesting seeing the various viewpoints on the subject at hand. I, for one, am not afraid of the wide array of Pentecostal views although I sometimes get fearful - as Elder Epley said - of how 'wide' that 'array' is getting!
The bottom line is that God called us to make righteousness look good to a lost and dying world. That had nothing to do with bending to please the world and everything to do with living a joyous attitude of 'life more abundantly' in the parameters of modesty and holiness. We have folks who bend too far to the left and too far to the right.
Part of that is the fault of preachers themselves. I still mourn to admit that there are many out there with the same sick mentality as the one who was most interested in 'job security'. We, in the ministry, have gotto convey that commitment and truth can be preached effectively and without a vulgar spirit but it will require preachers that have the guts to stand up for what's right and the tenderness in their hearts to show them a Christ like spirit while doing it.
2. The second part of the answer is just as vital as the first. Those who preach a strong standard should endeavor to show the world a ‘proper’ spirit that matches your ‘proper’ attire. Too many of us have stripped the beauty out of holiness in the eyes of the people.
It’s shameful and even sinful to make our ‘holiness’ an offense to lost souls! God called you to be shining examples of ‘life more abundantly’ but far too many times long skirts come with long faces, a good sleeve length comes with a bad temper and uncut hair seems to be a ‘package deal’ with an unruly spirit!
We call them ‘holiness’ standards but is it really holiness if it’s just a church ‘uniform’ instead of an expression of a wholesome, happy life? I’ve come to call it ‘Irresponsible Holiness’ because it becomes a lie easily seen through when our appearance says “Victory!” while our attitude says, “Venom!”
We need a renewing of our minds!
Hold on to separation but hold on with a right attitude!
Preach a strong message but preach it with a tender heart!
Oh that God would restore to all of us the precious truth that the spirit of holiness was given to the Church as the ultimate outreach tool and not mortal to build walls between us! A right spirit and a holy life were designed in the mind of God to draw the world to the ‘beauty of holiness’. That’s not called ‘relevance’… that’s called righteousness.
Relevance wants to make the Church look good to the world;
Our calling is to make righteousness look good to the world!
And it’s an irresponsible holiness to live a standard or reach for the lost without making God’s righteousness look appealing to those who need it the most.[/COLOR][/SIZE]
All thoughts were excellent, but his one is especially very important. I remember Brother Kilgore saying that our holiness message needs to match our lifestyle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steadfast
[SIZE="4"][COLOR="Blue"]It's been interesting seeing the various viewpoints on the subject at hand. I, for one, am not afraid of the wide array of Pentecostal views although I sometimes get fearful - as Elder Epley said - of how 'wide' that 'array' is getting!
The bottom line is that God called us to make righteousness look good to a lost and dying world. That had nothing to do with bending to please the world and everything to do with living a joyous attitude of 'life more abundantly' in the parameters of modesty and holiness. We have folks who bend too far to the left and too far to the right.
The attributes of the fruit of the Spirit are not bitter. A bearing fruit tree draws attention by virtue of it's good fruit. The seed is in the fruit, we don't bear fruit for the only for fruits sake, but to reproduce in like kind in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 - 23 (KJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Ephesians 5:9 (KJV) 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
Sweet fruit spreads seeds!
Demonstration of the Power of the Spirit will draw the lost, the sweet fruit of the Spirit will keep them.
__________________
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
His word burns in my heart like a fire...Fire Fall Down
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,853
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steadfast
It's been interesting seeing the various viewpoints on the subject at hand. I, for one, am not afraid of the wide array of Pentecostal views although I sometimes get fearful - as Elder Epley said - of how 'wide' that 'array' is getting!
The bottom line is that God called us to make righteousness look good to a lost and dying world. That had nothing to do with bending to please the world and everything to do with living a joyous attitude of 'life more abundantly' in the parameters of modesty and holiness. We have folks who bend too far to the left and too far to the right.
Part of that is the fault of preachers themselves. I still mourn to admit that there are many out there with the same sick mentality as the one who was most interested in 'job security'. We, in the ministry, have gotto convey that commitment and truth can be preached effectively and without a vulgar spirit but it will require preachers that have the guts to stand up for what's right and the tenderness in their hearts to show them a Christ like spirit while doing it.
It's been interesting seeing the various viewpoints on the subject at hand. I, for one, am not afraid of the wide array of Pentecostal views although I sometimes get fearful - as Elder Epley said - of how 'wide' that 'array' is getting!
The bottom line is that God called us to make righteousness look good to a lost and dying world. That had nothing to do with bending to please the world and everything to do with living a joyous attitude of 'life more abundantly' in the parameters of modesty and holiness. We have folks who bend too far to the left and too far to the right.
Part of that is the fault of preachers themselves. I still mourn to admit that there are many out there with the same sick mentality as the one who was most interested in 'job security'. We, in the ministry, have gotto convey that commitment and truth can be preached effectively and without a vulgar spirit but it will require preachers that have the guts to stand up for what's right and the tenderness in their hearts to show them a Christ like spirit while doing it.
What scares ME for these ministers, is that they must give an account to God.
Any time I have been given an opportunity to speak before a group of people I take it very seriously and afraid I might miss what God wants me to say. I never want to preach just to itchy ears.
I see that you have mulled these thoughts over in your mind long enough fo them to securely taken root in your spirit. The Lord will further direct your mind in this regard as the gate is not getting wider nor is the way getting broader. This is true even though we have a great deal of wide gate preaching and broadway living.
The greater that you stay true to the preaching that directs to the strait gate, the greater the relevancy becomes to those that seek to find it. This is so though few there be there that find it, yet it is just as much relevant today if not more so, than ever before.
Our mission is to make the message of Jesus Christ relavant to our given generation and culture. (e.g. My kids don't like the same type of music that I like, etc.)
Until Christ returns, he will always have a church that will speak to every culture and generation. Maybe that's why God allows us to die after a certain time. Otherwise, each generation would always think that THEIR way was the RIGHT way to do things! As each generation dies, their voice is silenced and the next generation determines a new definition of right and wrong.
__________________ Words: For when an emoticon just isn't enough.
Our mission is to make the message of Jesus Christ relavant to our given generation and culture. (e.g. My kids don't like the same type of music that I like, etc.)
Until Christ returns, he will always have a church that will speak to every culture and generation. Maybe that's why God allows us to die after a certain time. Otherwise, each generation would always think that THEIR way was the RIGHT way to do things! As each generation dies, their voice is silenced and the next generation determines a new definition of right and wrong.
And all this time, ive been thinking our job was to show the world who relevant the Gospel is to their lives?
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
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