Now, fess up! How many can say these things and feel fine about them but have had a missed opportunity, a moment where we judged someone else, felt afraid for our prejudiced reason? Come on... we aren't all hitting homeruns here
Now, I don't ask this question in the political sense. Such as a pastor officially "fellowshipping" with people he or she does not agree with, but rather I ask in a much more personal way.
Do you have friends who are sinners to the core?
I have plenty of family--does that count? I had more sinner friends when I worked outside the home. Any that I have now would fall more into the "acquaintances" category.
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As a pastor would you invite a prostitute over for dinner?
Would you invite a gay co-worker? (Such as my immediate supervisor)
I'm not a pastor, but as a mother, I will say that who we invite into our home is dependent on how I feel they will affect my children. If someone is flamboyant or brags about their sinful lifestyle, then probably not. Unless it's just to have dinner with my husband and me. I wouldn't be opposed to taking someone out to dinner.
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Would you GO to either of their homes?
Probably, but it depends on the circumstances and the person. My children probably wouldn't go along.
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How about spending an evening with a man who did you great harm in the past?
I've done that. It was cathartic--a good decision for me.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
No...some of them need to be revived! Good discussions.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
MB, are we overly protective of our children sometimes? Your perspective is different since Jesus did not parent a family (well, I guess he parented us all, but you know...).
A teenager, for example, being with you to speak the Gospel to a woman hurt and stuck in sexual slavery could be a powerfully impacting opportunity for your son/daughter to see the Gospel in action.
Do we really need to be protective of our kids from homosexuals? Really? They are everywhere, in media, at school... what better way to SHOW, right in front of our kids, the love that THEY should exemplify than to invite them in. I wouldn't expect them to disrespectfully pull down their pants and start going through sexual gestures any more than I would a heterosexual.
Circumstances. In as much as I can do so without compromising my testimony etc. Walking circumspectly I believe the Bible calls it.
I know, but I would want to know what those circumstances are.
We worry too much about what people will say about us, even though Jesus didn't. They called him a glutton and winebibber. He didn't spazz out that "his testimony was harmed." It's really our own personal pride on the line isn't it? What better testimony can be said about us? I'd rather error on the side of mercy.
MB, are we overly protective of our children sometimes? Your perspective is different since Jesus did not parent a family (well, I guess he parented us all, but you know...).
A teenager, for example, being with you to speak the Gospel to a woman hurt and stuck in sexual slavery could be a powerfully impacting opportunity for your son/daughter to see the Gospel in action.
Sure, it could. I'm not opposed to those types of circumstances. That's why I said it depends on the circumstances and the person.
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Do we really need to be protective of our kids from homosexuals? Really? They are everywhere, in media, at school... what better way to SHOW, right in front of our kids, the love that THEY should exemplify than to invite them in. I wouldn't expect them to disrespectfully pull down their pants and start going through sexual gestures any more than I would a heterosexual.
I didn't mention protecting my children from homosexuals. I did mention protecting my children from the influence of someone who is flamboyant or openly promoting a sinful lifestyle. Not the same thing as just *being* homosexual. And the latter example you gave is pretty extreme. LOL!!! I can think of much more subtle behaviors that I would consider inappropriate around children, for various reasons.
The best example I can give my children is making sure they are aware of my involvement with people who need God and who simply need help coping with life. For example, I sometimes help teach a drug and alcohol recovery class at our local library and jail. My children seeing my involvement at a level where I can actually be helpful is more important than bringing a drug addict home to dinner. (IMO) They also see things like their Dad being very generous--he hardly ever says no when someone asks him for money for gas or food or even for a hotel. He stops and helps people along side the road, etc. He provides my mother with a place in our home, and generously takes care of "his widow" in accordance with I Timothy 5, with no complaints at all. There are a lot of ways to *expose* your children to true Christianity without exposing them to negative situations or people.
Of course as our children get older, they are gradually removed from their cocoons and immersed into the *real world.* My husband and I know our children better than anyone else, and only we are truly qualified to make the decisions about when and if they should be exposed to certain people and certain environments. It's not the same for every family, or even for every child within a family.
My first responsibility is to my children; they are the first mission field in my life. I have seen over the years what happens to the children of ministers whose ministry is the center of their lives, and their children are *exposed* to all sorts of things. During the parenting phase of my life, my children's wellbeing is the primary motivation for [almost] every decision. Too many ministers put outreach and ministry first and think that as long as they're doing the "Lord's work" that their children will be just fine. They couldn't be more wrong. I would be devastated if, in the midst of trying to reach out to every other person in the world, I made a decision that endangered the three little people God entrusted to my care.
We're not only protective of our children in regard to sinners, btw. There are Christians who can be very negative influences as well. Those who are negative, rude, arrogant, gossipy, divisive, or hypocritical, for instance.
This thread really isn't about children, and truthfully, I can't think of very many people I wouldn't be willing to have a meal with (on my own). However, I mentioned my children because they will factor into the decisions about who comes into our home in a huge way.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
I had more sinner friends when I worked outside the home. Any that I have now would fall more into the "acquaintances" category.
However, I mentioned my children because they will factor into the decisions about who comes into our home in a huge way.
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