Drawing Lines: Where Do Yours Begin?

[1992]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

ANYBODY that will treat his literal wife with such disregard and disrespect will eventually try to treat the Bride of Christ with the same arrogant attitude. I told him that I focused on his wife and her heartbeat more than him the night before because, to be quite frank, I think God focuses on His Bride a lot more than He does any single Preacher. "You're only necessary because of His love for the Bride."

No thanks. Don't need that in my Church. They are too important to God... and me.

We closed and he never came back.

Bro. Steadfast,

That was an excellent post. I have heard many ministers joke at their wives' expense from the pulpit. The congregation chuckles and I cringe in my seat, feeling her pain. It's too bad there aren't more men like you willing to stand up and call them on it. Thank you.

[1992]

Besides being careful about how my Bible is placed, and capitalizing all pronouns in relation to God, I also refuse to let my children use slang. Nothing turns me off more than hearing OM___ or OM (substitute word here) come out of a pentecostal mouth.

I tend to stay away from people who do nothing but talk bad about other people. Can't count the number of times someone's said "pray for so and so, they ____". (It especially bothers me when pastors do this from the pulpit, but that's a whole other subject.)

I don't associate closely with people who are deceptive and liers.

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

okay, I may step on some toes here or ruffle someone's feathers BUT, a huge thing for me is, I can't stand to see "saints" lay their hands on someone's head and pray for them. I grew up where that was for MINISTRY only and to see a saint take a command of authority like that gets under my skin to no end!

You're not stepping, sis, but I grew up TOTALLY different. In my home church, the "body" was expected to minister to each other. We would stop up church so the saints could go lay hands on each other, it is normal to me. It kind of takes that "Oooh, if the preacher will lay his magical hand on me, I'll be healed" effect away. But I hear what your saying.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

okay, I may step on some toes here or ruffle someone's feathers BUT, a huge thing for me is, I can't stand to see "saints" lay their hands on someone's head and pray for them. I grew up where that was for MINISTRY only and to see a saint take a command of authority like that gets under my skin to no end!

I can't stand it when anyone (but my wife) touches my head.
Psychologically speaking, touching a persons head is only one step removed from touching their "privates" in the personal-space department.

Oh yes, other than my wife, I let my doctor do it..... but even he is spending more time looking in my ear, nose, and down my throat than actually 'touching' me.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Steadfast

Well, folks, let's be honest here.

Everyone worth their salt should have convictions.

Gut convictions.
Deep rooted, heartfelt convictions.
Never fading, soul captivating convictions.

I don't mind telling you that, in my opinion, if you don't have some real convictions you probably don't have a real relationship with God. The difference in most of us is where we draw the line when it comes to fellowshipping around our convictions.

For instance, your convictions may be much more 'relaxed' than mine. Obviously, some of my convictions surely pertain to modesty of dress while other's don't put so much emphasis on spiritual disciplines pertaining to clothing.

If you are right with God you have, somewhere in your world, some serious beliefs upon which you build your spiritual disciplines. Again, the question is where do you draw the line and say, "I like you but that's a bit much for my spiritual comfort."

Among the spiritual disciplines in my life are things that would be insignificant to most but others would be critical to most as well:
EXAMPLE... I simply cannot bring myself to put anything on top of my Bible. It bothers me. It haunts me to think that I would disrespect the Word of God by chucking it into the back seat of my car and piling groceries on it! Hey, I won't even put a piece of paper on my Bible... strange to you? A conviction to me.

I wouldn't disfellowship anybody over it. I strongly teach my young ministers to respect it to the point that if I see something on their Bible they 'know' my displeasure.

HOWEVER... I simply could not, for any reason, put false doctrine in my pulpit to preach and don't think I could have any real fellowship with an Apostolic Church that thought the New Birth Doctrine so insignificant that putting a damnable doctrine in their pulpit was okay.

GET MY POINT?
Both of them are convictions to me;
Lines of fellowship, however, are drawn differently by various people.

Let's do something 'different' on AFF for a little while. Let's talk 'convictions' and where YOU draw the line of 'fellowship'. I'm NOT talking about 'hating' your brother or 'resenting' another Church or belief. I'm talking about a "I love you, Brother, but that is a very important issue to me that I can't 'overlook' in my pursuit of fellowship."

What conviction do you have that would be hard for you to fellowship 'around'? Where do you draw your lines.

Not looking for a 'standards' thread here... looking for a 'I'm close enough to God that my personal convictions can't be ignored on this issue.

Who is brave enough to admit to a conviction that strong?

I am more conservative than most think. I just don't believe in mandating everyone else be like me.

I draw the line at the New Birth experience.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

People that demean others with a false attitude of sweetness to try to cover their true spirit. Gossiper's, if you listen to it and are not careful it can get into your spirit and make you feel so bad.

Both of these!!!!!


Ps 55:21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I'm right there with you on this one. all personal pronouns relating to God are always to be capitalized.

Does it bother you that it's not done in the KJV?

[simplyme]

I've read a few so far and they all seem good., some of which I could also claim.
For myself, of late I have come to realize more than I would have a few years ago., that TRUTH is the conviction for me., GOD's TRUTH., once I learn something, or He shows me, I must act accordingly., I cannot pretend to not know., live like I don't know.

One more conviction that came painfully to me over time, was that I cannot tolerate gossip., nor entertain it especially if its 'church' news(?).
This conviction actually began even before I was 'in church', I used to work office jobs (secretarial, clerical) and I TELL YOOOUUU! the gossip in them type of employment would curl ones hair, 'office gossip" and "office politics" get so blown out of proportion lives are ruined, so many many misperceptions and hurt feelings, goodness! it just ruins everything, I turned my back on my education to avoid such scenarios when I became a "new creation"., and I have not regretted that decision.

[LadyChocolate]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

You're not stepping, sis, but I grew up TOTALLY different. In my home church, the "body" was expected to minister to each other. We would stop up church so the saints could go lay hands on each other, it is normal to me. It kind of takes that "Oooh, if the preacher will lay his magical hand on me, I'll be healed" effect away. But I hear what your saying.

we weren't taught that the preacher's hand was magic. But more so that when a person lays their hand on your head, they were taking authority over situations in your life... Not exactly "them" but God. That is why it is for the ministry because saints really, imo, don't have the authority that God has given to the ministry to do this. That's just how I was brought up.

[Sister Alvear]

I hope our people don't start banging on the pulpit when a preacher is preaching...I hate disorder. Banging screaming taking the place of true anointing.