To help the exercised reader identify true repentance, consider the fruits that demonstrate godly repentance.
1.A real hatred of sin as sin, not merely it's consequences. A hatred of not only of this or that sin, but of all sin, and particularly of the root itself: Self-will. "Thus saith the Lord God, Repent, and turn from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations" (Ezekiel 14:6). He, who hates not sin, loves it. God's demand is, "Ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed" (Ezekiel 20:43). One who has really repented can truthfully say, " I hate every false way" (Psalm 119:104). He who once thought a course for holy living was a gloomy thing, has another judgment now. He , who once regarded a course of self-pleasing as attractive, now detests it and has purposed to forsake all sin forever. This is the change of mind God requires.
2. A deep sorrow for sin. The non saving repentance of so many is principally a distress occasioned by forebodings of divine wrath; but evangelical repentance produces a deep grief from a sense of having offended so infinitely excellent and glorious a Being as God. The one is the effect of fear, the other of love. The one is only for a brief season; the other is the habitual practice for life. Many a man is filled with regret and remorse over misspent life, yet has no poignant sorrow of heart for his ingratitude and rebellion against God. But a regenerated soul is cut to the quick for having disregarded and opposed his great Benefactor and rightful Sovereign
This is the change of heart God requires.
"ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner... for godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation" (2 Cor 7:9-10). Such a sorrow is produced in the heart by the Holy Spirit and has God for its object. It is a grief for having despised such a God, rebelled against His authority, and been indifferent to His glory. It is this that causes us to "weep bitterly" (Mat 26:75). He who has not grieved over sin takes pleasure therein. God requires us to "afflict our souls (Lev 16:29). His call is, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your hearts and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful" ( Joel 2:12-12). Only that sorrow for sin is genuine which causes us to crucify "the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal 5:24).
3. Confessing of sin. " He that covereth his sins shall not prosper" (Proverbs 28:13). It is second nature to the sinner to deny his sins, directly or indirectly, to minimize or make excuses for them. It was thus with Adam and Eve at the beginning. But when the Holy Spirit works in any soul, his sins are brought to light, and he, in turn, acknowledges them to God. There is no relief for the stricken heart until he does so: " When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long, for day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer" (Psalm 32:3-4). The frank and brokenhearted owning of our sins is imperative if peace of conscience is to be maintained. This is the change of attitude that God requires.
4. An actual turning from sin. "Surely there is no one here so stupefied with laudanum of hellish indifference as to imagine that he can revel in his lusts and afterward wear the white robes of the redeemed in paradise. If you imagine you can be partakers of the blood of Christ, and yet drink the cup of Belial; if you imagine you can be members of Satan and members of Christ at the same time, ye have less sense than one would give you credit for. No, you know that right hands must be cut off and right eyes plucked out-that the most darling sins must be renounced-if you would enter the kingdom of God" (from Spurgeon on Luke 13:24).
Three Greek words are used in the New testament that present different phases of repentance. First, metanoeo, Which means a "change of mind" (Mat 3:2; Mark 1:15,). Second, metanolomai, which means "a change of Heart" (Mat 21:29,32; Heb 7:21). Third, metanoia, which means "a change of course of life" (Mat 3:8; 9:13; Acts 20:21). The three must go together for genuine repentance. Many experience a change of mind: they are instructed and know better, but they continue to defy God. Some are even exercised in heart or conscience, yet they continue in sin. Some are informed in mind and uneasy in heart, who never reform their lives. The three must go together.
"He that covereth sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). He who does not, fully in his heart's desire and increasingly so in his life, turn from his wicked ways has not repented. If I really hate sin and sorrow over it, shall I not abandon it? Note carefully the "wherein in time past!" of Ephesians 2:2 and "were sometimes" of Titus 3:3! "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him" (Isa 55:7).
This is the change of course God requires..........to be continued
A.W. Pink
Considering this:
ReplyDelete" "He that covereth sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). He who does not, fully in his heart's desire and increasingly so in his life, turn from his wicked ways has not repented. If I really hate sin and sorrow over it, shall I not abandon it?"
Do you have a TV? Yes or no? Why?
But when those sins manifest from the internal to the external for everyone to see, they are to be met with."
ReplyDeleteActually, the rest of the statement reads..
But when those sins manifest from the internal to the external for everyone to see, they are to be met with. First and foremost they are to be dealt with by the individual. That is why we are to live a life of repentance. It's not a one time repentance and that is it. No, that would be antinomianism. That is why accountability amongst believers is crucial.
I was speaking in the context of church discipline. Which I know you have a problem with, since you don't go or see no need to assemble with believers.
I have read what you posted of J.C. Ryle, and he would,more than likely, not agree with the context in which you use it. Of course he is not here to ask. But in the context of his writings and the fact that he was a pastor, one could assume he would not approve of your use of his comments, in the context in which you use.
Yes, I actually have four televisions. Don't use them as much as we used to though.
I use them for watching football games, and some programs., not many. Even though I have what is called the Sky Angel network which is mostly Christian programming, so they say. Actually the heresey that is portrayed by what is mainstream evangelicalism is more dangerous than regular cable. We also use the t.v. for watching christian videos.
I don't know if you are trying to scoot off in some gray area or not.
I do not agree with your view of the lordship issue. I really do not want to
belabor this issue with you. I do not see it as lordship doctrine. I see it simply as biblical doctrine.
You seem to negate the fact of any human responsibility in the process of sanctification. In no way have I stated anything to think I believe in perfectionism.
At some point, for me, this will become unfruitful. I am quickly aproaching that point with you. I have discussed, as well as others, have discussed other theological issues with you in which you are unbiblical before this blog. I'm really kinda tired of it. As I study this repentance issue I am convicted of the fact that at times I take this issue way to lightly. This is a serious matter. I find myself as I discuss issues with, you in particular, since this is not the first time we have butted heads. I find myself trying to one up you. That is not God honoring. That deserves repentance on my behalf. I think it is time for us to end our discussions. If we don't I will now be in violation of my conscience.
Nolan
To deal with 'sins' (what you do) only deals with the branch, both the church and self are to strike the root, which is 'sin' (who you are). Dealing with 'sins' only once they are viewed is the HIGHEST sign of hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteFour WOW, that thing is really important in your house! And yes, the TV is definitely a Lordship issue. For if you truly have taken Jesus as your 'Lord', you wouldn't have one of them let alone four. It's known as the Devil's playground, not a place where a Christian is meant to be, let alone one professing Lordship.
1) You must subject yourself to what it sends your way, with no possibility of returning a reply. Ergo, you learn the world.
2) The commercials by definition, are intended to cause you to covet.
3) The programming (even the news) is designed to change the way you think, and draw you into a world centered mindset.
4) It is the ultimate in brainwashing tools, because people WILLINGLY subject themselves to it. If you can believe it, while viewing, it leaves the brain in a state just slightly BELOW consciousness, perfect for the interjection of new thought.
5) Here is the sad part. Everything you claim to use it for good can actually be found in print, which can be properly selected.
6) No matter WHAT you think you are viewing, to make it in pictures, it has to have been approved by a national board of some kind. In Canada it is called the CRTC. By design, nothing of any eternal use ever makes it to pictures. If you think what you are viewing does have eternal use, it only shows you have already bought the lie.
7) The reason you prefer the TV is because you don't know who you are. You ARE sin, and because you ARE sin, things like TV that make it easier for you to sin, should be quickly removed.
There are four pretty good articles here on the subject.
http://www.themoorings.org/life/life.html#life11
Next
ReplyDeleteConsidering your past, do you now entirely abstain from all sources of drug in your life, including the ones society considers legal such as alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine (which BTW is know as the gateway drug for all drugs)?
I do abstain from certain legal forms of drugs not because of what society would say about the gateway but becasue the conviction brought to me as I would use/take different things... and I would be fine with every television in the house to be gone, but then you still have the internet which can be controlled with filters (as our television is)....and as for television, three of those televisions are only able to play videos or movies of our choosing...there is not much in this world that cannot be used to arouse the desire to sin and we are most certainly not able to keep from all sin, but we do hate the sin we indulge in as the Holy Spirit and the word of God reveals our wickedness to us in each area of our life daily...believe me when I tell you that I mourn over the sin and wickedness in my heart, as does my husband....we do not believe that anyone can become sinless...that is not what the Lordship we hear teaches...I think that is the point....you think it teaches something that we are not being taught....go back and read my earlier comment, it is a turn from one master (sin and satan) to Christ and forgiveness and the power of the Holy Spirit to mourn over sin, to recognize it, to hate it, to fight the good fight, to strive for holiness....
ReplyDeleteHis call is, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your hearts and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful" ( Joel 2:12-12). Only that sorrow for sin is genuine which causes us to crucify "the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal 5:24).
All that, as you sit in front of a COMPUTER screen pecking away at the keyboards. Hypocrisy?
ReplyDeleteHMM,
Lets see, computer-tv tv-computer
It's time for you to move on, LEE DO NOT POST HERE ANY LONGER!!!
There is one thing I have noticed, that most of the Lord shippers who tell people to turn from their sins to be saved, they seem to be so in love with the Television. The thing is a big deal to them, they cant live without basically. All these sins they scream at people to turn from, they go home and feast their eyes on the very sins in the privacy of their homes. I hate the television, I cant wait to bin it when God saves my husband! As for good watchable videos, I can do without them, in fact which ones are they???
ReplyDeletePersonally I thank the Lord for the Internet, He has used it for my good and His glory in many ways. I have made friends with like minded believers, not many but they are out there. The Internet is just like a cell phone, land line, fax machine etc. Its great for communication, and my husband has just made his applications for a new job over the net. In fact these days in the UK most good jobs can only be applied over the Internet. Shopping over the Internet is also cheaper, and you can find some brands you would not find in shops. Buying air tickets is also cheaper on line. I could go on and on about the benefits of the Internet but I will leave it here.
So comparing the Television to the Computer is not a very good comparison. Of course there are people who use the net for evil desires, just like the cell phone, many people have actually divorced because of the cell phone! But overall the cell phone is a great invention, I find it useful. The Computer also is a very useful tool, not sure how the TV benefits you in any way other than satisfy your evil lusts, why on earth do you watch Football? Is it something you aught to be doing as a Christian? Boy, you sure love the thing, so much that you have banned Lee from posting because he rebuked you for your sin, wow!
If only you go to Christ,(His yoke is easy) HE WOULD HELP YOU and CHANGE YOU that you will despise the Football you love today.... and spend the time you waste watching football doing more fruitful things...
Jean
ReplyDeleteYou, said
As for good watchable videos, I can do without them, in fact which ones are they???
Here is a good site for videos that you could find useful, great teaching aids for you and your children.
http://www.puritanpicks.com/
You said,
why on earth do you watch Football? Is it something you aught to be doing as a Christian?
I am beginning to wonder myself, considering how my teams are doing this year.
You said,
not sure how the TV benefits you in any way other than satisfy your evil lusts,
See link on videos above
You said
Is it something you aught to be doing as a Christian?
Am I in sin if I do?
You said
Boy, you sure love the thing, so much that you have banned Lee from posting because he rebuked you for your sin, wow!
Just kinda tired of butting heads with, Lee!
Not just here but elsewhere as you well know.
It has become very unfruitful for me.
F.Y.I., I really like baseball better.
Jean
ReplyDeleteI want to lovingly respond to the comment that you have posted. I, like you, have no love for television and could do without one in our home. That said, my standing before God is not changed one bit by not watching television. And one who watches televsion has even standing in Christ.
I stand covered by the blood of the Lamb Who is worthy of all praise. Any pride that one would have for abstaining from any sin is as sinful as the sin they abstain from. Any judgement that you or I would place on another for watching television is a sin itself. Rebuke in love is fine but a comparison of one holy life vs another is not fine and is driven by pride.
in fact which ones are they???
ReplyDeleteI believe you loved the fact that your husband rented Fireproof for you two to enjoy together...was it sinful to watch it? Not if you could thank God for using to bring you and your husband closer together...
But overall the cell phone is a great invention, I find it useful.
being a great invention does not determine sin....televsion is a box....its what you allow to come out and you place before your eyes that is the problem....television can be seen on the internet as well as the box called TV....its how you use that invention...our God is very capable of using the television to His Glory...how do you know that He hasnt? Why has He only used the internet that way? Because it was your experience? What about others that have been blessed in some way by television? You cannot possibly claim to know that NOBODY in this world did not get blessed by God thru the television...maybe even heard the gospel...maybe was drawn closer to a lost spouse? We cant know...God does....
There is one thing I have noticed, that most of the Lord shippers who tell people to turn from their sins to be saved, they seem to be so in love with the Television
Again, the turn is spoken of in scripture Acts 3:26...its not being made up by any group of people...
it should be obvious by your very own statement that you must be confused by what lordshippers are saying...why would they say turn from your sin and then still sin? Because they are saying that when you turn to Christ it causes you to hate those things that He hates..it means you are no longer a salve to sin and satan...you are free to choose to love and obey and serve before you always chose sin..you were dead and now you are alive...you were blind and now you see.....you dont hear that...no matter what is said, written, proven, etc you have just made up your mind that this group of people are ALL WRONG...they dont REALLY believe what they are telling you, they dont REALLY believe what they have written and preached, NO they believe what JEAN thinks they believe..that is why this will never be fruitful.... can you talk to Nolan as a person and not a lordshipper?
Can you speak to what he says directly and lovingly? I am saying this in sincere love to you...Nolan has never professed anything other than the fact that he is a sinner...how do you not see that? how can you still believe that he teaches perfectionism?...you have no clue that watching football three times this year,while carefully changing the channel if inapproriate things come on the screen (and really he has been watching it online bc they do not have the commercials that TV does)is a very signifigant change from before salvation...I pray that when your husband is saved that you are more loving and kind with him as the Lord deals with him in his sanctification and that you understand he may deal with him differently than He did with you...some things may take more time than others....
Lordship: Christ is your Savior and Lord....its in scripture and if you doubt it, and if you say "did God say that"? you are mimicking the serpent of old.....He just is Who and What He is...and He is many many things and He is called Lord far more in scripture than Savior but thank you God that He is ALL...Lord, Savior, Husband, Creator, Light of the World, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Judge of the whole Earth, Lamb of God, Bread of Life, King of Kings, Master, Messiah, Lord of Lords.............I wish you love and peace and joy in your life and I pray for you that you may hear what people say to you before casting judgements based on what you THINK they really mean...
as well as The Nativity Story, Pamelas Prayer, and Time Changers....are a few you list on oyur blog profile
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Fireproof, and thank God that my husband bought it for me. There was a greater blessing in what my husband did, much more than in the film itself. I do not watch Fireproof anymore, simply because I find the idea of a grown man pretending to be angry, crying and worse more pretending to talk to God very wrong. Initially when I watched it that was at the back of my mind. The Lord later on gave me full understanding as to why He is not in the so called Christian movies. The funny thing is I have tried watching Fireproof again, but the Lord wont let me, and most amazingly the desire is gone.....
However the Lord in His sovereignty can use these films for his purposes. I read a good testimony in which the Lord used a terrible film to wake up a lost sinner, after watching the film the Lord sent someone to witness to him and he believed the gospel. I find the Jesus films repulsive, they are just wrong. As a baby Christian I used to watch them, but as I grew and my love for the Lord matured, I lost interest in the films, I would rather spend time with my Lord instead.
Well God has already started removing the thing in our house before my hubby is saved, so its looking very good thats why I have confidence that when hes saved, we are binning the thing. We used to have a big plasma screen and a small TV. The big screen is gone! That is a huge thing for us, our big screen plasma was something we all used to adore, myself included. Now we only have a very small TV that is not so good to watch, so less and less TV is being watched in our household. That is the Lord at work, even in my unsaved hubby!
As for the other films on my blog, funny you say that because I have been meaning to remove them for a while now....
Nolan, you have a deep love for baseball, football, TV or whatever it may be. Thanks for sharing that, it has said a lot about you than anything you can ever post on this blog or elsewhere...especially coming from a person who teaches Lordship Salvation...it says a LOT.
I am glad that you see that it is a thing that the Lord works out at His own pace...and not of your own doing..It is all His doing and what He does with His children in His time is for Him to judge...
ReplyDeleteYou can see that the Lord IS doing, STILL doing things in your life as well as Nolans even your husbands....present tense...you dont know where Nolan will be in regards to the television in six months...you dont know where he was prior to salvation....did He change you all at once? Were you lost when you watched Fireproof? When you couldnt get your testimony straight? When you posted movies on your blog? No...and the fact that things are changing in your life could be evidence of fruit...it can bring you assurance when reading 1 John....that is what the Lordship that Nolan teaches believes...we all love things Jean...we love our spouse, we love our children, I love beautiful melodies, I love pictures of babies, I love time with my friends, I love to homeschool my kids, I love to run around the yard with them...now, if I love any of that more than Christ it is idolatry....our hearts are idol factories....that is why we need the Lord...its exactly why we need to lean on Him...
what is it that you teach? Do you teach perfectionism? Do you teach legalism? Do you teach instant sanctification? Your last statement answers my earlier question: can you ever see Nolan as a person not a lordshipper of your own imagination?
You find that he loves football...why? because he will watch a game? It is not an idol in his heart...if there is time to relax and watch televsion and a game is on he can watch it and not be in sin...You seem to be teaching what you accuse Nolan of teaching....are you fruitful every minute of your day, if so, thats great, do you think it makes you better than other christians, thats pride....do you think they arent christians bc they arent fruitful every minute?...thats judgement you arent called to make on others....
If you come back to comment I would appreciate it if you would use scripture when giving your thoughts...if you are posting to be helpful then you know that Gods word is sharper than any two edged sword and we are to be taught by His word...not each others opinion...the fact that you judge a man based on having a television in his house and your claim that he must love it more than Christ bc it is here speaks a LOT about you......A WHOLE LOT..in love and blessings and much prayer for the both of us...Melissa
Jean
ReplyDeleteNolan, you have a deep love for baseball, football, TV or whatever it may be. Thanks for sharing that, it has said a lot about you than anything you can ever post on this blog or elsewhere...especially coming from a person who teaches Lordship Salvation...it says a LOT.
I never said I have a deep love for certain sports. I like them ,but love, your words not mine. You are actually talking about preferences and matters of conscience. "Gray areas." Gray areas are areas not specifically spoken of as prohibited in scripture. Paul speaks of this in Romans 14:1-23.
Some with a legalistic bent will say that these verses only refer to foods and such. But nonetheless there are principles that one can derive from these verses to help us in our everyday walk. Paul in these verses speaks of the weaker brother and the stronger brother when it comes to matters of conscience. For me to say you are wrong for not likeing christian videos, sports or any tv programs would be persuading you to violate your conscience. For you to impose your views on gray matters on me is also wrong. The tv also like the computer can be used for good as well as for evil. Just like a vehicle can be used for good or evil. A car is great for getting you to work, to the hospital, to the grocery store etc. But it also can be used for evil as we see in the many car bombings in Afghanistan and Iraq. So, by your logic because some people use a vehicle for evil we now no longer should drive. Same thing with a computer. It is all up to the individual at the wheel of the tv,computer or car etc...what he uses it for. To think that a certain object is evil is likened to gnosticism that saw objects themselves as evil incarnate. There are some who go to far in there christian liberty as in 1 Pet 2:16.
Paul used a sports reference in 1 Cor 9:24 a bible commentator notes about this verse, "The Greeks enjoyed two great athletic events, the Olympic games and the Isthmian games, and because the Isthmian events were held in Corinth, believers there were quite familiar with this analogy of running to win." Paul had the perfect opportunity to condemn sports as evil or sinful here but he didn't. Sports or anything for that matter in excess is sin, and has to be carefully monitored. A believer has the Holy Spirit to guide him in this area.
A legalistic christian substitutes externals for the work of the Holy Spirit. Consequently ignoring the work of the Holy Spirit and endeavoring to live by these externals. This by the way is not what lordship teaches. They understand the libery a christian has when it comes to areas not explicitly mentioned in scripture to be prohibited.
A good rule of thumb to avoid legalism is to make sure that you have an explicit biblical prohibition for every rule that you want to impose on others. If you are gonna adopt a rule that you think that applies to all christians you ought to be able to identify an explicit biblical prohibition in scripture.
Using your logic of sports being a sin would you say that the one playing or coaching is also in sin? Would it be a sin to let your children participate in sports activities, be it organized or in your backyard. If you watch your children play sports with your husband in your yard are you now in sin? Is it just watching it on tv that makes it a sin?
The irony of Lordship salvation! They say surrender all, give up your sins, follow Him, make Him your Lord etc etc, yet they bend their own rules. Then they mock the true sons, the ones born of a promise, the ones who are free, who knows the meaning of liberty, who have an easy yoke, who labours not, who enjoy the benefits of being a son. They are the ones who considers the television nothing but dung! Giving it up is not a burden, not watching football is not hard, simply because they know something much more precious and sweeter. They have a gentle saviour, who is their friend and their brother even though He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He leads them gently and teaches them. They can cope without the thing, they are happy to bin it, and don't care about baseball on TV because the love of the Father compels them such that the desire to watch filth on TV disappears.
ReplyDeleteNolan you are very defencive about the thing because it WILL be a BURDEN to you to give it up. When I was lost giving up the thing would have been agony. It will be HARD for you. Yet for the sons, the opposite is true. Its very possible that some saved people watch TV, but the good thing is once their eyes are opened they are more than willing to throw the thing away. They are less likely to get very defencive about it. For the sons the thing is actually holding them captive, once its gone they rejoice how free they are. For the sons, letting the thing go is nothing but a blessing, they fall on their knees and thank the father that they are free from such bondage. That's all I have to say on the matter.
BTW one of the reasons, (among a few) that my former pastor could no longer have me in his dead church was because I spoke out about his, and especially his wife and kids addiction to the television. He did not take it well. But I had no choice but to speak out
Jean,
ReplyDeleteThe problem could lie in the fact that you do not ears to hear. You were told that there is not a love for the game in Nolan..there is like....but you continue to insist that there is love and you condem something in a man that isnt even there...you talk of filth on television as if that is watched also...or do you mean that football is filth?... we are still not clear on that since you will not answer the questions....in Nolan trying to explain things in his life to you, you have labeled it as being defensive....
this statement: For the sons, letting the thing go is nothing but a blessing, they fall on their knees and thank the father that they are free from such bondage
you have no clue of the things that the Lord has taken and things that have been let go of (praise Him for doing it all, every work of grace in our life!) and never let yourself doubt that we have fallen on our knees in rejoicing to our Father over the bondage He freed us from....the Lord has not taken the television set out of our house but He has taken any bondage there may have been that included that television set...sin will manifest in one way or another and praise the Lord its not manifesting in the television usage in your life but you know that it is manifesting somewhere..(read scripture on judging and words and you may find conviction there)...you cannot escape it even if you close yourself off in a room with nothing but walls...your wicked heart is still there...your thoughts are still there....
you said:
but the good thing is once their eyes are opened
did you come here to open eyes about the television? I searched your first post and do not see the gentle teaching spirit that a doughter of the Lord would have if doing what she believes the Lord has called her to do..it sounds like one doing the work of the flesh
you said,
ReplyDeleteFor the sons, letting the thing go is nothing but a blessing
You say this as if you have not had any struggle with your christian walk...like you arent fighting a good fight...as if you were instantly sanctified at the moment of salvation...Paul spoke of the battle that he faced daily Jean...you cannot be serious that if there is a struggle over your sin then you are not a true son... read the things PAUL has written to you...of course all things are dung when compared to the love of our Savior...we will still struggle until we are glorified...what I thought you were assuming in Lordshippers is actually what it is you believe..that they are judgemental...that they set rules on others..
maybe you are assuming that about them when in truth it is you that is doing that
BTW one of the reasons, (among a few) that my former pastor could no longer have me in his dead church was because I spoke out about his, and especially his wife and kids addiction to the television. He did not take it well. But I had no choice but to speak out
Amen that you spoke out if Christ compelled you to do so....praise God that He worked boldness in you and graced you with speech of love and truth....for I know that if it was His work and you obeyed Him in what He called you to do, your speech must have been more loving and convicting (versus sarcastic and condeming)than it has been here..I fear the Lord did not send you here you but that you came for some other reason...sometimes we learn a truth and become so bent on making sure that others see it that we become as a noisy gong or a clanging symbal..."if you surrender your body to be burned but have not love it profits you nothing"..(read 1 Cor13) your pastor and his family had what you called an addiction to the television...that is their sin....the addiction....that would need to be dealt with.
Do you speak with the lips of truth? Did you deal with your testimony on your blog?
Did you deal with your praise of movies? Did you leave church due to physical reasons or becasue it was dead? Did you only leave just that church or are you in prayer to find a new one? Your two posts contradict one another...Did you get kicked out or you physically couldnt go? Deal with these issues in your life
and THEN worry about someone owning a television set...that is getting the plank out of your own eye before seeing the speck in oyur brothers...
Do you struggle or not? Do you sin? Do saved people die watching television? Do you set standards that you expect others to reach
that Christ has not lifted them to?
I have nothing but Christ given love for you and I know that you are on a
long journey and you
have many battles ahead of you as your childern grow and you have to deal with them in their lostness until Christ saves them. It is going to be a
battle like no other and you are going to learn things and you are going to grow in your understanding of things and you ARE going to see error in yourself as we all do. And you are going to fail and you are going to second guess yourself and you are going to be wrong...Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy...you will be drawn to it even more....let the love of Christ reign in you when dealing with the brethren as well as the lost..only speak when you are Spirit led to do so...let your speech be seasoned with salt and let your words mirror Christs words...I pray that this conversation has planted a seed in all of our hearts in whatever way the Lord has desired it to be....
Hey Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI will update stuff on my blog, there is a lot that needs updating, I just haven't got round to doing it yet, I just dont see it as urgent....maybe I am wrong, but I dont, really...
As for me leaving the church, I wasn't going for months before that because I did not want to and I couldn't go physically. So it was both. I had told my Pastor way before that I wanted to leave, but he ignored my plea and treated me like a child.
Then after a few incidents, things were said, the Pastor was livid. I told him I was leaving the Church, he told me he no longer wanted me in the church anyway because I wasn't a Christian. The Church is for bible believers only and I fail to meet the criteria. I was being used by Satan apparently. So I left happily, I wasn't going before that anyway because of physical restraints. So it depends how you look at it, I was kicked out, I left, I cant go, I am restricted, I don't want to go to church, whatever you choose, I am cool with it. All of them apply, and I could not be happier with the situation.
I left out the bits about my pastor in my blogs coz people from my former church read my blog, so did not wanna start a scandal, besides my husband would not have allowed that. But its no big secret my friends know all about it...I dont see anything contradictory in what I have said...
Have a busy weekend ahead so wont be posting anymore.
Later....
Jean,
ReplyDeletePlease read this: hope this will be helpful.
Legalism and Manipulation of Conscience
R. C. Sproul quotes
“Perhaps the most deadly and widespread form of legalism is that type which adds legislation to the law of God and treats the addition as if it were divine law. The Old Testament prophets expressed God’s fury at this form of behavior, lamenting the result of “binding men where God had left them free.” It is a manifestation of man’s fallenness to impose his own sense of propriety on other people, seeking mass conformity to his own preferences and adding insult to it by declaring these prejudices and preferences to be nothing less than the will of God. A frequent point of conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees centered on the Pharisees’ traditions, which imposed hardships on the people who were bound by these man-made obligations. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they had elevated their traditions to the level of the law of God, seeking not only to usurp God’s authority, but to oppress mankind.
“The elevation of human preferences to the level of divine mandate is not limited to an isolated group of moralistic Pharisees in the first century. The problem has beset the church throughout its history. Not only do traditions develop that are added to the law of God, but in many cases they become the supreme tests of the faith, the litmus test by which people are judged to be either Christians or non-Christians. It is unthinkable in the New Testament that a person’s Christian commitment would ever be determined by whether or not that person engaged in dancing, or in wearing of lipstick and the like. Unfortunately, so often when these preferences become tests of faith, they involve not only the elevation of nonbiblical mandates to the level of the will of God, but they represent the trivialization of righteousness. When these externals are elevated to the level of being measuring rods of righteousness, we begin to major in minors and obscure the real tests of righteousness.” R.C. Sproul, Following Christ, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1991), pp. 323-325.
“The manipulation of conscience can be a destructive force within the Christian community. Legalists are often masters of guilt manipulation, while antinomians master the art of quiet denial. The conscience is a delicate instrument that must be respected. One who seeks to influence the conscience of others carries a heavy responsibility to maintain the integrity of the other person’s own personality as crafted by God. When we impose false guilt on others we paralyze our neighbors, binding them in chains where God has left them free. When we urge false innocence we contribute to their delinquency, exposing them to the judgment of God.” R.C. Sproul, Following Christ, (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 1991), p.390.