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I want to ask preachers - 7/5/2009 3:02:17 AM
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cosmiceyes
Posts: 72
Joined: 7/4/2009
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How do you feel about unspiritual doings going on in your church? Do you simply look the other way, or question them in front of the congregation? I'm asking because I've realized that there are many Christians, including myself, that have been disappointed by wickedness in the church. I feel strongly that this has got to change so that more people will go to church.
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RE: I want to ask preachers - 7/5/2009 4:01:02 AM
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TheTartanTammy
Posts: 812
Joined: 12/2/2008
From: North Britain!!!!
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There are many tensions, both in the individual and corporate Christian life. It depends what you determine to be 'wickedness'. However I believe that all Christians no matter who or what they are, are called to follow Jesus in grace and truth (Jn 1: 14) in all areas and aspects of life, both inside and outside of the church.
We are duty bound as followers of Jesus to challenge anything that goes against His word, and anything that discredits His Holy name.
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TheTartanTammy
Isa 40: 11
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RE: I want to ask preachers - 7/5/2009 8:38:58 AM
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bolt.
Posts: 1756
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From: Canada
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While there are lots of "unspiritual doings" that happen every day in a Church body (making supper, cleaning the bathroom, driving the kids to school, doing accounting, mowing the lawn, watching TV, posting on the internet, talking on the phone... etc. etc.) "wickedness" is another matter entirely.
In my personal theology, I believe that the Holy Spirit has sort of a 'curriculum' for each of us -- in which He addresses His conviction towards areas of wickedness in our lives according to an order and timing that suits His purposes. So, if you see wickedness in me, perhaps it's on the Spirit's agenda for the fall semester, so-to-speak.
This references the kinds of wickedness such as selfishness, materialism, pride, gluttony, foul language, anger etc. that are sort of things that it takes time to address and put aside in one's life. I'm not referring to open thou-shall-not's that one should be dropping like a hot rock in short order and never doing again (such as fornication, theft, idolatry, cruelty, rebellion)
Given this, I feel that you have to know somebody really well and intimately to know whether they are ignoring and working against the Spirit's purification of their lives, or whether they are going along the curriculum, submitted to His leading, and the Spirit is going to get to whatever is concerning you, maybe next semester... and that maybe the Spirit was planning on involving you when the time comes (remember, a Shepherd does not carry a whip).
All that to say... Perhaps it's time you made friends with those who offend you, in order to gain the trust that's going to be critical to being part of the solution... whether the solution is to implement Church discipline as a form of conviction, or to work with the Spirit, compassionately eliminating all forms of evil in that person's life.
I certainly would not "question them in front of the congregation" -- a person's individual sins and wickedness are not to be hung out like laundry on a line. Although, if I thought a particular sin to be prevalent, or if I wanted to encourage a greater commitment to a righteous life, I might preach on a passage that had the appropriate themes -- if I were Spirit-led to do so.
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RE: I want to ask preachers - 7/5/2009 8:39:28 AM
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rcjames
Posts: 6721
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
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quote:
ORIGINAL: TheTartanTammy
There are many tensions, both in the individual and corporate Christian life. It depends what you determine to be 'wickedness'. However I believe that all Christians no matter who or what they are, are called to follow Jesus in grace and truth (Jn 1: 14) in all areas and aspects of life, both inside and outside of the church.
We are duty bound as followers of Jesus to challenge anything that goes against His word, and anything that discredits His Holy name.
I agree.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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