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Post by pastordan on Sept 2, 2005 11:04:22 GMT -5
One of the tragic consequences of war is "friendly fire." Not a few of our brave soldiers have lost their lives from being caught in a "cross fire" where bullets are coming from every direction.
Have you ever found yourself in a cross fire? Friendly or otherwise. Perhaps not with live bullets, but maybe with merciless stones, slanderous mud, or hurtful words. In such a climate we tend to dig into our theological trenches, fearful of lifting our heads above ground in case someone is shooting at us. Once we're dug in we start to erect the barbed wire around us, station look out posts and point the finger of suspicion toward anyone who isn't just like us.
Someone said, wouldn't it be wonderful if God's people were all on the same page? Indeed! But alas, we are not. From differences on how to raise children, to differences on entertainment, to differences on music, to differences on dress, to differences on translations, to differences on standards, to differences on issues of separation, to differences on the interpretation of Scripture,...adnauseam.
WE'RE NOT GIVING UP ANY GROUND. BUT WE'RE NOT GAINING ANY EITHER! We are too well known by our differences rather than being known by our love. Jesus said others would know that we are His disciples by our love for one another. God can only be known and experienced by those who live in love. To know God, really know God, is to love those who God loves. Frankly, for me to know God is for me to love you...unconditionally, differences aside.
Humorously, [but with more fact than fiction I'm afraid]someone once likened the church to Noah's Ark. If it weren't for the horrific storm outside we couldn't stand the stink on the inside. Let's be reminded that love covers a multitude of sins...and stink!
Soli Deo Gloria
His unworthy servant and yours,
Bro. Dan
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Post by benshelpmeet on Sept 2, 2005 15:24:47 GMT -5
Dear Brother Dan, I agree we should love oneanother. We have been going through a strange situation lately. We have a small work for the Lord thats slow going and sometimes its just our family, so on the Sundays when no one is comming we go visit other churches sometimes. My husband had met a local pastor about 40 min away we visited his church and he only had 2 families and a few bus kids and his preaching was great. No referance to foolishness or TV programs. and the music was old fashioned hymn singing with a calm piano player. We really liked it even our children. We have gone 4 times the first two times were wonderful solid good preaching. The third time there was a visiting preacher from a popular church a nice guy. The preacher/pastor of that church (preached that morning not the visiting preacher) he got up and started preaching on how it is wrong to trust in your outward works and apperance instead of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. He preached on those with a weak concience and how they feel they need to add outward deeds or dress a certian way to marit Gods exceptance. Then he preached about a defiled concience and how those who felt guilty from their past do outward things to sooth their concience. I figured he was just trying to let the visiting preacher know where he stood and it wasn't with these strange looking people who dressed modestly with a covering. Let me say he praised the covering for the first two weeks saying his Russian Grandmother wore a covering her whole life, he never saw her without one (she called it a Babooshka) He even allowed his little 5 year old girl to ware one at home after meeting us she wanted to ware one. We thought his message would be good again the next time we went. We were unpleasantly surprised (there were only the pastors family and the two other families and the bus kids it was Wed night. His message had some of the same points but he added that you add nothing to salvation its the blood of Jesus only. He tought on the book of Colossians. He said that these people thought they had to add something to salvaiton to be right with God and saved. I agree with his comments it's just the added illustrations and how he went on and on. The bus kids even started looking at us. I was hopeing to get sound preaching not a hard time for trying to live godly in Christ Jesus. Give me a break one of his members the decons wife had pants on. He was trying to disprove godly living and comfort the ones who live worldly lifestyles. He made many illustrations you would have had to be there. Oh by the way I did not notice she had pants on because I didn't ware my glasses my son told me when we got home. I had made a sweet comment to the pastor before we left about how that sister dresses and carries herself modestly at church. He had given me a strange look and now I know why.  I have noticed how she dresses modestly at church but was not aware that she was wearing pants that night. We probably will not go back. What a shame we really enjoyed his preaching and his church. Now I know how the others feel on this site that face great oppisition while just trying to attend and be apart of a church. Pastors should be greatful for a sweet non condeming family who is just trying to live for Jesus and raise godly children, but instead he feels he must do everything he can to disprove and discredit them and their lifestyle. Its a sad day when honest christians just trying to honor the Lord with there life are made out to be adding something to salvation and portrayed as living a godly lifestyle because they have a week or defiled concience. This pastor is full aware that we put all our trust in the blood of Jesus and salvation, he knows were not trusting in our works we have spent long hours of fellowship with him talking of our beliefs. He agreed with us in our conversations. We visited his church with a pure heart and clean motives desiring good solid preaching and christian fellowship but thats not how it ended up. We kept a sweet spirit through it all and even fellowshipped after the service on Wed night. I know Gods people are scattered across the country and even the world but it is a shame when God fearing christians get treated this way. Good to see you back on Brother Dan.  Your sister, ~ Darlene ~ |
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Post by robinva on Sept 2, 2005 19:04:44 GMT -5
Sis. Darlene,
What a shame that this happened to you all. Do you think the pastor was putting you down or reassuring his congregation that he wouldn't be comparing them to you all as far as spirituality is concerned? I wish that this pastor would have spoken to you all directly and not from the pulpit if he were having some second thoughts.
Robin
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Post by Brother Randy on Sept 2, 2005 22:07:29 GMT -5
[quote author=benshelpmeet board=devotions
. The preacher/pastor of that church (preached that morning not the visiting preacher) he got up and started preaching on how it is wrong to trust in your outward works and apperance instead of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. He preached on those with a weak concience and how they feel they need to add outward deeds or dress a certian way to marit Gods exceptance. Then he preached about a defiled concience and how those who felt guilty from their past do outward things to sooth their concience. I figured he was just trying to let the visiting preacher know where he stood and it wasn't with these strange looking people who dressed modestly with a covering. Let me say he praised the covering for the first two weeks saying his Russian Grandmother wore a covering her whole life, he never saw her without one (she called it a Babooshka) He even allowed his little 5 year old girl to ware one at home after meeting us she wanted to ware one. We thought his message would be good again the next time we went. We were unpleasantly surprised (there were only the pastors family and the two other families and the bus kids it was Wed night. His message had some of the same points but he added that you add nothing to salvation its the blood of Jesus only. Your sister, ~ Darlene ~[/quote]
Dear Sister,
What a lot of people call liberty in Christ is in reality bondage, fashion , makeup , dressing like the world , living as we please. When one is truly born again{ I am not judging anyones salvation because they do do these things} the desire for doing some of these things is taken away by the Lord. That is true Liberty in Christ when we are no longer under the bondage of these things. When our heart is changed we desire to please our Lord and live and dress for Him. My dear wife has told me many times how free she feels not having to do her hair and makeup and dress as the world does. When our heart is right the outward does change and matter. It just doesn't come out right when we live and dress by the worlds standards.
Bro Randy
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Post by restored on Sept 3, 2005 0:03:59 GMT -5
As many of you know this is exactly what our family is going through in our own church. We don't go around telling others that they are wrong and why we are right. We just simply want to live our lives as God has lead us to. My own family is attacking me and they are the Christian side of the family. My sister asked me if I was afraid of Liberty (our 4yr. old) becoming like the Pharisee's since she (I guess) told my niece and my mom that they were immodest when they were wearing pants. She's four!!!!!!! My children know that wearing or not wearing, doing or not doing certain things has nothing to do with getting to or not getting to heaven. They know that they must get saved to get to heaven. They know that this way of life is a obedience to God and that's all. I would rather see my daughter grow up thinking that dressing a certain way brought her closer to God then to see her on a beach in a bikini. We are so often accused of being Pharisaical or legalistic when I often think it's the other way around. We feel as most people on this board I believe do that we are simply obeying God and what others chose to do is between them and God. They will someday answer for themselves and their lives just as we will. I am sorry if I sound a little angry, but I just received an e-mail from my sister and I am sick of the snide comments and slams from her and other fellow Christians who should be encouraging us instead of trying to tear us down. It's not as if we are going against Bible teaching we are just taking it at its fullest.
Just pray that we will have peace in the Lord and what He has chosen for our lives, and that we will have grace in dealing with others. I love this board because I feel as if it is a haven and I can also unload on fellow believers and not get knocked down for doing so.
In His Service,
Heather
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Post by benshelpmeet on Sept 6, 2005 23:40:35 GMT -5
Dear Brethren,
All these experiences are good for us, though hard to go through. I actually feel stronger for the Lord after examining my heart and motives for doing the things I do as a christian.
May the Lord give us the courage and strength to do what is right in the face of adversity. Amen.
Your sister in Christ, ~ Darlene ~
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I have noticed how she dresses modestly at church but was not aware that she was wearing pants that night.
