Religion forum?

#27
#27
VOLFAN_MTSUALUM said:
I will say if you have a chance to check out the BEMA podcast that has opened my eyes to scripture almost the same as going to Israel and putting my eyes on the land Jesus walked and taught throughout.
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Thank you for sharing. I'll begin listening to this tomorrow.
 
#33
#33
Freak said:
Instead of an entire forum, maybe start with a thread and we'll see how it goes. I don't mind the idea, but inevitably there are a few posters here that ruin it for everyone. Ideally, we could come up with some ground rules and if anyone violates those rules, they get removed from the thread, zero tolerance.

Thoughts?
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There's quite a few that seem to ruin the PF. Don't see a reason to limit it to just a thread. Pretty sure the general ground rules you already have for all forums is sufficient.
 
#34
#34
Alright - we’re nine days in. I’d like to hear what’s on your mind. I think this could be a great thread.
 
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#35
#35
TnWalker said:
Alright - we’re nine days in. I’d like to hear what’s on your mind. I think this could be a great thread.
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I’ve been in a very odd place spiritually lately, not necessarily bad. My church was gifted a new building last year and it’s been thriving, so that’s all going great. I’m doing student ministry and lately gotten back to my roots of public speaking and I’m loving it.

But the place I’m at spiritually is one of conflict. My best friends are a lesbian couple in my small group, which I struggle with how to balance. But the greater issue of that is that I’ve lost patience with the Christian interpretation of “This is who I choose to believe God is”, and just rolling with that.

It seems like there’s been such a movement lately with pastors like Phillip Anthony Mitchell and others finally speaking raw, unadulterated truth about who God is. Yes he’s loving, yes he’s merciful, but he also demands repentance. What happened to that aspect? Why are we just ignoring that in favor of “Fluffy, happy, do what’s right for you, don’t worry about anything, love love love, you are forgiven no matter what” Christianity? That’s not real, that’s an idol.

Basically it’s made me a bit conflictual, especially with fellow believers who are distorting God to fit their lifestyles and preferences.
 
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#36
#36
VOLFAN_MTSUALUM said:
I will say if you have a chance to check out the BEMA podcast that has opened my eyes to scripture almost the same as going to Israel and putting my eyes on the land Jesus walked and taught throughout.
Click to expand...
One of my favorites. On his recommendation, I checked out Rabbit David Forhman's book "The Exodus I Never Knew." Absolutely mind blowing.
 
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#37
#37
VOLFAN_MTSUALUM said:
I will say if you have a chance to check out the BEMA podcast that has opened my eyes to scripture almost the same as going to Israel and putting my eyes on the land Jesus walked and taught throughout.
Click to expand...
I just started this and am looking forward to the different perspective.
 
#38
#38
KnoxRealtorVOL said:
I’ve been in a very odd place spiritually lately, not necessarily bad. My church was gifted a new building last year and it’s been thriving, so that’s all going great. I’m doing student ministry and lately gotten back to my roots of public speaking and I’m loving it.

But the place I’m at spiritually is one of conflict. My best friends are a lesbian couple in my small group, which I struggle with how to balance. But the greater issue of that is that I’ve lost patience with the Christian interpretation of “This is who I choose to believe God is”, and just rolling with that.

It seems like there’s been such a movement lately with pastors like Phillip Anthony Mitchell and others finally speaking raw, unadulterated truth about who God is. Yes he’s loving, yes he’s merciful, but he also demands repentance. What happened to that aspect? Why are we just ignoring that in favor of “Fluffy, happy, do what’s right for you, don’t worry about anything, love love love, you are forgiven no matter what” Christianity? That’s not real, that’s an idol.

Basically it’s made me a bit conflictual, especially with fellow believers who are distorting God to fit their lifestyles and preferences.
Click to expand...
…

Trying to find a way to DM
 
#39
#39
KnoxRealtorVOL said:
I’ve been in a very odd place spiritually lately, not necessarily bad. My church was gifted a new building last year and it’s been thriving, so that’s all going great. I’m doing student ministry and lately gotten back to my roots of public speaking and I’m loving it.

But the place I’m at spiritually is one of conflict. My best friends are a lesbian couple in my small group, which I struggle with how to balance. But the greater issue of that is that I’ve lost patience with the Christian interpretation of “This is who I choose to believe God is”, and just rolling with that.

It seems like there’s been such a movement lately with pastors like Phillip Anthony Mitchell and others finally speaking raw, unadulterated truth about who God is. Yes he’s loving, yes he’s merciful, but he also demands repentance. What happened to that aspect? Why are we just ignoring that in favor of “Fluffy, happy, do what’s right for you, don’t worry about anything, love love love, you are forgiven no matter what” Christianity? That’s not real, that’s an idol.

Basically it’s made me a bit conflictual, especially with fellow believers who are distorting God to fit their lifestyles and preferences.
Click to expand...
I was encouraged, relieved, to find the verse in Luke 5:32, when Jesus said,
I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. He was talking to us all, certainly to me.

Similarly, when they were going to stone that adulterous woman, Jesus said two things: let he who is without sin cast the first stone (and they dropped them and walked away), and then he said, neither do I condemn thee ... but go and sin no more.

He commanded us, judge not. Note that he did not say there would be no judgement, he just indicated that it's not our job to do it. We can let that go.

"Let each work out his own salvation with fear and trembling."
 
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#41
#41
orangebloodgmc said:
I was encouraged, relieved, to find the verse in Luke 5:32, when Jesus said,
I have come to call not the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. He was talking to us all, certainly to me.

Similarly, when they were going to stone that adulterous woman, Jesus said two things: let he who is without sin cast the first stone (and they dropped them and walked away), and then he said, neither do I condemn thee ... but go and sin no more.

He commanded us, judge not. Note that he did not say there would be no judgement, he just indicated that it's not our job to do it. We can let that go.

"Let each work out his own salvation with fear and trembling."
Click to expand...

This is actually a wildly misunderstood concept though, and kind another one of those “fluffy” things we have come up with.

We are actually told not to judge unbelievers by the same standard as believers, and we are told not to address sin in someone that we are also not overcoming.

But as for fellow believers, yes, judge away. Call each other’s sin out, hold each other accountable. We are actually given step by step instruction on how to properly judge one another.
 
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#42
#42
KnoxRealtorVOL said:
I’ve been in a very odd place spiritually lately, not necessarily bad. My church was gifted a new building last year and it’s been thriving, so that’s all going great. I’m doing student ministry and lately gotten back to my roots of public speaking and I’m loving it.

But the place I’m at spiritually is one of conflict. My best friends are a lesbian couple in my small group, which I struggle with how to balance. But the greater issue of that is that I’ve lost patience with the Christian interpretation of “This is who I choose to believe God is”, and just rolling with that.

It seems like there’s been such a movement lately with pastors like Phillip Anthony Mitchell and others finally speaking raw, unadulterated truth about who God is. Yes he’s loving, yes he’s merciful, but he also demands repentance. What happened to that aspect? Why are we just ignoring that in favor of “Fluffy, happy, do what’s right for you, don’t worry about anything, love love love, you are forgiven no matter what” Christianity? That’s not real, that’s an idol.

Basically it’s made me a bit conflictual, especially with fellow believers who are distorting God to fit their lifestyles and preferences.
Click to expand...
My response is probably similar to @orangebloodgmc’s.

I’m all for speaking truth in love, but I also feel like I have enough sin issues in my own life that I am unable (or at least unwilling) to point my finger harshly at others. It’s not my job to be their Holy Spirit - I am entirely unqualified. The Holy Spirit is more than able to communicate His will to them. What individuals choose to do with His prompting is between them and the Lord.

Honestly, I believe the LGBT community has received more than their share of hate from well-meaning believers. The last thing I would dare to do is pile on. My advice is to keep loving them. Be prepared to speak the truth if they come to you asking for your thoughts, but don’t offer unsolicited feedback. I think they’ve already had enough of that.

I don’t know if this is helpful at all.
 
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#43
#43
TnWalker said:
My response is probably similar to @orangebloodgmc’s.

I’m all for speaking truth in love, but I also feel like I have enough sin issues in my own life that I am unable (or at least unwilling) to point my finger harshly at others. It’s not my job to be their Holy Spirit - I am entirely unqualified. The Holy Spirit is more than able to communicate His will to them. What individuals choose to do with His prompting is between them and the Lord.

Honestly, I believe the LGBT community has received more than their share of hate from well-meaning believers. The last thing I would dare to do is pile on. My advice is to keep loving them. Be prepared to speak the truth if they come to you asking for your thoughts, but don’t offer unsolicited feedback. I think they’ve already had enough of that.

I don’t know if this is helpful at all.
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… sorry, I’m not very good at this. I replied to the wrong message.
 
#44
#44
KnoxRealtorVOL said:
This is actually a wildly misunderstood concept though, and kind another one of those “fluffy” things we have come up with.

We are actually told not to judge unbelievers by the same standard as believers, and we are told not to address sin in someone that we are also not overcoming.

But as for fellow believers, yes, judge away. Call each other’s sin out, hold each other accountable. We are actually given step by step instruction on how to properly judge one another.
Click to expand...
I don’t think Jesus’s primary goal for us was to call each other’s sin out. He spent a lot more time telling us to encourage one another. He said that by this, the world will know you you are my disciples, that you love one another.

I think the calling each other out is important if a believer is disrupting the church somehow - a man openly stepping out on his wife - a church member sowing discord among the saints. The Bible says that if you see your brother stumble, you should help him up. Maybe that’s what you’re trying to do here - but you cannot impose your will on another person. You can gently guide and correct. But it is the Lord who has to work on their heart.
 
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#45
#45
TnWalker said:
I don’t think Jesus’s primary goal for us was to call each other’s sin out. He spent a lot more time telling us to encourage one another. He said that by this, the world will know you you are my disciples, that you love one another.

I think the calling each other out is important if a believer is disrupting the church somehow - a man openly stepping out on his wife - a church member sowing discord among the saints. The Bible says that if you see your brother stumble, you should help him up. Maybe that’s what you’re trying to do here - but you cannot impose your will on another person. You can gently guide and correct. But it is the Lord who has to work on their heart.
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Especially if your relationship consists of spending a couple of hours a week with them, most of which is sitting in an auditorium facing a stage. Let’s stop acting like any of these gatherings are anything close to what Jesus had in mind.
 
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#46
#46
TnWalker said:
My response is probably similar to @orangebloodgmc’s.

I’m all for speaking truth in love, but I also feel like I have enough sin issues in my own life that I am unable (or at least unwilling) to point my finger harshly at others. It’s not my job to be their Holy Spirit - I am entirely unqualified. The Holy Spirit is more than able to communicate His will to them. What individuals choose to do with His prompting is between them and the Lord.

Honestly, I believe the LGBT community has received more than their share of hate from well-meaning believers. The last thing I would dare to do is pile on. My advice is to keep loving them. Be prepared to speak the truth if they come to you asking for your thoughts, but don’t offer unsolicited feedback. I think they’ve already had enough of that.

I don’t know if this is helpful at all.
Click to expand...

Oh that’s definitely the approach I’ve been taking with them for years, and will likely keep taking. I’ve seen first hand how random churchgoers that have never spent any time with them will just blindside them with telling them their lifestyle is wrong.

My wife and I have even caught flack a few times for how close we are to them. It’s a horrible approach.

What I struggle with is whether never speaking up is essentially affirming, which of course we don’t want to do.
 
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#47
#47
Let me clarify the above for everyone, I have no intention of going after my two lesbian friends. I love them, my kid loves them.

The point of the post was the bigger picture of my lack of patience with so much of the church today manipulating God into what we prefer him to be, rather that what he is.

The sudden surge in the LGBT community seemingly saying “My God is fine with this” is just one example of where I feel like we, as the church, need to start being willing to stand on truth.
 
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#48
#48
WaywardVol said:
Especially if your relationship consists of spending a couple of hours a week with them, most of which is sitting in an auditorium facing a stage. Let’s stop acting like any of these gatherings are anything close to what Jesus had in mind.
Click to expand...

Elaborate on this. How do you think Jesus would want them changed?
 
#49
#49
KnoxRealtorVOL said:
Let me clarify the above for everyone, I have no intention of going after my two lesbian friends. I love them, my kid loves them.

The point of the post was the bigger picture of my lack of patience with so much of the church today manipulating God into what we prefer him to be, rather that what he is.

The sudden surge in the LGBT community seemingly saying “My God is fine with this” is just one example of where I feel like we, as the church, need to start being willing to stand on truth.
Click to expand...
a problem that strikes most Christian faiths, people confuse what the "church" does vs what "God" actually feels/believes/thinks. those are two wildly different things where I find it difficult to draw any parallels between the two.

just using the correct nouns would do wonders. The Church is fine with this, vs My God is fine with this. but most won't do that, on either side of the argument. and attacking God, or attacking FROM the view point of God; is a LOT different than attacking a church or from the church's view point. care needs to be taken by all, and I think a change in the rhetoric to match reality church vs God, would go a long way to diffusing the situation.

also typically I find "fine" is a very relative term. there is again a world of difference between being actively abrasive and actual "acceptance". one of Christ's main teaching was to hate the sin, but not the sinner. I don't think accepting LGBT individuals conflicts with the teaching of Christ in that manner.
 
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