Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | EdB | 127315 | ||
Country Girl You have expressed my point clearly. If you read what I have said in this thread, while God no longer places demands on us He does gives us direction that He expects us to follow. Ancient is saying not so, if we have love we have met all of god's criteria. I'm trying to show him and others how utterly ridiculous that is. If you read his comments and dwell on the points he is making you will see it is not othrodox Christianity but rather humanism. EdB |
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2 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 127332 | ||
Yes, I see your point. IF I was literally forced to choose between the two, yours and Ancient's position, I would have to go with yours, as I think you're slightly closer to the truth as I see it. I'm just hoping both of you can keep this discussion friendly and Christ-like. I've seen all the points of your post and Ancient's counter points. I'm just convinced it all boils down to the fact that God wants very, very much our devoted and regular attendance at our local worship assemblies so that we can share fellowship, our strengths and our weaknesses at that formation. God knows us better than we can ever possibly know ourselves and He knows we need to be there. BUT God's wishes apparently are NOT going to come in any clearer language than that already cited in His Word. He's going to leave it up to us to figure out. But I would also tack on a word of caution. If one actually chooses not to go to these worship assemblies I don't really think he/she will feel comfortable in Heaven so God will oblige that person and keep them out. Again, we do reap what we sow. Blessings to you all. Country Girl |
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3 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Ancient | 127344 | ||
Country Girl, There is no position to choose between. It is either commanded, or it is not commanded. Everyone participating in this post has, at one time or another, stated clearly that the scriptures do not directly command us to go to church. If it is not written, then it is not commanded. It is a doctrine of men. My point from the beginning has never been that we should not go to church. I have advocated several times that I am in favor of it, and I think it is a good thing. My position is: Go to church, but go because you want to go, not because someone has determined it as a command when no such written command exists. EdB's position is: Go to church because it is commanded even though it isn't written, but it doesn't matter if we keep the commandments or not anyway because it won't affect our salvation. Which said doctrine is a license to sin. Further, he slanders the doctrine of love, when the scriptures clearly, openly, and specifically say that love is the point. This thing I have demonstrated, though it was rejected, and can demonstrate time and again. I disagree with your analysis that God will deny people paradise because they didn't attend church. I'm sorry, but if they are keeping the commandments of Christ, which never included "go to church," then that's nonsense. Ancient |
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4 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Country Girl | 127354 | ||
But Ancient, my dear friend, can't you see how dangerous this line of thinking would lead to? Our Lord says we're "either for Him or we're against Him." Most of the guidance from His Word lands on either side of that fence. Either we're going to comply with His Wishes, His Commands, His Examples as delegated to His Representatives, the Apostles OR we choose our own way as you're advocating. I'm just saying it's a dangerous and slippery slope you're playing with and worse of all, there are other people in the world, both on and off the Forum that are going to follow your lead and your example. Do continue to study and pray on this issue. Blessings to you. Country Girl |
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5 | Superior Hope | Heb 11:40 | Ancient | 127358 | ||
Hey Country Girl, Let me demonstrate to you what this line of thinking has led to, and what those off the forum following my example have come to be. There are two young men, late twenties, early thirties. Their names are Darin and Richard. Darin spent his life in the church, and he never got answers to questions he asked. He was constantly challenged and ridiculed because he saw things in the scriptures that contradicted the teachings. He was not going to church anymore because they either couldn't or wouldn't answer, and he had despaired. Richard had converted a year ago, and was on the verge of turning back to Atheism because the people in the church had beat down his self esteem. He, too, got no answers, no real support ... nothing. It was a sham. The people were as fake as puppets. On my route, witnessing to anyone and everyone that will listen to me, as is my habit, I ministered to them "outside of the church walls." Both, after hearing the doctrine of love and seeing the credibility of it in scripture, started coming to my home for a Bible study. Neither of them goes to church still, though they want to if they can find a good church. And without going to church, they both, with the doctrine of love, treat people with respect, humility, kindness, patience, etc. They have both become people of good reputation because of where I led them. They have witnessed to many people, and have been able to answer questions. They have both advanced so far ahead of the average "New" Christian, you would never know that this study had only been going on for three months. There is another Bible study at the Toyota dealership nearby. I attended that one for a while. The people attending there are still sucking the teat while those I've discipled are tearing up steak. Richard, the weaker and least knowledgable of the two in the beginning, actually impressed me not long ago by showing me something I hadn't considered. The student taught the teacher, and that is the first sign of Christian maturity. Darin, about the same time, instead of bringing to me his question about an often difficult passage to interpret for most people, came to me with the answer to it, because of the doctrine of love, and presented to me the answer I would have presented to him. All because the foundational doctrine is solid and correct. At this point, I feel confident that either of them could take on a debate and win, because they are both well versed and trained in humility to accept and acknowledge if they are wrong. They both, without guidance from me except by example, have purchased interlinears, history books, concordances, bibles, software, etc. in order to do deeper studies on their own. I am proud of both of them, and neither of them did any of it inside the walls of a church building. They did it in an assembly of four or five, and are fully equipped and edified unto all good works. This is an actual happening. Church, while a good thing, is not the answer. It is AN answer. Other options work as well, and I have the living proof. What they did NOT get inside the church walls, they instead got from without. Ancient |
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