Former witches, now Christians

[Soldier4Christ]

There are many such churches today that advocating the things of this world, compromising with the devil in order to pander to the desires of worldly things. We see churches advocating homosexuality, abortion and many other things against the word of God.

[Debp]

I recently had to leave a church because they found nothing wrong with the Harry Potter series. How can Christians condone the reading and enjoyment of such materials when these books are sooo against what God says is acceptable? These things are damaging people...how can a church that is supposed to care about the condition of the souls of men promote such things? It is so disheartening. Anyone have any answers?

It's sad that they didn't realize that the Harry Potter books could be a huge stumbling block to some people.

I likewise had to leave a church that used to have very good pastors because the current pastor there thinks homosexual behavior is ok!!  (He pushed this from the pulpit and practicing homosexuals started to attend this church and even became deacons, etc.)    Things really got mixed up in some churches today.  You just have to keep your own faith in the Lord and find a church that is still believing in the Word of God.

[nChrist]

Hello Lioness,

I don't know very much about the Harry Potter stuff, so I don't have an informed opinion. I've heard some people say that it was innocent fantasy and some say that it was evil.

My first thought involves breaking fellowship and what would be a just cause for breaking fellowship with another Brother and Sister in Christ. As an example, some Christians celebrate Christmas and Easter, and some Christians think this is evil, regardless of what the Christians actually do. I also don't know very much about the "Lord of the Rings" series, and there is Christian disagreement about this also. Many say these have heavy morals and Christian undertones, and others say they are evil. I don't know, but I do know that there are many things that divide Christians these days. I guess this could be one reason why we have so many different denominations and denominations within denominations. We have tags and labels for everything. So, many things boil down to a matter of individual conscience and decisions.

By the way, I'm not suggesting that you compromise your conscience, values, or morals for the purpose of Christian fellowship. BUT, I would say that we are all right and wrong on many issues. This world is a confusing place, and Christians are only here for a short period of time. As a final thought, I would like to offer an opinion about other REAL Christians, and the key would be "REAL". It isn't a good thing to condemn other Brothers and Sisters in CHRIST over a difference. We do need to remember that we are all wrong on some issues, and all of us make mistakes. Now, we are back to something that I want to repeat one more time: if you have a conviction of conscience - don't compromise it. If a Christian feels that something is wrong in the eyes of GOD, it is wrong unless GOD convicts them otherwise. This is a Biblical principle that's hard to understand for many people, and we will all make mistakes.

I give thanks for these last several words - "There is NO condemnation in CHRIST!" Real Christians disagree about many things. All of us will be wrong in some issues, all of us will make some mistakes, and all of us have need to continually ask GOD for forgiveness for things that are wrong in our lives. Our living testimony for CHRIST and prayer for guidance should be at the top of our priority list in determining matters of conscience, decisions, and what we will do or not do in our daily lives.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Colossians 1:9-12 NASB  For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

1 Corinthians 12:27 NASB  Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

[Debp]

I just added another sentence to my post #16 (it's in bold) which some of you might be interested in reading.

[Soldier4Christ]

You were right in leaving that "church" sister as it was not a church led by God.

[Debp]

You were right in leaving that "church" sister as it was not a church led by God.

Yes, I know....and they had so many godly pastors previously.  My mom still gets their newsletter (she's on the mailing list).  It is rare that they say anything about God in the newsletter and the name of Christ is never mentioned in the newsletter (except at Christmas or maybe Easter).  I think the pastor tried to please people instead of God and now it's like a big Pandora's Box has been opened there.

My mom comes to church with me but she still knows some elderly ladies that go to that other church.  I couldn't keep going there.   I told the pastor why I wasn't going to go there anymore.  He was very surprised (maybe he thought I was one since I am single!) and said he thought the homosexuals were like the lepers of Jesus' day!  Of course, I told him I believe the Word of God teaches it is an abomination to God and it is a sin just like adultery, etc, to be resisted.

Now I also realize I could have said "but leporsy was (is) contagious and that's why the people in Jesus' day had to stay away from them.  It wasn't a moral issue."

Of course, if gays wish to attend church seeking the Lord, that is alright, of course.  But the church should stay true to the Word of God.

[nChrist]

I just added another sentence to my post #16 (it's in bold) which some of you might be interested in reading.

Hello Debp,

Sister, that removed any doubt or question. YES - I would be in a different church and probably walk out of that service.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Psalms 1:1-3 NASB  How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

[ibTina]

Now I also realize I could have said "but leporsy was (is) contagious and that's why the people in Jesus' day had to stay away from them.  It wasn't a moral issue."

BUT, if I am not mistaken ... those who had this were healed ..those who became believers in Jesus.

[Debp]

BUT, if I am not mistaken ... those who had this were healed ..those who became believers in Jesus.

I was referring to the fact that lepers in Jesus' day had to call out "unclean, unclean" when they saw any people....and they also had to stay several feet away from people.  I forgot how many feet but I learned this in Bible college.

[Debp]

Hello Debp,

Sister, that removed any doubt or question. YES - I would be in a different church and probably walk out of that service.

Amen, that's what we did.  They even sang "hymns" about gays and lesbians!  Once they showed a movie (this was early on before we realized how far this church had gone away from the Bible)....mom and I thought it was going to be a movie about homosexuals that had come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.  Instead it was a movie making fun of and condemning people that tried to reach "gays" for Christ!  We were speechless after the movie....then they had a question/answer time.

A woman that had been "gay" and was then studying for the ministry stood up and gave her testimony after the movie, that Christ can deliver people from the "gay" lifestyle.  Mom and I greeted her afterwards and said we were so glad to hear her testimony.  Another man who used to attend that church also attended the movie and he said to the people, "you people sure don't read the book of Romans".

An interesting note:  The woman that had been gay and was in the seminary stood up to speak at the National Assembly of this denomination (Presbyterian (USA).  She was shouted down by the gays at the assembly!!  They would not let her speak!!  This was told to me by a person who personally knew this woman.

[nChrist]

Hello Debp,

Knowledge of sin and conviction is always one of the first steps to Salvation. If humans didn't do horribly wrong things, JESUS wouldn't have needed to die on the CROSS for us. We were all in desperate need of forgiveness, repentance, and rescue from the curse of sin and death in our lives at one time. Here's a simple analogy that is completely true. The pit of darkness that we were all in at one time stinks and is full of misery and despair. We wake up one day and realize that the stinking darkness is misery and look up to see the hands of JESUS reaching down to pull us out of the pit and into the LIGHT. This is a beautiful moment, one that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. There is joy now that we recognize there is something more than darkness and stench, and we love the ONE who pulled us out of the pit. We remember the pit, and we don't want to go back. We now have a conscience, and we feel bad when we do things that were common in the darkness and stench of that pit.

NOW, here's the main thought of this analogy: some people love the stench and darkness of that pit, and they want to stay in that pit and have Salvation from it at the same time. It just doesn't work this way. One can't get the stench and filth of that pit ever washed off if they refuse to come out of it and love wallowing in it more than they want to be rescued from it. We all slip and stumble from time to time and get some filth on us, but there is a difference with Christians who have been rescued from that stinking pit. We don't wallow in the bottom of that pit - loving it - and begging to be washed off while we are neck deep in filth that stinks. The analogy becomes a very simple choice: what do we enjoy and want the most - 1) wallowing in the stinking darkness of that pit or 2) standing in the LIGHT and wanting to stay away from that dark and stinking pit. Isn't this an easy question to answer by all real Christians? YES! - we hate that stinking pit, and we don't want to go back. Our MASTER is in the LIGHT and the fresh air. Our old master is in the stinking darkness, and he wants us back. Does it get any more simple than this?

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Revelation 21:3-4 NASB  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

[Debp]

Hello Debp,

Knowledge of sin and conviction is always one of the first steps to Salvation. If humans didn't do horribly wrong things, JESUS wouldn't have needed to die on the CROSS for us. We were all in desperate need of forgiveness, repentance, and rescue from the curse of sin and death in our lives at one time. Here's a simple analogy that is completely true. The pit of darkness that we were all in at one time stinks and is full of misery and despair. We wake up one day and realize that the stinking darkness is misery and look up to see the hands of JESUS reaching down to pull us out of the pit and into the LIGHT. This is a beautiful moment, one that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. There is joy now that we recognize there is something more than darkness and stench, and we love the ONE who pulled us out of the pit. We remember the pit, and we don't want to go back. We now have a conscience, and we feel bad when we do things that were common in the darkness and stench of that pit.

NOW, here's the main thought of this analogy: some people love the stench and darkness of that pit, and they want to stay in that pit and have Salvation from it at the same time. It just doesn't work this way. One can't get the stench and filth of that pit ever washed off if they refuse to come out of it and love wallowing in it more than they want to be rescued from it. We all slip and stumble from time to time and get some filth on us, but there is a difference with Christians who have been rescued from that stinking pit. We don't wallow in the bottom of that pit - loving it - and begging to be washed off while we are neck deep in filth that stinks. The analogy becomes a very simple choice: what do we enjoy and want the most - 1) wallowing in the stinking darkness of that pit or 2) standing in the LIGHT and wanting to stay away from that dark and stinking pit. Isn't this an easy question to answer by all real Christians? YES! - we hate that stinking pit, and we don't want to go back. Our MASTER is in the LIGHT and the fresh air. Our old master is in the stinking darkness, and he wants us back. Does it get any more simple than this?

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Revelation 21:3-4 NASB  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

I agree.  But the practicing homosexuals in churches are trying to say their behavior is alright...so they will not have to forsake their sin.  And as you know, some of the pastors/leaders are believing this lie as well....the blind leading the blind.

[Soldier4Christ]

They will have the just rewards meted out to them in time.



Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Jud 1:6  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jud 1:7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jud 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

[nChrist]

I agree.  But the practicing homosexuals in churches are trying to say their behavior is alright...so they will not have to forsake their sin.  And as you know, some of the pastors/leaders are believing this lie as well....the blind leading the blind.

Hello Debp,

It sounds like we are all in complete agreement on this issue. Bluntly, I don't consider these places you describe as churches. They would do just as well in being a gay bar and not misleading people with all the lies. Only the pure and full-strength Gospel of the Grace of GOD will help these people. Some so-called churches are neck-deep in the filth of the same pit. These so-called churches are about the business of feeling better about wallowing in the bottom of the pit - NOT being rescued from it by JESUS. In reality, these so-called churches are trying to teach people how to enjoy sin without the guilt. That's a waste of time and can't be done.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Ephesians 6:10-17 NASB  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

[Lioness]

It's funny how some think sin should be tolerated in the name of unity...that's not  unity, it's compromise. We need to love and accept the sinner but never approve of their sin.