a christian wouldn't say\do that!

[Symphony]

I have a hunch, we'll know what to do, in any particular evangelistic situation, ravenloche.   Do you think?


Whitehorse, incisive, right to the bone, you've covered the map.  

And Ollie.    I suspect He is with us anywhere...

Sincereheart, you are a loving soul, befitting thy name...  

[ravenloche]

In all fairness, he did follow with:

But now hear the rest of my answer: "You can do anything that you want to do, and serve God, but if you are serious about serving Jesus, do no be surprized if your want tos begin to change."

I don't want to but in and argue semantics but I read ravenloche's answer as basically saying that Christ accepts us where we are first. If we have to be perfect to go to Him, then none of us will be allowed! I see all too often where a church-goer has convinced someone that they are such a sinner that Christ won't accept them. I spend too much time trying to make them understand that Christ does accept them where they are! And when they give their life to Christ, Christ will show them what He wants changed and when! Jesus met the woman AT the well! He didn't run up to her and shout: "Whore"....  

Maybe I'm being dense here, but when did Christ tell us that we have to be cleaned up first to accept Him? I thought once we accepted Him, He would clean us up??!!

Yeah, do I become drunk, in order to sympathize with an alcoholic?

No. Of course not. But would an unsaved alcoholic relate better to you or to a recovering alcoholic who has given his life to Christ?

The unsaved need to hear of Jesus in order to believe, not the ones that have already heard, believed and are saved. Although all need to reflect on it from time to time and be reminded of who they are and for what purpose.

Bingo!

 ;Dthank you sincereheart for opening your mind and heart to
hear what I was saying, instead of focusing on one sentence.
Many times over the years I have learned the truth of what
another mentor told me in the earlier years of my ministry,and
service to Yeshua. "make 'em mad, make 'em sad, make 'em
glad, but make 'em something. If you evoke a reaction, they
will think about what you said, and will not soon forget. Just
as a point of interest, that same young man is now a minister.

Again, thank you for listening with you spirit, and not with just
your ears(figuatively speaking of course).When we begin our
walk with the lord, we are not perfect, but we are told to
press on for the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ
Jesus.

May the lord richly bless you and yours:

respectfully yours in Yeshua:

ravenloche

[sincereheart]

Thank you for the kind words.  

May God continue to use you to reach those who most need to know of Him!

[NateyCakes]

In regard to the first post...Just to me: Seems like A LOT of compromise. I mean obviously we aren't perfect, just forgiven, but I do not think you use that to justify any sin or do things under the assumption, "Well Lord knows Im not perfect, he'll understand". I mean for me, SIN is SIN no matter what it is.
I admit, Im not well read or versed in the Bible as others here are (And I wish I was), but doesnt the Bible clearly state to be a good example & that people would recognize you by the fruits? I just don't see how telling someone so gleefully that they can enjoy dope & serve God....That is nothing more then compromising dont you think?
Im not trying to pick a fight here at all, I dont agree with the 1st post. I really loved Keith Greens Book NO COMPROMISE. It really opened my eyes.

[JudgeNot]

Yep, yep, yep - to most of you, yep!  Those of you who know my posts probably know how I feel on the entire matter:

Some say:
A christian wouldn't say\do that.

Most of us (myself included) say:
A real christian wouldn't say\do that on purpose.

If there was a single one among us (there isn't) who could live without sinning, then that person would not need Jesus, hmmmm?

[sincereheart]

Most of us (myself included) say:
A real christian wouldn't say\do that on purpose.

I like that!  

And may I add that:
a new Christian won't be doing 'that' later...

It just seems to me that God will be worried about their eternal salvation FIRST and then will work on whatever else in His time! Maybe not in the order that we'd do it... Can any of us say that we accepted Christ and then were perfect? Or can we be honest enough to say that He is still working on us? I've come a long way. A really long way!   No, really long! But there's still tweaking that gets done. Daily...

But I hate these threads because it always seems to be misinterpreted into thinking that someone is condoning a certain behavior, when in fact it's simply a matter of KNOWING that God WILL deal with all the extra junk!

As I've said before, I've had these types of conversations with people. And they truly think that Christ won't accept them because they're just too rough/bad/etc. And it's not my job to clean them up - Christ is more than capable of handling that and lots more! It's my job to let them know that Christ died for their sins and if they accept Him, He can do wondrous things! I can do nothing....

[ravenloche]

Most of us (myself included) say:
A real christian wouldn't say\do that on purpose.

I like that!  

And may I add that:
a new Christian won't be doing 'that' later...

It just seems to me that God will be worried about their eternal salvation FIRST and then will work on whatever else in His time! Maybe not in the order that we'd do it... Can any of us say that we accepted Christ and then were perfect? Or can we be honest enough to say that He is still working on us? I've come a long way. A really long way!   No, really long! But there's still tweaking that gets done. Daily...

But I hate these threads because it always seems to be misinterpreted into thinking that someone is condoning a certain behavior, when in fact it's simply a matter of KNOWING that God WILL deal with all the extra junk!

As I've said before, I've had these types of conversations with people. And they truly think that Christ won't accept them because they're just too rough/bad/etc. And it's not my job to clean them up - Christ is more than capable of handling that and lots more! It's my job to let them know that Christ died for their sins and if they accept Him, He can do wondrous things! I can do nothing....

well said sincereheart!

It would seem that there are always those we encounter that
know so much better how we are supposed to serve our Lord.

A person will always find what they go looking for! If it is the
desire of a person to find fault with someone\something, then
they will find it.I have chosen to go the other route. If I look
for the good in someone\something, then I find that.  I believe
it is the job of all who call themselves christian to allow the
spirit within them to find the good in the people involved in
their lives.
Let us never forget that while we hate the sin that surrounds
us, we are to love the sinner, and to allow "christ in us our
hope of glory" to show the sinner the truth of the love of God.
Some we can show the truth by the orthodox methods, that
have been tried and proven, others Jude wrote would be led
from the very gates of hell. In this I believe that at times we
will use methods that are considered unorthodox; such as I
began this topic with.
Our lord told us to go into the highways and hedges and to
compel, not beg, not ask nicely, but compel them to come in.
I tell the people at my church " preach the gospel every day.
and if you have to ...use words"

If we learn to live by this, then we will hear others say of us:
a christian wouldn't say\do that!
I don't care if people call me fanatical, as long as they know
who I am fanatical about! Let us pray that we all become
what ever Yeshua needs us to become!

respectfully yours in Yeshua:
ravenloche

[brownlamb]

would you tell someone that is over weight that they will have to lose weight before the LORD will accept them?
Or a person with a mental defect that the LORD won't have them until they are fixed?

I know this may seem silly.....but, I believe that, no matter where you are or what you do, If you truly request GOD into your life.....HE comes!!!!

It seems silly to me to believe that GOD would not accept and then change the person. Is HE not known for using sinners for his work?? **HE spared a prostitute named Rahab and her family from certain death just because she believed!!!(Joshua 2) Not because she stopped being a prostitute. (not that she didn't stop being one afterwards)

These of course are just my thoughts and not yours.
Please take no offense.

May GOD Bless You!

[ravenloche]

would you tell someone that is over weight that they will have to lose weight before the LORD will accept them?
Or a person with a mental defect that the LORD won't have them until they are fixed?

I know this may seem silly.....but, I believe that, no matter where you are or what you do, If you truly request GOD into your life.....HE comes!!!!

It seems silly to me to believe that GOD would not accept and then change the person. Is HE not known for using sinners for his work?? **HE spared a prostitute named Rahab and her family from certain death just because she believed!!!(Joshua 2) Not because she stopped being a prostitute. (not that she didn't stop being one afterwards)

These of course are just my thoughts and not yours.
Please take no offense.

May GOD Bless You!

What you have said is exactly what the scriptures say!
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
God does the cleaning, all that we are supposed to do is lead
them to the place where they can stand before God.
Not a one of us who now state that we are christians was
perfect when we stood before the cross of  calvary. But
thankfully when Jesus said it is finished he was looking at
who I would become, and not who I was!

Respectfully yours in Yeshua:
ravenloche