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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

I don't hear any blame on the church for his choices. It is a fact though, that bible-believing churches have not, nor do they still, help people deal with this particular sin. It's not enough for churches to acknowlege sin--which of course we must--but we need to help people fight certain sinful patterns in their own lives; this is the process called Christian maturity or sanctification.

Just as many churches sponsor AA or do their own version of it, so too churches need to help people out of sexual sinful habits. One of the main principles of AA is to acknowlege individual responsibilty and not blame anyone else--that doesn't mean churches shouldn't help AA-type programs--even though alcaholism is an individual problem, based on a person's own bad choices.

Divorce in the church is an indicator that MANY active evangelical, born-again, bible-believing Christians have sexual/relationship problems (yes, involving their individual sinful habits) which the Church, as the people of God, need to help them mature out of....and of course that includes repentance, from start to end.

Individual responsibility for sin, AND Church bodies helping people to overcome such sins, are not mutually exclusive.

The homosexual agenda probably wouldn't be nearly so powerful had Churches been doing what they are supposed to do--glorifying God by helping people repent and grow up in spiritual maturity.


43 posted on 05/01/2006 7:28:39 AM PDT by AnalogReigns
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To: AnalogReigns
My friend. In a nutshell, you have described the apostasy of the modern Christian church; that they would rely on the works of men, rather than the power of a Holy God. No institution of man will ever save him from his sinful nature. Only by being born again in the Spirit of the Lord will a man be made anew.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they who live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again. Therefore from now on know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet from now on know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; That is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Timothy 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with various lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.

Hell's Best Kept Secret

44 posted on 05/01/2006 8:02:53 AM PDT by Search4Truth (Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God - Thomas Jefferson.)
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