Posted on 08/08/2006 1:06:47 PM PDT by Gamecock
I have found that this is so, and the whole of it, from alpha to omega, is of Him, and through Him, and to Him, the Lamb of God: May His praise ever be in our hearts and upon our lips, the praises of His people.
But you are a chosen generation,It is Good News indeed!
a royal priesthood,
a holy nation,
His own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light
1 Peter 2:9
That was another of my issues with the AoG - there was no doctrinal consistency from one body to the next.
I grew up in the AG - third generation on my mother's side. My deceased brother was an ordained AG pastor. I gave up the AG when I realized that, as a denomination, they didn't know what they believed. The best I could come up with as a statement of faith was "Don't drink, don't smoke, don't cuss, and don't tolerate those who do."
He ain't hiding.
From the AG website: These are nonnegotiable tenets of faith that all Assemblies of God churches adhere to. This list is derived from the official Statement of Fundamental Truths.
Certainly there are congregations who don't live up to that, just as there are errant congregations in just about every denomination.
But I believe you err in painting the entire denomination with a broad brush, much the way the author of this article errs in his interpretation of evangelicalism.
Your mileage may vary.
Mt 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
I don't think it's equally as egregious. I didn't bring the accusations. I was commenting on them.
:) Good one.
Matt 5:14 - "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."
"Don't drink, don't smoke, don't cuss, and don't tolerate those who do."
What about the most important part: "don't go with girls who do." ;-)
Heh...yeah, I forgot that part.
The thing that really chaps me about that mentality is the idea that I am somehow important enough to tell God how, and in what order, He must fix other people's lives. There were serious debates in several AG churches I attended as to whether one could be a Christian if they used alcohol or tobacco.
In my own case, God first chose to deal with the murderous rage I held in my heart. He hasn't gotten around to the cussing part yet - but which is more important? Removing the anger that frequently drove me to violence, or having me stop cussing? Clearly, God chose the former, while I believe many in that particular denomination would choose the latter.
The AG's 16 Fundamental Truths are, for the most part, basic Christian doctrine that could apply to any denomination.
May I say that is pure and undadulterated baloney. Most of the evangelicals that bother to post on the religion forum are strongly bible based and willing to defend earnestly for the faith.
There is a presbyterian minister who occasionally posts on this board who doesn't appear to believe a single verse in the bible. I cannot recall you or any of the GRPL's ever bothering to challenge him even once. You seem quite happy with pointing out all the errors in everyone else's church yet the Presbyterian Church is falling into heresies that few if any evangelical churches would dare to fall into.
May I say that from what I've seen "Modern" Presbyterianism is not evangelical and is pure heresy. So clean your own house Gamie. Don't blame the Evangelicals for the problems in the American Churches. Most of them still believe in the Bible.
Along with Saint Newton, let me elaborate a little more via Scripture.
"Two people went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other." (Luke 18:10-14a)"
Again, he that was justified presented himself to God beating his breast: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea massima culpa.
And there were also two other malefactors, led with Him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there: and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do; but they, dividing his garments, cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers with them derided him, saying: He saved others: let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God (Lk 23:32-35).And one of those robbers who were hanged blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing; thou art under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly: for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise (Lk 23:39-43).
The Good Thief said, 'for we receive the due reward of our deeds', again convicted to the core of his sin.
A woman who has hired a third party to dismember her baby should remember herself always as 'that mother who slew her own child.' She doesn't have to articulate that to anyone but God and herself, but she does need to follow the example of John Newton, and never forget it. All of the women I know who have had abortions do not consider that they belong in jail, along with all of those other people who have snuffed out a life, and who did serve time.
Do you remember one of my early posts to you that described the encounter I had with the convict who openly declared himself a murderer to me? No woman I know who has had an abortion is as convicted of sin in her own heart as this gentleman was. That isn't to say they don't exist, but that I've not met one, and I know several women who have had abortions. Even in the pro-life community ambivalence exists as it relates to abortion. It seems to me that very few people view the taking of the life of a baby with the same horror that they viewed Simpson slitting his wife's throat. She at least got a burial. The remains of these babies are thrown in the trash as if they were spoiled food. What's warranted is remembering that nothing speaks total depravity like abortion does.
That doesn't mean that I think people who never forget to remember their grievous sin should be dour, or not rejoice in the Blood of the Lamb, and their new Life. Joy is the order of the day.
Or are evangelical authors and pastors infallible?
Cordially,
No woman I know who has had an abortion is as convicted of sin in her own heart as this gentleman was. That isn't to say they don't exist, but that I've not met one, and I know several women who have had abortions.
Before you said it, look at how she described herself:
Because of what He has done for me, for me personally, this wretched vile murderous creature, because of Who He Is and Who He Sent, I live in awe every day of my life in Christ. Oh! this is freedom and this is life from the dead!
When I forget the hideousness of my sins all I need to do is look at the cross to remember it.
Cordially,
.30, I want to apologize to you for my last post. It isn't that I don't believe what I posted, because Ido, but that I believe it was insensitive, pompous and blowhard-y. I hadn't read your entire post to me when I responded, and when I went back and did, it was obvious your mind and heart are both with Jesus, and because of that my pontificating is not only inappropriate, it's worthless. So, please accept my sincere apology, and the Lord be with you, always.
Ping to post 53.
Sorry. Meant to ping you to post 58.
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