Posted on 12/23/2009 5:11:13 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
"Jesus Loves Strippers."
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
With all that snow fallin’ you better rub up against her!
Right exactly, that’s why Christ ends the verse by saying: “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over *ONE* sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
I’m going to spend tomorrow night, Christmas Eve, in Pottersville.
Then perhaps I misunderstood the article. I don't normally watch YouTube, and even more normally not with descriptions such as strippers.
These godly women take the time to put together gift bags for strippers in order to share the love of Christ and preach the Gospel to them.
Umm, I googled up a couple of sites that said that good strippers can make a thousand dollars a night (tax free) just on site. Are gift bags enough?
No sin is unforgivable and we were no different in "level" of sinfulness from strippers. Without repentance and faith in Christ, we are just as lost and blind.
I take it that you are not Calvinist in any way.
Let’s go over the first two letters of “TULIP”
T “Total Depravity” applies to every human being, not just strippers. You and I are both born totally depraved and God-hating.
U “Unconditional election” means that there are no “conditions” on which God predestines one person for salvation over another. Salvation is a free gift given to undeserving sinners. There is nothing any more “innately” good about a person God chooses in Christ for redemption over someone He allows to remain hardened:
“Yet, BEFORE the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” ~ Romans 9: 11-13
So there was nothing “better” about Jacob that made God love him. God simply chose him.
** God’s “elect” includes former liars, former homosexuals AND former strippers—not to mention all the sinners who have yet to hear the Gospel. God is continually calling for His elect from every corner of the globe and he uses believers to carry on that task. **
As Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 2:
“As for you, you WERE dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you USED TO live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ALL of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. LIKE THE REST, WE were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.” ~ Ephesians 2: 1-10
Here is their statement of intent. They say their goal is not to “fix” them, but to *love* them:
JESUS LOVES STRIPPERS shares the embracing love of Christ toward many whom our society disregards. We carry bags filled with “good gifts” into strip clubs every month focusing on building intentional relationships. Our goal is not to fix those whom we meet. We aim to spread the light-filled, non-discriminating LOVE of Jesus.
(The JLS club outreach is a monthly activity. And we are in constant need of items for the LOVE bags. Because our philosophy is centered around bringing our BEST, we request that ALL donated goods be BRAND NEW. If you are a representative of Mary Kay, Arbonne, or similar companies, the dancers LOVE your products)
http://www.jesussaidlove.com/JesusSaidLove/STRIPPERS.html
Yes. It’s interesting that Jesus taught that it is better to give than to receive. He was really interested in what was going on in the hearts and minds of the givers. He certainly did not intend to sweep poverty and misery from the earth, although that is what the Left claims to intend to do. “For the poor you will always have with you.”
John Winthrop’s landmark speech at Plymouth Rock was entitled “Modell of Christian Charity”
as one website summarizes nicely, Winthrop “contends that God would prefer to see his work carried out by his followers than by Himself. For that reason, God does not perform miracles to feed the hungry or shelter the homeless...”
Here is the transcript of the speech. IT’s where Ronald Reagan got his “city upon a hill” reference from. http://forerunner.com/winthrop/winthrop2.html
Yes, it conflicts with our human expectations, but God is spirit and wants us to be possessed by that spirit, acting as His body here on earth. God came here in the person of His Son as an example of how that works, although Jesus also came as an atoning sacrifice.
T “Total Depravity” applies to every human being, not just strippers. You and I are both born totally depraved and God-hating.
That's where the Baptism of Christ came into the scene. I was baptized, confirmed and accept Christ into my life every day. Not totally depraved, by the grace of Christ.
U “Unconditional election” means that there are no “conditions” on which God predestines one person for salvation over another. Salvation is a free gift given to undeserving sinners. There is nothing any more “innately” good about a person God chooses in Christ for redemption over someone He allows to remain hardened: This is where you part company with Christianity. When you truly understand the passage of Jacob and Esau, then that is a sign that your heart may be softened.
** God’s “elect” includes former liars, former homosexuals AND former strippers—not to mention all the sinners who have yet to hear the Gospel. God is continually calling for His elect from every corner of the globe and he uses believers to carry on that task. **
If you truly believe in a predestined elect, then these ladies' efforts are meaningless. Not only is this belief not Christian, but it also truly weighs against the salvation of individual Christians.
I think its important to note that christians ARE the most giving people. Look at orginizations like Samaritans Purse, the Salvation Army, and World Vision. Churches have food pantries, cars programs, PADS programs, job programs.
People do fall through the cracks, and that is what liberals focus on. They focus on the failings, but fail to focus on the successes. Liberals want a utopia that will never be, until Christs return.
Also, most churches have some form of accountability within their programs. Liberals don't want accountability. They want people to be able to do whatever they want, with no repercussions and no accountability.
The Bible gives us rules for living, and consequences for breaking those rules.
People want welfare because there are few if any accountability.
I know a couple with no kids, who get $400 a month in food stamps. I earn my own money, and search for deals, and spend about $200 a month for 2 people, for food.
Meanwhile people like this not only have cell phones, but cell packages that allow huge text messaging and internet access.
I'm not making excuses. I'm stating facts. Christians in general, give and look to help. Liberals give and do little, and yet see the failures, but demand others do more.
Christians in general, believe in stewardship. Liberals don't want accountability, it might hurt someones self esteem.
At the risk of sounding weird and gimmicky, I’d liken “elected souls” to switches who need to be turned on. God set the switches, but He uses and calls for His followers to turn the switches on.
Believers are called to share the Gospel throughout the world and advance Christ’s kingdom—all the while knowing the ultimate work does not rest in our efforts, but in the Spirit of God. We cannot do anything without the help of the Holy Spirit. “We” don’t save people. GOD does.
For example: if someone had shared the Gospel with Adolf Hitler and he (obviously) rejected Christ, it’s not the fault of the believer—but it was God’s will that His heart be hardened. By the same token, and more controversially, if Hitler had NEVER heard the true Gospel—it wasn’t necessarily the fault of any Christian of failing to reach him—it was God’s will that nobody preached it to him.
NOTHING exists outside of God’s control—even global calamities like the Holocaust.
Just this morning, two Jehovah’s Witnesses showed up at my doorstep. I used what information I had and the truth of Scripture to try and “reason” with them—but they remained unconvinced. Ultimately, only God’s spirit will allow their hearts to be open enough to hear the truth-—but I can rest assured that even if my presentation and preaching wasn’t the best it could be, God allowed for our conversation to plant seeds and give them things to think about. It is not up to me to decide whether they will ultimately be saved or not. Only GOD can work that out.
I agree mountn man. You’re right.
All I’m saying is, if our “80% self-proclaimed Christian” nation was truly pleasing God with all we do right now, then our country wouldn’t be under as much of the obvious wrath we are currently under.
Broken homes, rampant homosexuality, the rise of false teachers like Joel Osteen, are all indicators of God’s judgment.
I suppose though, God is not ultimately satisfied with how much good we “do,” but whether or not we truly *believe* in and love His Son above all things, and whether we make God’s kingdom our first priority—not the state of our own government.
Believers are called to share the Gospel throughout the world and advance Christ’s kingdom—all the while knowing the ultimate work does not rest in our efforts, but in the Spirit of God. We cannot do anything without the help of the Holy Spirit. “We” don’t save people. GOD does.
The implication in your posts is that the intended saved is less than all humanity. This is not Christian and has not been since the first Christians.
For example: if someone had shared the Gospel with Adolf Hitler and he (obviously) rejected Christ, it’s not the fault of the believer—but it was God’s will that His heart be hardened. By the same token, and more controversially, if Hitler had NEVER heard the true Gospel—it wasn’t necessarily the fault of any Christian of failing to reach him—it was God’s will that nobody preached it to him.
NOTHING exists outside of God’s control—even global calamities like the Holocaust.
Then you call God the author of evil. This is more non Christian than anything that you have posted previously. God is all Love. He is the opposite of evil.
It is not up to me to decide whether they will ultimately be saved or not. Only GOD can work that out.
Either man has free will or else he is a robot slave. The Gospels teach entirely free will. That is why Jesus Incarnated and taught all humanity. Robot slaves do not need Jesus to die; they don't need Scripture or the Church; they only need the Holy Spirit dropping upon them like a leopard in the jungle and programming them like an electronic implement.
ah...then we disagree.
Oh and GOD does not author evil-—but He merely allows it to serve His purposes. He allows Satan to prowl, but ultimately Satan can’t do anything outside of God’s sovereignty and jurisdiction.
That’s why GOD allowed the Fall. Without the Fall, there would have been no need or way for CHRIST to suffer the ultimate evil and the ultimate suffering. In doing so, Christ was able to show His love to His people in a way He couldn’t have done in a “perfect,” painless world.
Oh and GOD does not author evil-—but He merely allows it to serve His purposes.
You said "control". Control is not allowance. Control is active direction and command. You cannot have it both ways.
That’s why GOD allowed the Fall. Without the Fall, there would have been no need or way for CHRIST to suffer the ultimate evil and the ultimate suffering. In doing so, Christ was able to show His love to His people in a way He couldn’t have done in a “perfect,” painless world.
If God is in command and control, there is no need of example. What is the purpose? If God controls people, then the control is sufficient. No example needed. No Bible, no Jesus, no Crucifixion. Just mindless control. This is not Christian. Matthew 5 does not support this example. None of the Passion narratives support this. In fact, if it wasn't for misinterpretation of Paul, there would be nothing that supports this.
1) CHRIST was both fully God and fully man—and that is a hard concept for our fallen, finite minds to wrap around. The Trinity is called a mystery for that reason.
2) In the same way, predestination coexists with our free will. God ordains, God has a plan, but humans are accountable at the same time.
3) God did not MAKE Adam sin. Adam CHOSE to sin...but GOD allowed Adam to sin to fulfill his purpose in His ultimate plan of redemption of his people through Christ. God *knew* Adam would sin. God *knew* what He was going to accomplish through Christ.
It doesn’t “make sense” it just is that way.
What does that have to do with the idea that God condemns men to hell?
2) In the same way, predestination coexists with our free will. God ordains, God has a plan, but humans are accountable at the same time.
My understanding of your statements has just vanished. Care to elaborate?
3) God did not MAKE Adam sin. Adam CHOSE to sin...but GOD allowed Adam to sin to fulfill his purpose in His ultimate plan of redemption of his people through Christ. God *knew* Adam would sin. God *knew* what He was going to accomplish through Christ.
Your claim is that God is in control of everything and has a plan for everything. Therefore your God made Adam sin. Your God made people destined directly for hell based upon His whim. Your God made the Holocaust happen.
Do you see that this is not the Christian God?
It the gate of the parking lot at the Metarie Baptist Church there is a sign that says, “You are now entering the mission field”. There is plenty to do 20 miles from home without going 5,000 miles.
MarkBsnr,
The reason why I brought up the Trinity is to bring to light the difficulty of comprehending certain spiritual concepts. I mean, does it make a lot of sense that God Himself could implant Himself into a Virgin’s womb. That God was at one point a “fetus?”
In the same way, the concept of predestination and free will is a difficult concept—but the point is, both coexist freely. God has a plan—yet man is accountable. God ordains—yet man chooses. Both go on at the same time harmoniously.
God knows when the End of the World is...it’s not as if humans CHOOSE to end the world. The End is already planned, it’s just a matter of “when” not “if.” So, God knows what is going to happen. The fate of the world does not rest on our choices.
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