Posted on 08/04/2013 9:37:07 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
Certain types of metabolic imbalance may make it very difficult for some people to control their eating. The reason for a person's overeating won't change the fact that such behavior will cause obesity, but an understanding biological factors which contribute to a person's damaging behavior may greatly increase the likelihood of getting that behavior under control.
I agree, with the great caveat that we are talking about those who have actually accepted Jesus as their Savior. And also, if sin goes on notoriously for a period by believers in a church congregation, affecting the congregation (like taking “gay” behavior in stride would, as only one example) those people may possibly still be ministered to, but outside the congregation. (Sometimes however they are just sent on their way to learn better in God’s wild world that is yet under His control. Only the Holy Spirit can grant the discretion.)
The lack of responsible fathers and positive male role models is part of it. The lack of normal activities for boys and the constant drumbeat of politically correct calls for tolerance and sexual expression aimed at young people has poisoned the minds of so many impressionable young men.
Christine Hoff Summers accurately predicted it in her insightful book “The War Against Boys”.
In exchange for money and attention from perverts, teenage boys are allowing themselves to be used and abused. Many will contract STDs. Some will end up addicted to drugs and unhealthy sex. All will suffer some spiritual damage.
Now, the perverts who want to use young men are employing the power of the government, the MSM and the entertainment industry to promote their sick and decadent purposes.
It is the moral obligation of every responsible father and mother to fight this propaganda attack and attempt to use and abuse our children and grandchildren.
It is our duty.
yes, all sin and temptation does that...even yours. :) And mine.
Look, I have a lot of sympathy and empathy for ANYONE who is trying to overcome a particular sin.
Struggling to quit drinking? Gossip? Porn? Temper? Gambling? Homosexuality? Laziness? Lying?
All of the above are sinful, and I bet everyone reading these has a problem with one of them—or one very similar—and the temptation to go back into that sin faces you from time to time...maybe daily.
If you’re a Christian, you know this action is wrong and you are working with God to overcome the problem. And, like it or not, each one of us has our own weakness.
All that Martin Bennett seems to be saying is that we need to HELP our brothers and sisters in Christ who are trying to beat that sin.
Good Lord, what if Saul of Tarsus were on Free Republic back in the mid-first century? How many of you would reject him because he USED TO MURDER followers of Christ under the guise of protecting the faith???
Do you same folk look for repentant women who had abortions and lambast them with anger because of their past sin? I hope not. Same goes for doctors who used to perform abortions...there have been those who repented and quit.
Homosexual tendencies need to be defeated—but when we meet someone who is trying to overcome them, and who realizes they are wrong, let’s not approach them with hatred and anger...let’s approach them with the same kind of help WE would want to have if we are hurting.
And no I am not trying to minimize sin. I am trying to express that old cliche that still rings true: Hate the sin, but love the sinner. Follow the example of Christ.
By inserting the term “jerk”, you made it ad hominem. Those are the facts.
Let me tell you boldly the answer in such a situation: it is the love of God the Father.
Talking about male offenders here, there is nothing wrong with very close male fellowship. If we ever needed proof, there is the story of David (man after God’s own heart — he repented of his crimes and devoted himself deeply) and Jonathan.
BUT THE GLORY HAS TO BE GIVEN TO GOD THE FATHER. NEVER EVER THE DEVIL. This means that slavish idolatries and evils like buggery are factored out, as they ought to be.
And this is a giant red herring, Vladimir.
Hey let it pass.
That’s an interesting point of view. How would you square it with the idea of temptation? There have been times when a person has angered me, and I have felt a desire to knock the slop out of him. I always thought that was temptation, and it was a struggle to fight off the desire to throw a punch.
“Let me tell you boldly the answer in such a situation: it is the love of God the Father.
Talking about male offenders here, there is nothing wrong with very close male fellowship”
Those are our well worn tools we need to fight this evil. Strong male fellowship and nonsexual love and the love of God and the spiritual nourishment and comfort He provides.
This how we protect our young men.
Yes, the devil has visited this country with a great spirit of alienation today which exacerbates the problem. Even the worst “fag” can be saved and cleansed, and I am fed up with those that say he cannot. And so is God. This is different from questions of practical church discipline which may require temporary sanctions regarding believer disobedience. But if the love is there, that truly does “cover a multitude of sins.”
The Catholic Chronicles by Keith Green
Here is a significant and important contribution to the discussion, as Green merely described significant differences between the two branches of western Christian theology, and the historical development of various doctrines:
One day, Keith was reading a book about the Catholic Church. He came flying into the Kitchen looking very upset. "Mel, can you imagine this? Catholics are really devoted to Jesus - right? They build big churches, with beautiful statures and everything. But this book claims that some of them don't realize they can really know Jesus. Imagine - loving Jesus, but having no assurance of heaven."
Keith read more books about Catholic doctrine, and as he did he started to feel that he should write something about it. He prayed for a long time - and got counsel from other Christian leaders. But the counsel was divided... Keith was torn, but in the end he believed the Lord wanted thim to go ahead and write something. When Keith launched into the series he called "The Catholic Chronicles", he wrote a forward to clarify what he was trying to accomplish:
I want to make it completely understood that neither I nor anyone else at Last Days Ministries have anything at all personally against Catholics. We know of many loving, committed and sincere believers among their ranks. In fact, there are quite a few who receive our newsletter, even a priest in New England who corresponds regularly (and if you're reading this now - I love you!). - Keith Green
No, an anti-Catholic is bigot. How can a bigot not be a jerk?
What do you have against the evangelical model?
This thread has nothing to do with Catholicism, and the accused Catholic hater wasn’t even the author of the piece, unless I’m reading that wrong. He’s the deceased husband of the woman who runs the organization on whose website the writing is located. That’s really a reach. What in the piece is offensive to Catholics? Anything?
Psalm 6:16-19
These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
- A proud look,
- A lying tongue,
- Hands that shed innocent blood,
- A heart that devises wicked plans,
- Feet that are swift in running to evil,
- A false witness who speaks lies,
- And one who sows discord among brethren.
The purpose of my comment is not to deny that homosexual conduct is a sin, but to say that it is not uniquely sinful. For instance, the Bible also calls abominable, the eating of non-kosher foods; a woman wearing men's clothing; weighing things with dishonest scales and dishonest measures; a proud heart; acquittal of the guilty; conviction of the innocent; adultery; demanding interest on a loan; incest; eating meat defiled with blood.
Biblically, perverse sex is a grave sin, but it is one of a rather large class of abominations; it's not the only one.
Keith Green was a jerk and a bigot:
“I’ve never completely understood why God led me to write these
articles. But it becomes more clear with each day of study, and each
page of research. Never has something so black and wicked, gotten
away with appearing so holy and mysteriously beautiful . . . for so
long! Keith Green”
He was talking about the Catholic Church - which he didn’t even understand. Jerk and bigot. http://www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/catholic-forum/the-catholic-chronicles-part-iii-continued-by-keith-green/?wap2
I don’t know where Toad is coming from but Toad’s view is not realistic. It carries the smell of men’s doctrines not of Christian experience proved by both bible and walking.
He should not have panned the entire communion. That was wrong. Some of these people are saved sinners. However he was right to pan what goes on in it.
Well and truly stated. Thank you.
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