Posted on 09/13/2005 10:13:40 AM PDT by Gamecock
Are you saying God can't use a basketball hoop or a ping pong table? Are they evil? What if those are the methods God wants to use to get them in?
Who are we to argue with that?
Besides, surely you don't believe they'll come in if they aren't supposed to.
Well I suppose there's a need for that. While some in the body of Christ strive to act as Christs hands to harvest the wheat, I suppose others are content just being the pinky fingers that dig out the boogers.
Is it any wonder that most of the Anti-Arminians that post here seem to have started their Christian lives as Arminians?
Sure they will, but they won't hear.
Now answer my question. Who brings them in?
Maybe God uses the Youth Pastor with the evil basketball to bring them in. Of course God brings them in GC.
Are you implying that he doesn't work through men to accomplish His will?
I didn't think so.
Wonder if any of 'em ever went to church because of a pool table?
>>and to hear the gospel.<<
That's the point I had originally made. There was a lot of hanging out, but no meaningful preaching, teaching, or exhortation.
The problem is, in a lot of these instances, there is no gospel being preached. Faith by osmosis seems to be the desire.
Agreed. I just reject the idea that youth programs are inherently bad.
Well, ya got trouble, my friend. Right here, I say trouble right here in River City Why, sure, I'm a billiard player Certainly mighty proud to say, I'm always mighty proud to say it I consider the hours I spend with a cue in my hand are golden Help you cultivate horse sense and a cool head and a keen eye Didja ever take an' try an' give an iron clad leave to yourself from a three-rail billiard shot? But just as I say it takes judgement, brains and maturity to score in a balk-line game I say that any boob can take and shove a ball in a pocket And I call that sloth, the first big step on the road to the depths of degreda- I say, first- medicinal wine from a teaspoon, then beer from a bottle And the next thing you know your son is playin' for money in a pinchback suit and listenin' to some big out-o'-town jasper Hear him tell about horserace gamblin' Not a wholesome trottin' race, no, but a race where they set down right on the horse Like to see some stuck up jockey boy sittin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil, well I should say Now, folks, let me show you what I mean You got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a table Pockets that mark the difference between a gentleman and a bum With a capital 'B' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for 'pool' And all week long, your River City youth'll be fritterin' away I say, your young men'll be fritterin' Fritterin' away their noontime, suppertime, choretime, too Hit the ball in the pocket Never mind gettin' dandelions pulled or the screen door patched or the beefsteak pounded Never mind pumpin' any water 'til your parents are caught with a cistern empty on a Saturday night and that's trouble Oh, ya got lots and lots o' trouble I'm thinkin' of the kids in the knickerbockers shirttails, young ones peekin' in the pool hall window after school Ya got trouble, folks, right here in River City with a capital 'T' and that rhymes with 'P' and that stands for 'pool' Now I know all you folks are the right kind of parents I'm gonna be perfectly frank Would you like to know what kind of conversation goes on while they're loafin' around that hall They'll be tryin' out Bevo, tryin' out Cubebs, tryin' out tailor-mades like cigarette fiends And braggin' all about how they're gonna cover up a tell-tale breath with Sen-Sen Now one fine night they leave the pool hall headin' for the dance at the Armory Libertine men and scarlet women and ragtime Shameless music that'll grab your son, your daughter into the arms of a jungle animal instinct- massteria! Friends, the idle brain is the devil's playground, trouble!
You know, we got in trouble the last time you started singing...
You know a certain side is losing the overall argument when they're reduced to blaming "Arminianism" for the Enlightenment--it's kinda the theological equivalent of Godwin's Law.
Italy and Spain also remained predominantly Catholic, which happens to be Buckley's faith. He would consider that to refute the Reformation itself, not "Arminianism."
Shall we be seeing you at Mass, then?
If you are talking about the ones who come to play basketball and shoot pool, my vote is that it is the teenage daughters of the the members who bring them in. ;)
You go to mass???
Feeling a little defensive GC? I didn't take issue with anything in the article. I merely asked a question.
>>I do find it interesting that the Arminians seem to be out there reaping in the harvest<<
Or, they could just be caught up in an emotional moment, sold into lights and feeeeelings, and have no true relationship with Christ. Seeds among the rocks and hard soil.
If you're impressed with the numbers in the harvest, remember that David wanted a census taken as well. Didn't work out so good for him.
Again that is a generality limited to some who might be numbered among the Arminians, but I do not believe it applies to Arminians in general. The Arminian truly recognizes that it is God who draws men to him. So don't go off claiming that Arminians are all into tricks and gimmicks. But remember that God expects us to be fishers of men and as a rule a good fisherman will use bait. We are also commanded to "compel them to come in". Paul also said that he would use "all means" to bring the gospel to all men so that some might be saved.
Your problem appears to be that you don't like the methods some use to compel them to come in. But Paul indicated he was open to just about any means and I'm sure Paul had his critics in his time as well.
Nah, we just give them the meat version and watch the tares you let in the door make themselves known.
Well I suppose there's a need for that. While some in the body of Christ strive to act as Christs hands to harvest the wheat, I suppose others are content just being the pinky fingers that dig out the boogers.
You look rather green with what I hope is just envy.
Is it any wonder that most of the Anti-Arminians that post here seem to have started their Christian lives as Arminians?
See tagline.
So now bashing Joel Osteen is bashing Arminians?
You howl when O-Henry claims to be an Arminian who loves Osteen, but when I mention Osteen, you cry foul?
Tsk, Tsk Corin.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.