Define: Legalist

[richard n koustas]

From my web browser, if I browse to Baptistboard, I do not believe this to be sin.

I think we agree on this point.

 

[npetreley]

Let me tell you a story and see what you think...

A young man lives in a small town that has the only Adult Material store FOR MILES around that sits right next to the major interstate (this plays stays busy), that divdes the town. Everyone this young man knows, knows what he drives, everyone the young man knows, knows he attends church regularly and claims to be a Christian. This adult book store has nothing, I MEAN NOTHING even a two miles near it, so the only reason why someone would go there, would be for one thing, ADULT MATERIAL.

Well, this young man is driving his car down the service road, and for no good reason his hood pops up covers his winshield completely, can only stick his head out of the driver's side window to see where he is going (not very safe), the nearest thing is this porn shop, so he has no choice but to pull into that parking lot. He parks a distance from the door, but he has to go in, because he needs something to strap that hood down with. So he runs inside (anyone passing can clearly see his car), he has to go all the way to the back of the store to get any help from the clerk. He asks the clerk for a hanger, a strap, tie down, something. The clerk is no help. So as he is leaving HE STEALS the tie down that is used on the entrance/exit doors, and exits the building.

Now, how does that look to people passing by, without asking, the young man looks like a porn maniac, is he?

I have no idea where you're going with this story. All I can say is if it were me, it wouldn't bother me in the least to park at the store and ask for help. I wouldn't steal anything, though - why did he do that? Do you know? Sounds wacky to me.

If people assume anything and say nothing, that's THEIR problem. If they're mature enough to ask me why I was there, I'd tell them.

 

[ShotGunWillie]

I have no idea where you're going with this story. All I can say is if it were me, it wouldn't bother me in the least to park at the store and ask for help. I wouldn't steal anything, though - why did he do that? Do you know? Sounds wacky to me.

If people assume anything and say nothing, that's THEIR problem. If they're mature enough to ask me why I was there, I'd tell them.

Where I was going is this, some people may have saw him and thought he was indulging in his lusts and buying improper material. Others might say he is no different than the rest of us, just living in the world. Why not ask him, he might have an altogether different reason for being there to begin with.

He stole the strap because he was embarrassed as can be by what he saw, where he was at, and the fact the store was his only place to turn. Plus the clerk was a jerk. That doesn't make what he did right by no means, but when you are a dumb teenager, rationale sometimes escapes your thought process and survival kicks in. Like I said, doesn't mean that stealing is right, it is a sin.

Maybe I didn't make a point at all....

 

[rbell]

Let me tell you a story and see what you think...

A young man lives in a small town that has the only Adult Material store FOR MILES around that sits right next to the major interstate (this plays stays busy), that divdes the town. Everyone this young man knows, knows what he drives, everyone the young man knows, knows he attends church regularly and claims to be a Christian. This adult book store has nothing, I MEAN NOTHING even a two miles near it, so the only reason why someone would go there, would be for one thing, ADULT MATERIAL.

Well, this young man is driving his car down the service road, and for no good reason his hood pops up covers his winshield completely, can only stick his head out of the driver's side window to see where he is going (not very safe), the nearest thing is this porn shop, so he has no choice but to pull into that parking lot. He parks a distance from the door, but he has to go in, because he needs something to strap that hood down with. So he runs inside (anyone passing can clearly see his car), he has to go all the way to the back of the store to get any help from the clerk. He asks the clerk for a hanger, a strap, tie down, something. The clerk is no help. So as he is leaving HE STEALS the tie down that is used on the entrance/exit doors, and exits the building.

Now, how does that look to people passing by, without asking, the young man looks like a porn maniac, is he?

No....he looks like a thief.:laugh:

Sorry, couldn't resist.

But as others said, I don't see the pertinence or the story.

 

[npetreley]

Where I was going is this, some people may have saw him and thought he was indulging in his lusts and buying improper material. Others might say he is no different than the rest of us, just living in the world. Why not ask him, he might have an altogether different reason for being there to begin with.

He stole the strap because he was embarrassed as can be by what he saw, where he was at, and the fact the store was his only place to turn. Plus the clerk was a jerk. That doesn't make what he did right by no means, but when you are a dumb teenager, rationale sometimes escapes your thought process and survival kicks in. Like I said, doesn't mean that stealing is right, it is a sin.

Maybe I didn't make a point at all....

LOL! Well, if I had to make up a moral to the story, I'd say, "Don't be legalistic about parking at a porn store, or you may make Christians so paranoid about being there that they'll steal in order to get away faster."

 

[ShotGunWillie]

Maybe there isn't any tie in, thought there would be. I thought it was mentioned about the liquor store parking lot. From experience, they ain't always there for the reason you think, they might need to use the phone or something.

 

[ShotGunWillie]

LOL! Well, if I had to make up a moral to the story, I'd say, "Don't be legalistic about parking at a porn store, or you may make Christians so paranoid about being there that they'll steal in order to get away faster.

Is it possible to sin to avoid sinning?

 

[npetreley]

Is it possible to sin to avoid sinning?

No. And in this case, he sinned in order to avoid LOOKING like he was sinning. Kinda backfired, I think.

 

[dan e.]

If it is in fact extra-biblical then I would tend to agree. However, he has an argument that it is Biblical to encourage the youth of a church to avoid a web site that is filled with images and text of nakedness, cursing, alcohol use, drug use, rock and roll and a greater percentage of antichrist material than proChrist material.

This isn't about encouraging people...it is about telling people what they can or can't do. Things that are extra-biblical...like myspace.

 

[ShotGunWillie]

He was young and ignorant, he is much older now and has learned the error of his ways. Besides that they built a Wal-Mart DC near by, next time this happens he can go there and get the tie down and pay for it.

 

[dan e.]

LOL! Well, if I had to make up a moral to the story, I'd say, "Don't be legalistic about parking at a porn store, or you may make Christians so paranoid about being there that they'll steal in order to get away faster."

that was hilarious. :laugh:

 

[dan e.]

He was young and ignorant, he is much older now and has learned the error of his ways. Besides that they built a Wal-Mart DC near by, next time this happens he can go there and get the tie down and pay for it.

shotgun....was it you??!

 

[Rufus_1611]

He was young and ignorant, he is much older now and has learned the error of his ways. Besides that they built a Wal-Mart DC near by, next time this happens he can go there and get the tie down and pay for it.

Well it's a sin to shop at Wal-Mart so you're still stuck :laugh:

 

[Hope of Glory]

However, if I browse to a web site that I know promotes lusts of the flesh then that would be sin. Thus, being on the internet is not sinful but going to places we ought not go is. The pastor in question thinks there is danger for his young sheep to go to Myspace, I think he has an argument for that and I don't think it legalism for him to ask his young followers to avoid such a spiritually dangerous site.

Saying that MySpace, in and of itself promotes "lusts of the flesh" is... well, silly.

It's a tool. And like any other tool can be used however you see fit. I mostly talk to my son's friends to find out what's going on in their world, I have promoted my business quite a bit, etc.

Now, if I wanted to see my son's friends naked, that would not be the fault of MySpace, but the fault of me.

And, if I wanted to see them naked, instead of MySpace, I could ask for a photo. Want to ban cameras?

Now, there are obviously some web sites that intentionally set out to promote the lusts of the flesh. That's no more the fault of the internet itself than it's the fault of Mahatma Ghandi. (sp?)

If an individual has trouble discerning between good and evil, that's not the fault of the tool, but he should still avoid the tool. But to prohibit everyone from using the tool because this one fellow has a problem with it is like banning cars because this one guy has a problem with DUI.

 

[rbell]

Well it's a sin to shop at Wal-Mart so you're still stuck

Does this mean you're turning down the job as the blue-jacketed BB greeter?

 

[Rufus_1611]

Does this mean you're turning down the job as the blue-jacketed BB greeter?

I doubt I'd make the cut

 

[tenor]

So Am I a legalist or a schizophrenic?

If a schizophrenic threatens suicide does it then become a hostage situation?

Sorry for the momentary derailing.

 

[npetreley]

If a schizophrenic threatens suicide does it then become a hostage situation?

That's a common mistake. Schizophrenia is not the same thing as multiple personality disorder. Although the latter can come in quite handy if you play volleyball, since you can hit the volleyball two or more times in a row without breaking the rules.

 

[tenor]

Let me tell you a story and see what you think...

A young man lives in a small town that has the only Adult Material store FOR MILES around that sits right next to the major interstate (this plays stays busy), that divdes the town. Everyone this young man knows, knows what he drives, everyone the young man knows, knows he attends church regularly and claims to be a Christian. This adult book store has nothing, I MEAN NOTHING even a two miles near it, so the only reason why someone would go there, would be for one thing, ADULT MATERIAL.

Well, this young man is driving his car down the service road, and for no good reason his hood pops up covers his winshield completely, can only stick his head out of the driver's side window to see where he is going (not very safe), the nearest thing is this porn shop, so he has no choice but to pull into that parking lot. He parks a distance from the door, but he has to go in, because he needs something to strap that hood down with. So he runs inside (anyone passing can clearly see his car), he has to go all the way to the back of the store to get any help from the clerk. He asks the clerk for a hanger, a strap, tie down, something. The clerk is no help. So as he is leaving HE STEALS the tie down that is used on the entrance/exit doors, and exits the building.

Now, how does that look to people passing by, without asking, the young man looks like a porn maniac, is he?

The thing to do would be to go to him and find the reason he was there. Anything else would be gossip and hearsay.

 

[ShotGunWillie]

shotgun....was it you??!

What gave that away?