Of celebrities, the media, and Christians

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

You can look at her and see she needs Jesus. I hope she can find him. I will pray for her. If she would only stop thinking about what the people think of her and start to think what God thinks of her she might be able to find him. We have done alot that we cannot take back. The things that we have done we cannot ever change. But thanks be to the Lord he is very forgiven to all of us. But we must turn for his help because it will not be there long. I think another reason she looks the way she looks is because the Lord is talking to her. I believe God does this to all of us. It is up to us to take notice to his voice. I believe that God can save her soul. How God can show his glory and power by taking a sinner and turn them around to give him the glory. I think it will be a good thing if we can find a web to her and all of us send a letter to her. Tell her about Jesus and what he has done for us.

Great thoughts Charles - thank you.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I will not feel sorry for someone because of the evils they choose to enact on themselves, it's her choice, she made it. Not all unbeleivers live like her, she chose to live like she does.

I am grateful that God did not take that view of me before I was saved. I am glad people did not judge me by my foolish choices, but saw me as someone who needed the Saviour.

 

[2 Timothy2:1-4]

I haven't read where ANYONE wanted to "overlook sin" in this thread. What I and others advocate is a redemptive attitude which involves confronting sin (not in condemnation, sin we are all prone to it) and helping others out of it through the practical means of the gospel of Christ. The only way anyone overcomes besetting sin is through discipleship in the way of Jesus.

I did not say "in this thread". I was speaking to a set of views that can be found throughout the church.

 

[Baptist Believer]

do you still live that life style? she does and likes it that way

She seems absolutely miserable to me... but then again, I don't know her personally.

did i say write her off?

Not directly, but many of the posts here are blaming a sinner for acting like a sinner. Those who don't have Christ do not have the power to do anything but be a sinner. Furthermore, she may be suffering from something like post partum depression or another mental disorder that is aggrevating the pressures she faces as a famous person in a celebrity-oriented popular culture.

 

[Baptist Believer]

I did not say "in this thread". I was speaking to a set of views that can be found throughout the church.

Fair enough. But since you expressed this opinion in the context of this thread without referencing persons outside the thread, it was only natural to assume that your statements were directed to persons and opinions within our discussion.

I'm sure you happy to see that we haven't fallen into that error.

 

[Aaron]

Did I read this correctly? You think Christ may have lost a sheep or two?

Not everyone out there is one of Christ's lost sheep. Some are goats.

You all go ahead and fret over the celebrities. You're all saying that it's un-Christian not too, but honestly, unless you have the same feelings for Bin Laden, aren't you just being a respecter of persons?

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

That's where our missionary focus should be, not to the rich and famous. Now the dogs do eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables, so a rich and famous one or two will get saved, but they are not the focus of our efforts, just as the dogs are not the reason that Mama set the table.

 

[Baptist Believer]

You all go ahead and fret over the celebrities. You're all saying that it's un-Christian not too, but honestly, unless you have the same feelings for Bin Laden, aren't you just being a respecter of persons?

Who says that we are not also concerned for Bin Laden?

And we would be respectors of persons if we ignored those who happen to be famous in favor of those who do not happen to be famous. We are to be concerned for all. The reality of the situation is, that we will minister to those with whom we have contact... and for most of us, that's usually not a famous person.

But since Ms. Spears downfall is being publicly portrayed throughout the Western World, don't you think that Christians should have something to say about the situation, offering words of grace, redemption and healing to the public conversation? For our attitudes toward the troubles of public figures likely reveals our attitudes to those to whom we minister in relative privacy.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Not everyone out there is one of Christ's lost sheep. Some are goats.

You all go ahead and fret over the celebrities. You're all saying that it's un-Christian not too, but honestly, unless you have the same feelings for Bin Laden, aren't you just being a respecter of persons?

Should we also not pray for Bid Laden (if he is still alive)? I have no problem praying for his salvation.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

That's where our missionary focus should be, not to the rich and famous. Now the dogs do eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables, so a rich and famous one or two will get saved, but they are not the focus of our efforts, just as the dogs are not the reason that Mama set the table.

No? How about the Ethiopian eunuch, an official in the Ethiopian court?

 

[PastorSBC1303]

I am grateful that God did not take that view of me before I was saved. I am glad people did not judge me by my foolish choices, but saw me as someone who needed the Saviour.

Amen Roger, amen!

 

[webdog]

I will not feel sorry for someone because of the evils they choose to enact on themselves, it's her choice, she made it. Not all unbeleivers live like her, she chose to live like she does.

Sure sounds like the attitude Christ had lamenting over Jerusalem

This seems to be one problem I really have with some calvinists. The almost caloused feel I get from them towards the lost. It's almost like "I'm elect, your not. God must hate you...therefore I should too".

 

[Aaron]

No? How about the Ethiopian eunuch, an official in the Ethiopian court?

A slave, more like it. But, if you'd read my posts more carefully, you'll see that I've already accounted for this situation.

Look, you asked what our attitude should be. I answered. And for every reason you give a about why we should all weep over Britney Spears I'll give you five for why Christians that aren't in any way connected with her shouldn't give her a second thought.

Where is it that God's power is more manifest? Was Christ born to a rich woman or a poor woman? Was it in Jerusalem or the least of the cities in Judah? To whom did the angels appear, to shepherds or nobles? To whom was Christ annointed to preach the Gospel? The rich or the poor? The free or the captive? The happy-go-lucky or the broken hearted?

I think if you focused the resources of your ministry upon the classes for which Christ intended, you'd find enough to occupy your time without having to go to the boob tube to find more.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I think if you focused the resources of your ministry upon the classes for which Christ intended, you'd find enough to occupy your time without having to go to the boob tube to find more.

Of course, when there is no answer we must resort to personal attacks .

So I should ignore the mayor of our town, who is a close personal friend?

I believe that Christians should be concerned for all the lost - from the poorest beggar in the street to the richest billionaire. From poor kids who come to our Kids Klub to the personality I will never meet. Jesus died for them all, He desires all men to come to repentance.

I can't see how we can do any different.

 

[Ed Franklin]

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

That's where our missionary focus should be, not to the rich and famous......

WOW!

As if lost "rich and famous" people are not:

poor.....check your Bible--this word is not restricted to meaning "financially challenged"

brokenhearted.....you think rich, famous people can't suffer broken hearts?

captives.....obviously all lost persons are captive to their sin

blind..........as in spiritually blind

Yes, some are sheep, some are goats. Please note that it is God who judges between the two groups.

 

[Ed Franklin]

*sigh* as well.

Maybe I am thick - I just cant see the other viewpoint here

I think I've seen the other viewpoint somewhere........hmmmmmmmm.............

Oh yeah--Luke 18:10-12

Probably I'm too new here to express such strong feelings on a subject but let 'em fly! :tonofbricks: :tonofbricks:

Thank God for this:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Rom 5:8)

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I think I've seen the other viewpoint somewhere........hmmmmmmmm.............

Oh yeah--Luke 18:10-12

Probably I'm too new here to express such strong feelings on a subject but let 'em fly! :tonofbricks: :tonofbricks:

Thank God for this:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Rom 5:8)

Good point - "But God commendeth His love toward Brittney Spears, in that while she is yet a sinner, Christ died for her."

 

[mcdirector]

There is a whole world of broken-hearted who have made messes of their lives.

The fact that they are rich and famous does have it's own set of hindrances, but so does the very, very poor living in squalor have it's own set of limitations. Both will always be with us. Should we only focus on those that are in the middle because we have a better chance of reaching them?

The thing is, we don't know who "WE" are going to reach at all, because we don't know who God's Holy Spirit has already been working in. We don't know if we are going to be tilling, planting, cultivating, or harvesting. I only know that God puts me in the path of those in a wide range of socioeconomic situations. It's not my job to pick and chose who might be receptive.

 

[webdog]

I think I've seen the other viewpoint somewhere........hmmmmmmmm.............

Oh yeah--Luke 18:10-12

Probably I'm too new here to express such strong feelings on a subject but let 'em fly! :tonofbricks: :tonofbricks:

Thank God for this:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Rom 5:8)

You're never too new to speak the truth :thumbs:

Amen, and welcome to the BB

 

[mcdirector]

You're never too new to speak the truth :thumbs:

Amen, and welcome to the BB

Agreed

.

 

[tinytim]

This thread is very helpful and needed...

A person who has been forgiven much, will be more merciful.

People's love for others (or lack thereof is showing in this thread)

If you don't believe God came to save the rich and famous, but only the poor, then you don't understand the God I serve. God gave His son for all who believe... period!
If you only limit God to saving those that have not contributed to their deadly lifestyles.. you are blind.

If you are a pastor and don't believe this, get out of ministry... You are harmful to the cause of Christ, and I doubt you have ever experienced God's grace.


This comment is not construed to pinpoint anyone... but to all who believe that Britany doesn't deserve to be saved.

Hopefully, no one here falls in this category, but I have a suspicion that a few do.