Why I could never...

Personally, I don't like "dressed down" people in church because I believe if one is not going to dress down in an interview for a secular job then one ought not to dress down when he presents himself before his Savior and his Creator. But, like I said, that is personal.

As a pastor also, if I do get young people with hair and clothing and rings on their noses similar to what Keith wants, then I will probably talk to them, gently, and persuasively by Scripture, in private.

I can understand where Keith is coming from because I've seen pastors and deacons rebuking young people individually in public about such matters.

 

Well, first and foremost, we need to pray. The Lord draws people to Him, and we need to pray that the Lord works in the hearts of the masses of unbelievers. Secondly, I think preaching the love of God is what needs to be emphasized more than anything. His unconditional love and acceptance for those who want to follow Him. A lot of the time people are turned off to the church because they feel pressured that they have to be "good enough" on the outside first, which is never the case. I don't think you should go to church in shorts and t-shirt, either, but if someone shows up at church wearing that to hear about God's love for him/her I don't think anything should be said about it. Too often Christianity becomes a popularity contest and a beauty pageant.

Hope that helps, for starters.

No I don't. I think personal standards are great, but when they start becoming "I'm better than you" standards someone needs a reality check. I think that the majority of Baptists are a little uptight about a lot of things. That's not being judgemental at all, that's being opinionated.

I'll tell you what being judgemental is, though. Here's an example....

I can't count how many times I have read on here that Catholics are going to hell or that they blaspheme God, etc.......

That's judgemental. It's God's job to decide who's going to hell, no one on here get paid enough to make decisions like that.

 

Posted by Frozencell:

As you can see this is from a Catholic, recommending the Catholic Church to you (a form of proselytzing), which is against the rules of BB.
The Catholic Church is in error. It believes in doctrines which deny the sufficiency of the death of Christ to atone for our sins. Doctrines such as purgatory and baptismal regeneration are heretical doctrines which take away from the atoning work of Christ and make the Catholic form of salvation a works-salvation instead of being saved by grace through faith as it says in Eph.2:8,9.
In short is teaches heretical doctrines which should be avoided at all costs. This is not being judgemental as Frozencell suggests. It is discerning the truth according to the Word of God, which is our standard in all things of faith and practice. That is one of the most important factors in choosing a church. Are they Biblically-based? Do they have the Bible as their foundation? If they are not grounded on the Word, and centered around the person of Jesus Christ then avoid it. All the hype, excitement, activities, programs, etc. generated by a church that does not preach messages well-grounded in the Word of God are meaningless. Such activities are simply superfluous and superficial.
DHK

 

I recommend you read the bible and decide for yourself.

 

You have set down a lot of hoops for God to jump through so as to "please and entertain at the proper level".

Contrast that with the "exciting life" Paul identifies below to the church of Philippi

Notice the bold?

In Christ,

Bob

 

Nope. It doesn't take practice. It takes Jesus regenerating you.

But, it is also not about entertainment and having a good time all of the time. It doesn't take a lot of practice or scripture to figure this out. Read about the lives of the early Church. Not everything was always fun and exciting. Sometimes, life is hard as a Christian. This is why we lean on Jesus since he is our strength. Michael, please reconsider your caustic, sarcastic attitude towards others when they quote scripture to you. They are trying to help you, not hurt you. But, to be honest with you, you come off as a person who is very inflammatory and who is looking for an argument. I will pray that God will soften your heart in this area. We are not perfect. Only forgiven. Let's lift each other up instead of tear each other down. Read your Bible. Pray. and Fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ. But don't take everything as an attack on you, especially when it comes from scripture. We are on the same side here, remember?

Joseph Botwinick

 

One of the hardest things about being a new Christian is coming to grips with the changes Christ has wrought in us.

The very first thing that happened after I was saved was that two of my friends came over and asked me to go club-hopping with them. I said no. They couldn't believe that I actually had no desire or inclination to go (I was that far gone before I was saved), and tried for a half-hour to convince me. By the end of that half-hour, I had almost caved to the peer pressure--but God saw me through. Those two "friends" never talked to me again.

Keith, a couple of verses for you:
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Just some stuff for you to pray about.

[ April 19, 2004, 11:12 PM: Message edited by: Gina L ]

 

Well something like that. Lets try to go back to the Word of God and see if God actually has as much to say as we do on this subject.

Surely olympic champians have excitement and fun.

And Paul serves it up - center court.

Now here is the fascinating part...

Where in the world do those Gospel writers get that stuff?!! Those ideas are so ... so... 2000 years ago!

Those good little baptist sunday school boys (you mentioned earlier) probably go for that part of the Word of God - but what about the rest of the world? Surely texts like this aren't going to be that popular with everyone else - are they?

In Christ,

Bob

 

James 4:1
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you?
4:2
You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can't possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it.
4:3
And even when you do ask, you don't get it because your whole motive is wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure.
4:4
You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can't be a friend of God.
4:5
What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful?
4:6
He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble."
4:7
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
4:8
Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites.
4:9
Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

This 'version' might help you understand these words a little better.
Diane

 

I couldn't be a Baptist because I would disagree with too-many of their tenets. However KK, whilst I agree that purple hair has nothing to do with holiness, I also agree with the above-post that said no church is perfect. (If their was one, I'd wreck it by joining). The conflict between young and old (that you are experiencing)is as old as the Bible. You may want to consider (as we all should)how much of the culture is shaping you, and perhaps also WHY you go for purple hair,etc. If you are doing this to be 'acceptable' 'hip' (as we used to say) in the eyes of your peers, perhaps it would be good to re-evaluate this. However, if you just 'like' these things, then go for it. It's really what is in the heart that matters.

 

I want to be knowledgeble in everything STUDY!

I want a junky white van Take your allowance and go to a junk yard.

a golf club You can get these at most yard sales.

good food Get a job and earn it.

good music Get a BETTER job because stereo equiment is VERY expensive.

good books Visit your local library.

a good companion To have a friend, you have to be a friend.

some gasoline Get a job. A GOOD job! It's almost two bucks a gallon now!

 

I guess I lived a sheltered childhood and therefore grew up rather naive.

Naive enough to think that a culture developed over hundreds of years might have more substance than I could dismiss by age 15 or 20 (or a generation).

Naive enough to think that music that blessed generations before me and lasted decades or centuries must have some value to me also.

Naive enough to think that, although tradition must not precede biblical teaching, the traditions and conventions of my parents and grandparents in the home, church, and community just might be something of value to me also.

Naive enough to think that flippantly discarding the culture and traditions handed down to me would be arrogant, ungrateful, and self-serving.

But maybe I'm just not smart enough to singlehandedly re-invent things that came about through the work and blood of millions over many generations.

 

DHK,

I read that you couldn't proselytize to someone who was Baptist. He's not Baptist.

 

I read that you couldn't proselytize to someone who was Baptist. He's not Baptist. </font>[/QUOTE]Frozencell:
Your statement was:

This is not only proselytizing, it is advertizing for the Catholic Church. Both are against the rules of the board which you agreed to when you joined. If you wish to advertize for your church there are plenty of Catholic boards for you to do so. You are a guest here at a Baptist Board. We ask you to abide by the rules by which you agreed to when you joined. If you choose not to you may go elsewhere, or will be asked to elsehwere.
Sincerely,
DHK

 

7. No solicitation or advertising of any kind. Our message boards are for discussions, not to sell goods or services. If you would like to advertise, please contact us for an advertising package.

I am not selling goods or services. I fail to see where the rule was broken.

And I read the "posting rules" and failed to find the part about "no proselytizing". Could you maybe point it out for me?