The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Hyper-Calvinism & the Netherlands

Oh, I'd say about 90%+. But to condemn the TV, in and of itself, you should be consistent and also condemn the PC/MAC because the Internet is FAR worse than anything you can watch on TV. Sooo, if you are going to deem the television as wicked or evil and no God-fearing person would own one, then you must be consistent and at least never go online with your computer or receive e-mail nor anything that has contact with the "outside world".

You previously wrote:

The problem I find in your arguments, though not with your concerns for I share them with you re: worldliness in the church, is that you are using a very broad brush to paint your case with which Scripture simply does not allow. Christian Liberty is foundational to the Christian life and something which Christ shed His precious blood for so that His sheep would be delivered from the bondage of vain philosophy and ecclesiastical/self-willed asceticism. A "gem" to be found in Paul's writings concerning this Liberty is that there is no "neutrality" when it comes to things. Things are either good, i.e., looked upon with favor by God or they are evil, i.e., rejected by God thus they are deemed sinful. Another "gem" found in the biblical doctrine of Christian Liberty, which the WCF addresses rightly, I believe (cf. Chapter XX) is that fallen man, particularly redeemed man has an unfortunate predisposition to take the good things of God and make them evil. I am not speaking about using the good things of this world for evil purposes... What I'm referring to is professing Christians deeming what God has declared to be good and calling them evil, worldly, sinful, etc. They even go so far as to assign wickedness to physical items, e.g., the infamous "deck of playing cards". Thus, to sit around the kitchen table with your children and play the game of "Fish" or "Old Maid" or "Cribbage", you are at best endangering the spiritual life of all or worse liable to hell fire. There is another "gem" which I really need to mention that is found in the biblical doctrine of Christian Liberty. And that is that those who take what God has deemed good and categorize them as sinful are the "weaker brother", i.e., the one who has not come to understand the glory and freedom of having been delivered from not only the bondage of sin, albeit incomplete in this life practically speaking, but also from their own sinful ways of thinking, aka: worldly philosophies (cf. Col 2).

So, the "weaker brother" has scruples about this or that or some other thing which he/she deems to be worldly but which God in His Word has not forbidden. For that individual to engage in that which these scruples exist would be indeed to sin against God. But the sin isn't in the actual partaking of that which the person finds a problem but rather in the partaking against his/her conscience. This Paul warns the "stronger brother" not to do, i.e., to entice a weaker brother to do that which he deems to be sinful, worldly, evil, etc.

Next, Paul addresses these weaker brethren and strongly counsels (forbids) them to JUDGE the stronger brethren in their Christ-bought freedom to enjoy those things which God has deemed good in and of themselves. For to do so is to usurp God and Christ in their perfect judgment as to where these stronger brothers stand before God.

Lastly, yet another "gem" to be found in that treasure store of Christian Liberty is the guideline for the Church in regard to what position it is to take: either that of the weaker brother or the stronger brother. What Scripture says is that the Church is to NEVER formulate ecclesiastical polity based upon the scruples of the weaker brother but rather it is to teach the TRUTH concerning the freedom which all believers have been granted in Christ Jesus along with the instruction as to how to exercise that liberty.

Another example is you speak against the "theater" with another broad stroke of this arbitrary brush. Can I then assume that it is worldliness for anyone who professes to follow Christ to attend a concert to hear the New York Symphony play Mozart, Bach, Mendelssohn, et al? Is this "worldly entertainment" which will poison one's soul?

Scripture gives us the answer from one of the teachings of Christ Himself:

Have you plucked out your right eye or cut off your right hand yet? Well surely you MUST do this for can you honestly say that neither your eye(s) nor hand has ever sinned? You surely KNOW what Christ Jesus is teaching here, right? Let me give a very practical illustration so that others can follow along. If one has a propensity to gluttony it may be sin for that individual to take a job working in a bakery. There is absolutely nothing "worldly, sinful or evil" about a bakery in and of itself. So, one would be remiss to deem bakeries as "worldly" just because that person is tempted to eat pastries. The INDIVIDUAL has the problem and thus the INDIVIDUAL needs to address HIS/HER problem by abstaining in this case. But it is against Christ and dishonoring to God to throw bakeries into the realm of the Devil's domain.

The bottom line is most always, those who take this approach to the world end up promoting some form of Asceticism which cannot be found in Scripture. Unfortunately, this self-willed asceticism usually blossoms into Pharisaism where the individuals see themselves as "holy" and others as less so or even unregenerate (cf. Luke 18:10ff). And finally, if left unchallenged, one can find themselves as a bitter, judgmental recluse which is NOT to be equated with one who wants to be separate from the world according to the revealed will of God.

Is it more holy to abstain from the Lord's Table because it is accepted to believe that it is presumptuous to think you have faith? If a congregation doesn't hear the 10 Commandments read from the pulpit every Lord's Day, is that congregation less "holy" than one who does read them? Is a church less holy if they don't preach through the Heidelberg Catechism each and every evening worship service?

FYI, we don't watch TV... we don't frequent bars, we don't go to rock concerts nor so-called Christian music concerts, we don't listen to 'Christian radio', we aren't given to gluttony, ... oh well, the list could go on and on and on, eh? And we don't look with disdain upon those who judge us for drinking an occasional glass of wine with dinner. In fact, we abstain from doing so when they are present. And, we do NOT esteem ourselves more "holy" or less "worldly" in regard to our lives.

Bottom line is this my friend since you have publicly stated: "After some doubts I have come to fully embrace my denomination. Much of the teachings are very intellectual."

IF you are consistent with your church's views on worldliness and you also believe, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:", then there is a serious danger that those who do not follow your views concerning what is "worldly" are not going to be saved. A serious warning to avoid worldliness is biblically sound. But to start making lists of every little thing that is worldly and what is not worldly will without doubt get you into serious trouble... not simply with men but with God Who alone is the Judge of men's hearts.