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Pilgrim, aka Head Honcho <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> wrote:

I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not exactly what you meant to write, eh? For the sad fact is that people love their sin; so much so that they would risk an eternity in hell rather than repent of it and live before God in holiness. What people hate is to be confronted, challenged and called on the carpet for their sin. They will use any excuse to justify their sinful acts.


Yes please excuse me, this is of course what I meant. Thanks for keeping my honest Jeff.

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Paul writes:

keep in mind who he is writing to. Why be totally condemning? Why not leave the door open for the person to visit the church? Give them a chance to experience a place where all types of sin are struggled with & dealt with. Isn't that more compelling than trying to "convict" the person of their sin through the first correspondence? Perhaps the person he is writing to has never thought about these issues much or has never even been near a church. He only knows what he's been told, Christians hate homosexuals.

But..... there has to come a time when we are confronted with our sin. There has to come a time when we are lead to repentance through the conviction of the Gospel. In my opinion there is no opportune time for it. You see, in your argument, you are saying not to be convicting through your first correspondence so as to hopefully encourage them to church. But through this ideology, we then develop worship services and sermons that aren't convicting either. This is done so as not to offend people by confronting them with the seriousness of their sin. So what then? When are people ever going to be faced with their sin? When are they ever going to be rebuked? When are they ever going to be encouraged to read the bible and start to lead biblical life styles?

You see I attended a church like this and was lost for a long time. I believe that there is a very big misconception of what LOVE is now-days. People think that love is being individualistic and not really being too involved with each other. People like to be Christians on the surface and they don't mind talking about positive and encouraging things. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty, that's a different story. I found as I started to become more devoted to God's Word that people started to feel uncomfortable around me. Because I was concerned for their eternal well being. Because out of Love I started to talk about real issues. Deep down stuff that wasn't supposed to be touched. Love is when you see another Christian couple struggling and you step in and share the true gospel with them even though it might make them mad at you. Love is when you rebuke your neighbor or stand up for Christ when it might cost us something.

God is Holy Holy Holy. He is a jealous God and He will judge each and everyone of us.

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But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Acts 5:1-11 (King James Version)

The way I see it is this. The Person inquiring about being accepted at this church seems to be seeking God. Why else would they be interested in going to a church in the first place. So we could look at this as the Holy Spirit already working in this persons heart. I don't believe it would help this person any to sugar coat the gospel. I believe it would help this person if they were truly convicted of their sin through the proclamation of the Word of God. Then this person would have to face the fact that they are wrong and that they need to repent and go to Church to learn more about being a Christian and giving their lives to Christ. Or they will reject Christ and lead a life of sin. In which case they shouldn't be feel welcome or comfortable in church. I don't believe the church is a place for sinners to feel comfortable. But of course this is just my opinion.

Y.B.I.C,

Dave.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16