Originally Posted by savedbygrace97
First, I would like to ask in exactly what do you mean when you say that "this doesn't work for you?" Are we talking about sanctification or justification?
Neither.... I was referring to your hermeneutical method applied to the examples given. grin

Originally Posted by savedbygrace97
I also believe that there are many in the Church, who are true believers who interpret this part of Scripture the same as I do.
No argument there. I would heartily agree.

Originally Posted by savedbygrace97
I truly believe that we, Christs' Body the Church, should be very focused on our sanctification. Therefore we should take seriously the role of Men and Women in regards to authority. But I still don't believe that this is all about an outward sign but rather about an inward conviction.

I would have no problem taking communion with just water and hardtack. I also have no problem with women not wearing head coverings and I would have no problem if man decided to wear a hat during service. Just as long and the Word of God is being preached, the gospel proclaimed and people listening and the Spirit of God transforming lives, I'm not too concerned about outward symbols.
Here is where we have a serious disagreement. I do believe that the "outward symbols" are no less inspired than the principles they express. There is a good reason why the Holy Spirit inspired the holy men of God to write what they did and that every jot and tittle is God's truth. To so easily dismiss the "symbols" as being insignificant is a dangerous thing to do. It opens wide the door to all manner of errors which churches and denominations have fallen into and eventually fallen away from the faith once delivered unto the saints. Culture cannot and must not determine how the Church practices its worship of God; only God can and has revealed how He is to be worshiped in spirit and truth. The world has no truth to be found in it for it is under the power of the evil one. The Church consists of those who have been "called apart" from the world. Unfortunately today, the churches' modus operandi is to 'assimilate' the world in order to 'attract' the world into its assemblies so that those who come will 'feel at home'.

What I am wanting to have you see is that this idea of bifurcating the symbol from the principle with the use of a "Cultural Boundness" type hermeneutic can have disastrous effects. wow1

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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