[Faith-talk] Response

[Alan Wheeler]

Linda,
Thanks for your thorough response. I agree with what you've said to Joshua
here.

Regarding the Trinity, I once saw a children's book that explains the
trinity very well. Take an apple. You have the skin, the fruit and the seed.
Each one by itself is part of the apple, and together form the complete
apple. I'm not stating it very well, but hopefully, you get the idea.

Having recently become Seventh-day Adventist, I know there are a lot of
folks who will not wear jewelry or make up. There are those, too, for
example, who are strict vegetarians, and those who (like myself) will eat
meat, but do so according to what God told moses were the clean VS unclean
animals. At first, I wasn't sure what I felt about that, but my pastor
explained it, and it actually made sense. So, I can relate, sort of, to what
you said about thinking your church's beliefs being legalistic. It wasn't
until I looked at it in the Bible that it made sense to me.



-----Original Message-----
From: faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Linda Mentink
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 10:24 PM
To: faith-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Faith-talk] Response

Hi all,

OK, I have to say some things here.

We come from different faiths and backgrounds. Some of us have changed
denominations and/or Church affiliations at least once in our lives. Many,
though they are Christians in the Biblical sense of the word, are not taught
strict separation. Our beliefs are based on what our pastor teaches us and
what we glean from our own personal Bible reading and study.

Joshua, you say that you don't sin anymore, now that you are saved. 
That is not Biblical, which has already been mentioned: "If we say we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 
That's you. You seem to think, as as also been mentioned, that everything
you believe is right, and you have no tolerance for others' beliefs on this
list. We all know you're an Apostolic, so quit trying to cram your beliefs
down our throats. People will not feel free to join in on our discussions
here if you always make them feel that what they believe and hold to is
wrong, just because you are so vocal.  You like to hear yourself, but,
personally, I'm tired of your rantings and ravings.

While I appreciate your beliefs, I'm not going to change mine. You are a
sinner saved by grace. You are a sinner as long as you are on this earth;
you just don't want to sin, nor do you persist in known sin. You're not
better than the rest of us, but you come across as though you believe you
are.

I am an Independent Baptist, and a Calvinist. Since moving to Nebraska
almost 7 years ago, I have worn only dresses and skirts, and I wear my hair
below my ears so as to be a covering. I know of nowhere in Scripture where
women are told never to cut their hair. 
This would be impractical; imagine trying to walk without stepping on your
hair because it's dragging on the ground after so many years of not being
cut. Also, I don't wear earrings or make up. This is because this is what my
church teaches, and I believe it to be right. 
I wasn't taught anything of the sort in the other churches I was in, and the
last was a Baptist Church. I also don't have a TV or go to movies, or smoke
(never did), or drink any alcohol. But I know I probably do other things and
say things, or think thoughts that are not pleasing to God. Why? Because I'm
still living here on earth.

At first, when I was made aware of the teachings of my present Church, I
thought they were legalistic. But, when showed in the Scriptures, my heart
and attitude were changed. Does that make me a better Christian than
everyone else? No, but it makes me better than I was. None of us has
arrived, and we all are growing and learning on this journey of life.  Does
that mean that I expect others to live like me? No, unless we attend the
same Church.

As to why Christians smoke or drink, or swear, well, maybe God hasn't gotten
complete control of their lives. Frankly, there are times when He doesn't
have control of my life! Or maybe the Church they attend doesn't preach
against these things; many do not. That doesn't mean they aren't Christians.
Being a Christian means that Christ has chosen you, and you have responded
by repenting and allowing Christ to live in you. Many have allowed Christ to
live in them, but they haven't been taught that they need to give up these
things, and many others. Or, maybe they struggle with these things, and
can't seem to get the victory over them. So, stop judging others. We can
judge others only according to Scripture; we shouldn't compare one to
another. And, we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought.
And don't expect others to live as you do in order to be saved, or in order
to prove to you that they are a Christian. They don't have to prove it to
us, but we can be a fruit inspecter!

I also believe that once I'm saved, I'm always saved. If I had to worry
about it, I'd never have assurance of my salvation; nor could I trust that
what Christ did for me is enough. I'd always wonder if I did something to
get myself unsaved. That cheapens what Christ did, and gives me way too much
power over my own destiny. How arrogant and self-serving.

When we accept Christ as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes in to us. 
This does not mean that we speak in tongues; Paul says in I Corinthians 13
that tongues shall cease. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples spoke in
different languags so that those present would be able to understand the
Gospel message in their own tongue. Now, what is called tongues is an
unintelligible bunch of nonsense syllables that mean absolutely nothing; and
you're encouraged to try and see if you have the gift of tongues. Well, if
it's a gift, you don't have to try it; which tells me that it's not a gift
at all, at least not a gift from God.

Regarding the Trinity, this word isn't used in Scripture, but is inferred.
It doesn't mean that there will be three persons sitting on one throne. Our
finite minds cannot quite grasp the concept. It's sort of like an egg, which
has the shell, the white and the yolk. All three parts make up the egg. I
know it's poor, but it's the best we can do!

We are all at different places in our walk with Christ, and in Christian
maturity. It's not your way or the highway. There is only one road to
heaven, and that's through Jesus Christ, God's Son. Each of us has a story,
each of us has a life to live to live, and we will go to heaven or hell
based on what we did with Jesus: accept or reject Him.

Now, don't unsubscribe from this list just because you think I'm picking on
you, or you disagree with this post. Be mature about it, and continue to
grow in the knowledge of your Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Linda


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