A Link Regarding Differing Convictions

[jennimatts]

...I've been trying desperately to build a bridge of understanding between myself and my old church leaders, and assuming that it wasn't working because I was doing something wrong. Like, if I could express myself better they would understand. When really, the fact is, they don't want a bridge.

I know I will want to quote this someday.

(Oh, I just did.)

 

[Whisper84]

I know I will want to quote this someday.

(Oh, I just did.)

How so?

 

[If Not For Grace]

I also know that there are people who have convictions that I do not share, yet I respect them as I feel they are serving Christ the best way they know how

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Me too! I wish we could all get this far-it would be monumental, I try my best not to be too senstive to any of it. (My mantra is "not to be easily offended") JMO but I say: If you are a christian and you study, The spirit will let you know if you are engaging in something that is improper. If we practice love and "go about doing good" we will learn where we are most effective. What I don't want to see happening is others being so rigid in THEIR convictions that they believe they must force these convictions on others-as Paul said "all things are lawful unto me, but not all things are beneficial" We need guidance, not brow beating

Thanks for sharing this.
Grace

 

[WannaWitness]

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Me too! I wish we could all get this far-it would be monumental, I try my best not to be too senstive to any of it. (My mantra is "not to be easily offended") JMO but I say: If you are a christian and you study, The spirit will let you know if you are engaging in something that is improper. If we practice love and "go about doing good" we will learn where we are most effective. What I don't want to see happening is others being so rigid in THEIR convictions that they believe they must force these convictions on others-as Paul said "all things are lawful unto me, but not all things are beneficial" We need guidance, not brow beating

Thanks for sharing this.
Grace

You're welcome; these are just things I have been thinking about lately. I mean, we can all know where we stand in our own individual walks with him, yet there will always be somebody who will think we're not holy enough (and perhaps not even really saved) while there are others who will think we're high-and-mighty Bible thumpers simply for voicing about how much we love Christ, and trying to do what we feel best. So there's really no pleasing anyone. But what really matters is the Lord, and if He is pleased with us. That's what we have to think about, and if we are doing our best in that way (along with reading/studying the Word of God and prayer) and letting the Lord do the leading, then I believe we're on the right track.

 

[jennimatts]

How so?

I think you identified the root of many disagreements... that they just don't want to understand.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I knew somebody some years back who was like that. He believed CCM was "unanointed", and was so set in that thought that he wouldn't even allow his kids to listen to it. So one day, this guy popped over for a visit. I was playing a Crystal Lewis tape at the time. Fearing that he would view me as a common heathen, I scrambled around to shut the music off. Later on, this same man made a comment on a woman's shorts (which from what I recall, were quite modest), and remarked that she needed to "put on some clothes", then on a different date, stood up in church and started bragging about how "holy" his family was, not unlike the parable of the Pharisee "praying" in the temple in the Gospel of Luke.

I'm done accommodating folks like that. With that gentleman, I'd turn off the Casting Crowns and turn on the Rammstein.

 

[WannaWitness]

I'm done accommodating folks like that. With that gentleman, I'd turn off the Casting Crowns and turn on the Rammstein.

Or ApologetiX!

(Wait a minute... maybe I'm not supposed to wink!)

 

[Norah63]

We have all had to deal with those who are always trying to straighten every one else out.
It reminds me of one e-mail;
of the wife who as she looked out the window, always thought her neighbors wash wasn't very clean, as it hung on the line. Then when the husband washed their kitchen window, she saw it wasn't the wash that was discolored, just the pane she was viewing it thru.
Several verses we can all think of on that one. I do enjoy the posts on this thread.
Instead of a rigid conviction, a heartfelt testimony would do wonders.
Building bridges is good, maintaining them is a safety lesson.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

Or ApologetiX!

(Wait a minute... maybe I'm not supposed to wink!)

ApolgetiX is good, but musically too gentle. Maybe Demon Hunter.

Rammstein isn't a Christian band at all, but secular German Industrial Metal.

 

[WannaWitness]

Instead of a rigid conviction, a heartfelt testimony would do wonders.

That's true. There is a big difference between a testimony and an off-the-wall thing along the lines of a "do-this-don't-do-that-or-you'll-burn-in-hell" type speech. A testimony makes for what examples of a true conviction can be, and therefore, are more relatable and taken more seriously.

 

[WannaWitness]

Rammstein isn't a Christian band at all, but secular German Industrial Metal.

I looked it up. Never heard of the band until you said something.

The thing about ApologetiX (and other acts like them) is that there are many who not only have a problem with the entire realm of CCM as it is (seeing it as an abomination to God, even in its mellowest form), but they really hate it when Christian words are put to such music, believing it's a bit irreverent at best, and a complete "perversion of Christianity" at worst. Never mind that some hymns were not only done in the style of the popular folk music of the day, but that a fair number of them were so-called "Christian remakes", and that's something that doesn't seem to cross their minds.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I looked it up. Never heard of the band until you said something.

The thing about ApologetiX (and other acts like them) is that there are many who not only have a problem with the entire realm of CCM as it is (seeing it as an abomination to God, even in its mellowest form), but they really hate it when Christian words are put to such music, believing it's a bit irreverent at best, and a complete "perversion of Christianity" at worst. Never mind that some hymns were not only done in the style of the popular folk music of the day, but that a fair number of them were so-called "Christian remakes", and that's something that doesn't seem to cross their minds.

True. I guess Demon Hunter (Christian Metal) would bother him more than Rammstein, and more than ApologetiX too.

 

[Norah63]

Reading thru the thread posts again this thought came to mind.
If when the church came togeather they would all confess their faults one to another. Then pray one for another. It would build bridges of understanding.
Pride doesn't like to confess faults, or ask for prayer. So it would go a long ways of keeping that down in the church meetings.
I once suggested this to a home church group, and was quickly straighted out that we don't confess our sins to anyone but God. Realizing that he didn't see the diffrence between fault and sin, I just remained quiet.
Jesus is our perfect bridge builder, and the one he built is eternal.

 

[WannaWitness]

Yes, feel free to ask questions and discuss anything regarding these articles and personal convictions. That's what this thread is for. And I can answer to the best of my ability, knowing that we all somehow will learn and benefit from one another.

Also: please feel free to contribute to this thread in the way of links, articles, and so on along these lines, for all (including myself) who may be interested in seeing them.