All well and good Cris413, but see the part of Liberal CHRISTIAN that says CHRISTIAN - guess what that means - I'll give you a clue it means we are Christians and just incase you don't know what that means, it means we have asked Christ into our lives as Saviour and Lord.
Seeing as Christ is already our Lord and Saviour, try instead of wasting your energy on fellow Christians to take the message to non believers
<my bold emphasis added>
My post wasn't about judging anyone's salvation...nor was it about whom may or may not call themselves a Christian. But rather consideration if it is indeed loving, Christ-like or Christian to support and encourage others to embrace and remain in their sin nature, refute the Scriptures and NOT share the TRUTH of Gods Word in love.
It was about a mindset as noted in the statement of purpose in WWMC . the Liberal section of the faith groups in these forums
And apparently these are indeed tenets of the liberal mindset that they believe supports their foundational beliefs as Christians. That sexual immorality is not a sin and the Scriptures are a good resource but errant.
Of course to support that sin is not sin Scripture MUST be errant because Scripture DOES NOT SUPPORT NOR DOES IT ENCOURAGE EMBRACING AND REMAINING IN OUR SIN NATURE.
Those were the issues I was addressing in my post nothing toward you nor anyone else personally yet you found it necessary to treat me accusatorily with disdain personally why? I can guess why because you and sadly many like you simply automatically assume that because Im conservative or stand firm for conservative values in Christianity that makes me enemy doesnt matter what I actually posted.
And then you ungraciously turn around and commit the same offence you accuse others of committing. Criticizing the examples set by others regarding worthiness to be called a Christian. (speck meet plank) Especially when Ive repeatedly read throughout the thread NO ONE is judging the salvation of anyone.
And heres the thingy about that judge not so often spoken in error
Mat 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
And while Christians are called to love unconditionally this by no means teaches us we are called to unconditional APPROVAL of sin and our sin nature.
This Scripture goes on to teach:
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Jesus is not teaching us we can not judge the words and deeds (fruit) of others we are certainly called to do so however we are called to do so with fairness and by Gods standards not our own.
In Jesus time Rabbis would judge by two measures one of justice and one of mercy if we judge by justice we will be judged by justice if we judge by mercy we will be judged by mercy
How do I expect to be judged by God by both justice and mercy. And that is how we are to judge with justice and mercy.
And, personally, I have no qualm about judging statements of faith (purpose) or doctrine, words and deeds according to the full measure of the Word of God.
.which IMHO the same certainly can not be said with confidence regarding statements of faith/beliefs that say sin is not sin and that the Word of God is errant and nothing more than a resource.
Why is it do you think God gave us His word? So we would learn His nature and character His holiness, His righteousness and His sovereignty of course no one in our finite understanding can ever grasp the fullness of Gods holiness and righteousness which is why we TRUST by faith that what God says about Himself, through His Word is absolutely, unconditionally 100% TRUE no exception.
God also gave us His Word so we would also understand the inherent depravity of our sin nature just how extremely short we all fall from the glory of God and how great His love is that even in His holiness, righteousness and sovereignty He loves us anyway and desires none should perish
Without our full understanding of our sin nature and the consequences of sin there is simply no understanding for the desperate NEED of our Savior and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that CHANGES lives as we are justified AND sanctified through Christ Jesus. Christ in us and us in Him.
Both justice and mercy will be served at Gods throne .However tragically many will indeed perish because they thought the path they were on was of no consequence and God will show mercy without justice because they were led to believe that because of His great agape love we could remain in our sin.
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Mat 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Difficult is the way why:
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
Joh 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
So what say we then in order to bring people to the saving grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus just say sin isnt really sin .because exposing evil deeds turns people off so lets lead them to a god that is more palatable and their deeds can remain hidden and we can all feel good about being Christians because we believe in the god we created without that whole sacrificial life and annoyance of repentance.
The mindset that tells people sin is not sin and that Gods Word is errant and nothing more than a guideline or a resource .to be blunt .one may as well be holding open the wide gate and herding people through it like cattle being led to slaughter .where there is no mercy and justice is served because sin must be separated from the glory of God BECAUSE of His Holiness and righteousness.
You mentioned fulfilling the Great Commission. What is the command? To make DISCIPLES.
What is a DISCIPLE? A Christian disciple would be one that follows the teaching of Christ Jesus God incarnate ALL of it not just the portions we find pleasing and comfortable and acceptable to others. And where do we find His teachings? In Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. To refute the authenticity of Gods Word is to refute God Himself. Period.
And are we about making disciples of God Almighty or some god we have created for ourselves that is more pleasing to others and more accepting of sin?
And interestingly .continuing on in Matthew, regarding judging we find:
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
I Never Knew You
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Build on the Rock
Mat 7:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
Mat 7:25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Mat 7:26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
Mat 7:27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Mat 7:28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,
Mat 7:29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Funny how God arranges and shares His teachings in such order huh?
And just to backtrack a mo
God brings the point home in His teaching in Matthew regarding unrighteous judgment:
Mat 7:3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
A little self-examination goes a long way.
My thoughts were (are) not shared in anger nor were they shared as a personal condemnation toward anyone only against the mindset and degradation of TRUTH that could lead others into a false sense of temporal well-being AND more importantly possibly through the wide gate into eternal separation from the glory of God.
Receive this as you will I thought and prayed long and hard before replying to you directly as there is really little need to defend myself I will never be ashamed for standing firmly on Gods Word.
...however I felt compelled to add some clarification and to bring to light what Scripture actually says regarding this judging thingy considering the portion of your last post I noted in bold
Receive it or not as you will.
Peace.
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