Opening up about sin?

[RJG21]

Hello-
I'm Ron 22yrs old and I love Jesus.

The Lord says seek Him and you will find Him...
Let us lay aside every weight and sin that so easily beset us and let us run the race with patience that is set before us...

I need to lay aside secular media(sports on TV, TV shows Movies, Music).
I need to lay aside binge watching fitness/nutrition videos on youtube.
I need to lay aside playing sports.
I need to lay aside occasionally watching pornography.
I need to lay aside being lazy and not taking action.

The Lord says seek with all your heart soul mind and strength.
I've been seeking half heartedly.

Seek first kingdom of God
Trust in The Lord
Count the cost
I need to give up everything and seek God with a fully devoted heart.
No distraction! No excuses! Get disciplined! Ask god for help and guidance! Take some serious action!

Jesus is worth it.
He died for me; I must live for him.

Thanks!

 

[Dave-W]

I can agree with your last 2 points.

However, on the others, unless the Lord has specifically told you to give those things up, to do so would be nothing more that legalism and self righteousness.

 

[John Hyperspace]

I can agree with your last 2 points.

However, on the others, unless the Lord has specifically told you to give those things up, to do so would be nothing more that legalism and self righteousness.

Why do you agree with the last two?

 

[RJG21]

I can agree with your last 2 points.

However, on the others, unless the Lord has specifically told you to give those things up, to do so would be nothing more that legalism and self righteousness.

Thanks for your comments.
Appreciate your thoughts.
What two points did you agree with?

I totally agree with you...if its not coming from God it's legalism.

I believe I'm being convicted by the Holy Spirit with scripture verses to make changes.
I believe a true follower of Christ will be fully devoted to Christ.
If it doesn't bring me closer to God; it's distracting me further away.
When The bible talks about if your not willing to give up everything your not fit for the kingdom. Those things are convicting me.

What are your thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Dave-W]

Why do you agree with the last two?

Because sexual sin (which includes porn) and laziness are both condemned as sinful in the Scriptures.

 

[Dave-W]

What two points did you agree with?

These 2:

I need to lay aside occasionally watching pornography.
I need to lay aside being lazy and not taking action.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Because sexual sin (which includes porn) and laziness are both condemned as sinful in the Scriptures.

How so? I know several people who say that dancing, sports, television/movies, most music is condemned by scripture. I know people who say that short hair on women and long hair on men is condemned by scripture. I know people who say that women wearing pants is condemned by scripture; or, any clothing other than a very long dress. I several churches that teach that electrical appliances are condemned by scripture. I know the Amish say the internet is condemned by scripture. There is even a thread on the forum suggesting being kind is condemned by scripture.

So why don't you agree with all of them as well? Are they wrong? Why are you right and they are wrong?

 

[Dave-W]

How so? I know several people who say that dancing, sports, television/movies, most music is condemned by scripture. I know people who say that short hair on women and long hair on men is condemned by scripture. I know people who say that women wearing pants is condemned by scripture; or, any clothing other than a very long dress. I several churches that teach that electrical appliances are condemned by scripture. I know the Amish say the internet is condemned by scripture. There is even a thread on the forum suggesting being kind is condemned by scripture.

So why don't you agree with all of them as well? Are they wrong? Why are you right and they are wrong?

Oh - I understand all of that. I grew up in Wesleyan Holiness culture which held to many of those prohibitions. Also include cards, dice and alcohol. (heard too many sermons on the evils of mouthwash and vanilla extract)

The thing is non of that can be supported in scripture if someone reads it without bias and looks at the original language sources and understands the culture of the writers and original audiences.

To answer your question - yes they are all wrong. They fall into the same trap the LORD warned us about:

Mark 7:7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’

 

[RJG21]

How so? I know several people who say that dancing, sports, television/movies, most music is condemned by scripture. I know people who say that short hair on women and long hair on men is condemned by scripture. I know people who say that women wearing pants is condemned by scripture; or, any clothing other than a very long dress. I several churches that teach that electrical appliances are condemned by scripture. I know the Amish say the internet is condemned by scripture. There is even a thread on the forum suggesting being kind is condemned by scripture.

So why don't you agree with all of them as well? Are they wrong? Why are you right and they are wrong?

Regarding who's right and wrong....
I believe only the Bible can decipher truth from error.
We need guidance from Holy Spirit to rightly divide the Word of God.
We would really need to go verse by verse and go into prayer to God to find the truth from error.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Oh - I understand all of that. I grew up in Wesleyan Holiness culture which held to many of those prohibitions. Also include cards, dice and alcohol. (heard too many sermons on the evils of mouthwash and vanilla extract)

The thing is non of that can be supported in scripture if someone reads it without bias and looks at the original language sources and understands the culture of the writers and original audiences.

The problem is that they would disagree. I've seen their scriptural support, and it has as much substance as your support is likely to have. But, you haven't yet cited scripture for support.

To answer your question - yes they are all wrong. They fall into the same trap the LORD warned us about:

Mark 7:7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’

It's easy to quote a scripture and claim "It means what I say it does" but sometimes we need actual support. I'm sure a great many people would claim both you and I are guilty of that passage. The question is, how do we know who is right, and, who is wrong? It's a very slippery slope, and wouldn't it be best to play it safe and become Amish, or, live in a cave? Then you could be sure. Or, would you really risk your soul in the hope that you were understanding correctly? It's a Pascal's Works-Wager of sorts.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Regarding who's right and wrong....
I believe only the Bible can decipher truth from error.
We need guidance from Holy Spirit to rightly divide the Word of God.
We would really need to go verse by verse and go into prayer to God to find the truth from error.

I agree but thus far you've not explained how you think those things are "sin" by scripture.

 

[RJG21]

I agree but thus far you've not explained how you think those things are "sin" by scripture.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 84 helpful votes
So, whether you eat or drink, orwhatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

James 4:4 ESV / 60 helpful votes
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.


Proverbs 17:4 ESV / 42 helpful votes
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

1 John 2:15-17 - Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (Read More...)

Colossians 3:2 - Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

John 15:19 - If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

 

[John Hyperspace]

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 84 helpful votes
So, whether you eat or drink, orwhatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

James 4:4 ESV / 60 helpful votes
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.


Proverbs 17:4 ESV / 42 helpful votes
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

1 John 2:15-17 - Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (Read More...)

Colossians 3:2 - Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

John 15:19 - If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Sounds like you're looking to become Amish? Might as well play it to the hilt. I've been where you're at before; I only discovered two options:

1. Depend solely on the grace of God.
2. Slippery slope into living in a cave wearing a burlap sack.

I went with option 1.

 

[Dave-W]

I've seen their scriptural support, and it has as much substance as your support is likely to have.

Not really. For something to be a universal sin, it needs to be explicitly laid out in scripture.

There is no mention of television, you tube, electrical appliances, cards, the internet etc. in scripture. They were not invented yet. As to men wearing pants and women wearing dresses, neither were invented yet. Even in NT times, the garb was a rectangular sheet wrapped around the body with tassels on the 4 corners. That was for both men and women.

What does not appear in scripture cannot have scriptural support.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Not really. For something to be a universal sin, it needs to be explicitly laid out in scripture.

And what does "specifically laid out" mean? Why did you agree with the last two things on the original post's list? But not the first three?

There is no mention of television, you tube, electrical appliances, cards, the internet etc. in scripture. They were not invented yet.

These things are cited to be "worldly" and "lustful/coveting/prideful": by your definition, porn can't be sinful either, since it wasn't invented in biblical times. But "lust" probably covers that one to you, yes? As it also covers "nothing but a long dress" and "dancing" and "electric guitars/saxophones" to others. Why is your understanding of "lust" right, and, their's wrong? How do you know where to draw the proverbial line?

As to men wearing pants and women wearing dresses, neither were invented yet.

Lust is the reason given. Women must not expose skin or they are guilty of causing lust. Thus, any woman wearing shorts or a t-shirt are condemned.

What does not appear in scripture cannot have scriptural support.

I do agree; but surely your'e not surprised that people can find scriptural justification for condemnation of just about anything they wish. Have you not seen the threads on the board, including this one? You only agreed with tw out of his entire list, then said the first three were "legalist" and "self-righteous": but he can justify them much as you will justify the last two. How can you be absolutely certain you're the one who is right, and, the Amish are the ones who are wrong?

Again, I would think you would play it safe and move to the wilderness and live off the land, wearing long dresses of drab earthly color. Why risk your eternal soul? It's Pascal's Works-Wager.

 

[Dave-W]

And what does "specifically laid out" mean? Why did you agree with the last two things on the original post's list? But not the first three?

Laziness is condemned very specifically. Do a bible word search on lazy and sluggard.

Lusting (sexually desiring someone not your spouse) is also condemned. Many english translations use the term "fornication" which includes sinful sexual lust. The Greek word is pornia and covers a multitude of sexual sins.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Laziness is condemned very specifically. Do a bible word search on lazy and sluggard.

Why not just quote me a few passages stating "laziness is a sin" or something like it. Also, what defines "lazy"? I'm willing to bet that you're lazy according to some people. Why are they wrong?

Lusting (sexually desiring someone not your spouse) is also condemned. Many english translations use the term "fornication" which includes sinful sexual lust. The Greek word is pornia and covers a multitude of sexual sins.

Okay, why are you defining "lust" only to mean "sexually desiring someone not your spouse"? Amish would say you're guilty of "lust of the eyes" just by taking part in the modern society and all of its "oh isn't this house great" and desire for new gadgets and "lusting" after worldly things. Are they wrong? Why?

In case you're not following what I'm saying; it's that you're never going to get off the slippery slope and should either live in a cave, or acknowledge that you have no idea how to define these things with any amount of biblical certainty. You're clearly not interested enough in "saving your soul" to take my "Pascal's Works Wager": and I don't blame you.

 

[Dave-W]

In case you're not following what I'm saying; it's that you're never going to get off the slippery slope and should either live in a cave, or acknowledge that you have no idea how to define these things with any amount of biblical certainty. You're clearly not interested enough in "saving your soul" to take my "Pascal's Works Wager": and I don't blame you.

I am following what you are saying and am rejecting it.

It is entirely possible to define those terms if one goes thru the effort to learn the original languages (at least to a small degree) and studies the culture and understanding of the original audience and author.

You clearly have not done that. Without that anchoring starting point you can take english words and phrases and do anything with them you like.

 

[John Hyperspace]

I am following what you are saying and am rejecting it.

Understandable. No one wants to change their lifestyle since to them their lifestyle is "perfectly Godly"; it's only "ungodly" to people looking in from the outside; people who have done "more than you" to make themselves righteous before God.

Without that anchoring starting point you can take english words and phrases and do anything with them you like.

Oh yes, I certainly agree with that.

 

[Dave-W]

No one wants to change their lifestyle since to them their lifestyle is "perfectly Godly"; it's only "ungodly" to people looking in from the outside;

And what exactly do you know about my "lifestyle??"