| A question for Christians
Posted: 11/30/2005 10:55:33 PM | Though this question is addressed to fellow Christians, I am fairly certain we can count on others weighing in on this.
I mentioned Donald Millers book "Blue like Jazz" on the Post Modern thread but thought this item from his book deserved a thread of its own. As this book is on my "to buy" list I was over reading the reviews of it at Amazon. One thing I picked up is that Miller on his spiritual journey, which actually was a road travel journey, comes across a group of hippies out in the wilderness somewhere. Later Miller wonders why a group of hippies are more accepting of outsiders than many Churches are. The Church I am attending has many flaws, but accepting outsiders is not one of their flaws. I still read Millers point clearly. A raggamuffin would be booted out of many Churches and this is nothing new. The book "In His Steps" was wrote over 100 years ago and was based on the true story of a Minster who disguised himself as a bum to see how his parishioners would accept him. The question I am asking? How would the Church you attend act towards an outsider who did not "fit" the mold of the people in the congregation? | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 11/30/2005 11:01:54 PM | | RDtoo, well I'm not sure if that is true that are hippies were more accepting, they just have a differnt value set. And as for accepting someone into a Church, do you mean into the fellowship? I think Paul the apostle wrote about the early christians not being to "loving" to those that were less well off or on so well dressed..I guess we need more Sister Teresa's around, or at least try and emulate her.. | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 3 | |
| A question for Christians
Posted: 11/30/2005 11:12:44 PM | 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
kind of sums it up. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 11/30/2005 11:14:04 PM | | Some would "accept them" as they are, and others wouldn't. When I attended church, my church ran the Citys Mission. So we had alot of homeless people that came in, alot of mentally ill people that were bused in from the mission downtown every sunday. They were dressed in their normal street clothes, messy hair, smelled, etc. Some people welcomed them with open arms, and some stayed as far away as they could. Each individual will react differently. More human nature, than anything else too I think. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 11/30/2005 11:18:04 PM |
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
but who were Jesus' brethren??? | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 6 | |
| A question for Christians
Posted: 11/30/2005 11:34:15 PM | but who were Jesus' brethren???
Titus 3:2
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
Is this one better? | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 11/30/2005 11:44:16 PM | | Gee Funn1, I'm not sure, but didn't Jesus say somewhere that those that do the will of God are his brethren?? | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 8 | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 12:13:38 AM | | Hey you are the bible buff...I think when someone called to Jesus that his mother was wanting to speak to him, he replied who is my mother, who is my brother, they that do the will of God...Its in there go looking..Matt 13:48 | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 10 | |
| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 12:21:56 AM | I know the scripture.
Mark 3:32-34
32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
So what about it? God loves all and we should as well.
Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 12 | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 14 | |
| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 12:28:31 AM | | Matt 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 16 | |
| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 12:39:26 AM | | I know, all three gospels have the same things in them, thats why I put up the one in Mark. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 12:42:19 AM | Ok I found the verse in a bible program :-
(Mat 12:48 KJV) But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
(Mat 12:49 KJV) And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
(Mat 12:50 KJV) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
(Mat 13:1 KJV) The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 12:43:50 AM | Ok, well I guess I will quickly weigh in my two pence.
I was brought up in a christian village and attended church regularly on orders of my parents who wanted us to fit in.
Unfortunately for varius reasons I did not fit in with the church and the pastr asked my mum if there was somewhere else she could take me. He was very polite about it, but also very clear that he didn't wan't me in or even near his congregation.    | |
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funn1
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Joined: 1/8/2005
Msg: 19 | |
| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 12:51:00 AM | very clear that he didn't wan't me in or even near his congregation. Thats to bad, he should not have done that.
Jesus sat with whores and tax collectors and samaritans and called the religious leaders snakes.
Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
But he sat with the unclean.
My point we should help all and be loving, if someone rejects it thats on them but i did what i thought was right | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 4:44:03 AM | True churches should welcome everyone initially. After awhile of knowing the new member, if they show a different out look on salvation or a different belief structure than what the church is teaching-that person must go! If they are not, there to learn what the church is teaching. They will corrupt everyone else in that church. Let them find their own church that fits their beliefs.
If a pagan, witch wants to go to a church..let them..but, after awhile-if they're not getting with the program,....they must be asked to leave. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 8:26:21 AM |
The question I am asking? How would the Church you attend act towards an outsider who did not "fit" the mold of the people in the congregation?
The church fellowship I attend actually has a variety of specific ministries that help deal with the poor, homeless, widows, single parents, downtroden, etc, etc.
Sadly, there are also other 'churches' of other 'denominations' close by in the same city, that will not even accept your money in the offering plate when it is passed, if you are there for the first few times as a newcomer, fearing that, since they do not know you, you could be giving money from ill-gotten gain. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/1/2005 10:52:57 PM | | Canadian, you bring up an interesting point. Yes, Churches have various ministries. At our Church, there is a group who visits nursing homes on Sunday afternoons. Don't like old people? Hey, join the drama ministry. Don't want to sit in on the service? Join the Nursery ministry and watch the kids during the service. Of course I am being sarcastic. I realize we are all given different gifts or talents, but it is odd that the Church softball team has a waiting list to get on while perhaps 2 people show up to visit the old folks. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/2/2005 1:19:48 AM |
The Church I am attending has many flaws, but accepting outsiders is not one of their flaws.
RD, I hope you are still talking about the book when you say this... I hope you don't actually believe it is a flaw to accept outsiders.
After awhile of knowing the new member, if they show a different out look on salvation or a different belief structure than what the church is teaching-that person must go! If they are not, there to learn what the church is teaching. They will corrupt everyone else in that church.
*holds his hands out like a zombie* Must not allow those "different" ones in... must not allow them to say things against what is said by the all-mighty all-knowing one in the robe... must not let them teach us to question, or heaven forbid, think....
The question I am asking? How would the Church you attend act towards an outsider who did not "fit" the mold of the people in the congregation?
I won't sit here & pretend that every member in our church is accepting. However, I believe at least 90% of our church is accepting to anyone who walks into our sanctuary. I think the reason for that is that we have such a wide array of people who are members: young, old, rich, poor, intelligent, handicapped both physically & mentally, straight, gay, etc. | |
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| A question for Christians
Posted: 12/2/2005 6:35:09 AM | | Mr. Vocal, I thought that I worded that clearly but apparently I did not. Let me restate it. The Church that I attend welcomes anyone and everyone. | |
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