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Promoting strength

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by stilllearning, Aug 20, 2013.

  1. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    The kind of “strength” that I am talking about is “Spiritual strength”....
    “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.”
    (Romans 14:1)


    This passage in Romans talks about two different kinds of Christians: Those that are “weak in the faith”, and those that are strong in the faith. And a big problem that a lot of pastors have had over the centuries, has been promoting weakness instead of strength. Now before I get into “how we can promote Spiritual strength”, lets look at how “Spiritual weakness” is promoted.

    One way a pastor promotes weakness, is by “throwing blankets” on things.
    For instance, preaching against having a TV in your home. This is throwing a blanket over everything that can come out of a TV, as evil or wicked or ungodly.
    This is just like throwing a blanket over sex, as evil or wicked and ungodly, when sex in marriage is a pure and beautiful thing.

    Every time a preacher preaches against “TV” or “Rock and Roll” or “the internet” etc, he is promoting weakness in his congregation. Because in reality, none of these things are evil or wicked or ungodly......
    “Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15)

    This has been done for hundreds of years and it always brings the same result. One of my favorite preachers Charles Spurgeon, used to regularly preach against gong to the theater, but the “Downgrade” continued!
    ------------------------
    Now for promoting strength, all a preacher has to do is “PREACH THE WORD”; And not what he has heard other preachers preach about.
    You can’t find one single word in the Bible about TV or Secular music, yet a lot of good men preach against these things, because “it is expected out of every solid preacher”, to preach against these things.

    If the man of God “Preaches the Word” alone, this will promote Spiritual strength, because it will “GROW” Christians in the faith.
     
  2. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

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    Most of the time you seem to tie everything to KJOnlyism. But, not this time. I actually agree with you. Some don't seem to understand the power of discernment when exercising their freedom from the letter of the law.
     
  3. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    Hello sag38

    Years ago, when I first started seeing this “situation”, I also considered it a “freedom issue”.
    (Having mostly to do with my freedom in Christ & exercising that freedom)
    But, I later realized that it is really a “faith issue”.

    That is, exercising my freedoms in these areas, is “an act of faith”.
    Just as choosing not to partake in these things(on my own), demonstrated “a lack of faith”.
    ------------------------
    Oh by the way, I can understand why you “may think” that I “tie everything” I say, to what you call KJOnlyism; That is because I restrict myself to “the Bible” as my only authority.
    (But I do not want to derail this thread.) Enough said!
     
  4. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Off topic post deleted
     
    #4 Van, Aug 21, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 21, 2013
  5. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    Nice try Van(to derail this thread)
    But this OP is not about Bible translations!
     
  6. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    SL,

    Great post!

    Thanks for sharing it!
     
  7. Gregory Perry Sr.

    Gregory Perry Sr. Active Member

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    Stay On Track!!

    Van...KJVO is NOT the subject of this thread....the strength or weakness of one's faith and the causes for each condition are....great OP Still Learning and thanks for some thought-provoking points. (I agree with you) It is easy to slip into the "Thou shalt NOT..." mode...but it is equally easy to slip into the "anything goes" mode as well. Sometimes the balance is a fine line...Amen?

    Bro.Greg:saint:
     
  8. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    What is the correct understanding of Romans 14:1. We are to welcome those without the strength to use robust faith to seek God's truth, but we should not encourage mistaken views, i.e. doubtful disputations.

    How do you promote building a robust faith?

    1) Never challenge your assumptions?

    2) Never consider alternate views?

    3) Never apply your "blanket" criticisms to yourself.
     
  9. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

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    We should not encourage mistaken views?? Did you really say that??? I would say you are an expert in that category.
     
  10. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Paul said it at Romans 14:1. Duh
     
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