DivorceCare

You should question your judgment then. I have quite a bit of knowledge in this area. I am routinely involved in counseling divorced persons and people desiring to divorce. This week, I have spent more than ten hours in that type of ministry, and that is about normal. I would imagine that is probably as much or more than you spent in that type of ministry.

You are incorrect. (And the word you are looking for is "ditto.")

You are incorrect. I am routinely involved over an extended period of time with couples in this situation. If they did not believe I was compassionate, I imagine they would not tell me I am, and I imagine they would not keep coming back.

You are incorrect.

You are incorrect.

That wasn't clear, as was demonstrated. Furthermore, it was probably unwise. You need to be asking advice from a larger segment of people, including those who have knowledge of the area that you are interested which is church work.

So do what you want, but don't be so judgmental against those about whom you know nothing. It is not wise.

 

BTW, I find it interesting that you know so much about my "lack of knowledge" in dealing with divorce since I have (to my knowledge) said absolutely nothing about what I believe about divorce, or how I deal with people who want to divorce or who have been divorced.

So please tell me, how have you learned so much about my lack of knowledge since I have said nothing about the topic itself?

 

I would caution people very strongly against this idea. A person who has experienced something may know better how it feels, but they do not necessarily know better how to deal with it, particularly biblically. Often, unbiblical thinking is what got them there to begin with. (I am not saying always, and I am not saying you.)

I think this mentality sets up a dichotomy that says that people who have lived godly lives can't really help those who haven't, and we all need to go out and sin some in order to be able to really minister to people. I think that is not only dangerous; it is unbiblical.

The best qualified people to deal with troubled marriages are people who know the word of God and have a godly marriage. It is not people who used to have a bad one.

BTW, you still didn't tell me why you believe I have no compassion and lack knowledge on dealing with divorce and troubled marriages.

 

Givengrace,

Greetings. I would advise you to ignore the advice of those seeking to smother the flame that the Spirit has put in your hearts. I'm sure they mean well, but they seem to have things backwards.

God is the authority who is in charge of His people...not individual churches.

Right now I have no doubt that there is a fellowship somewhere that is looking for the very thing that you and your husband are annointed of God to minister, and I pray that you find each other in Gods timing.

God bless you.


:godisgood:

 

Givengrace, I am saying this in a friendly way: I hope you realize that you did post this request on a debate forum, so you shouldn't be surprised at some of the reactions. Maybe a thread in one of the non-debate forums might have worked best?

 

I assume you are talking about me and if so, then your comments are most unfortunate in two respects. First, as a practical and personal matter, I have not tried to smother any flames that the Holy Spirit has put in anyone's heart. I will be the first to admit that I don't know what the Holy Spirit has put in someone else's heart, and I would encourage you to take the same tack. Remember, you don't know anything about "givengrace" and so it might be wise to resist attributing this to the Holy Spirit (or saying it isn't of the Spirit). It may be of the Spirit. It may be selfish interest. I have no idea and I refuse to speculate. I encourage others to do the same. But I know both happen in "ministry."

Second, as a theological and practical matter, the dichotomy you make between the authority of God and the individual church is one the NT knows nothing about. The pattern of the NT is exclusively that God works through his church. Consider the sending of missionaries in ACts (something givengrace has talked about). There, the church sent them out.

Notice in Acts 13 how it is recorded for us: Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

Notice how the church fasts and prays, lays hand on them, and sends them out. And it says that they were sent out by the HOly Spirit.

The NT knows nothing of maverick believers out doing their own thing apart from the commissioning and sending of a local individual church.

As a side note, this is a matter of Baptist polity. And to post in the Baptist only forums, it is something that you really should subscribe to.

 

It's ok, you didn't realize you were dealing with the baptist unpardonable sin. :thumbs:

 

Larry,

You said...

I dont know how you could say that. The original poster clearly articulated that her and her husband have a heart felt compassion for people struggling in marriage, and want to minister to them. She indicated that since their current church cant facilitate a ministry like that, they were looking for another fellowship that could.

You then said...

Seems crystal clear to me.

But if she leaves her current fellowship, and finds another, she has not left the church. There is only one church on this earth...the body of Christ world wide. She would be leaving one *local* church for another *local* church...but she has not in any way left "THE CHURCH"...since Christs church is world wide.

The scriptures speak of local churches, and also of the "church universal".

But its not unreasonable to assume that she is not lying, or decieving us for some reason, and to correspond with her on that assumption that her stated motives are completely sincere.

I agree. But my "modus operendi" is to assume the best and proceed from there.

Yes, the scriptures do.

I agree 100%. His church consists of all of the born again people on earth, of which the vast majority are gathering together in local fellowships

I agree 100% with all of that.

Who said anything about "maverick" believers? Givengrace is looking for ANOTHER New Testament church that might be able to sponsor their ministry to divorced people.

Brother, another distictive in Baptist life is the doctrine known as "soul liberty". Its one of the reasons I am comfortable being a Baptist. The doctrine of soul liberty means that we believe that brothers and sisters have the right to their own convictions regarding belief and practice, and that those differences should not disturb our fellowship as brothers and sisters...assuming the differences are not foundational of course. (Denial of justification through faith alone, the triune nature of God, sola scriptura, etc etc)

So, I have no obligation whatsoever to agree with you regarding anything of this sort that we disagree on...unless you or God can convince me as to its truth.

Does your particular Baptist group NOT hold to the doctrine of "soul liberty"?

And in the same vein, since I am relatively new here, are these "Baptist Only" only forums only for *certain* Baptists, but not all Baptists?


:godisgood:

 

I've been quietly reading along. Givengrace - dear sister, you need to calm down and not take offence when others have simply been trying their best to answer the questions you initially posed. You left people confused as to what you were asking/stating. In fact, GG, your quote above IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE READ AND FULLY UNDERSTOOD what it is you're getting at. The point is GG, that you didn't clearly define any of this in your initial comments. That led to everyone (you included) going off on other tangents/getting snippy. Step back for one moment and consider that you might have left others confused with how you communicated your initial comments. In fact, dare I suggest (since DivorceCare is part of my church's ministry), that this is EXACTLY what you will be 'teaching' in your ministry you so obviously want to be part of. Will you not be 'teaching' by example, to those having gone thru divorce, that one of the necessary tools to prevent the same mistakes being made is more frequent and clearer communication?? Practice what you preach is a good start. By the way, I hope you are successful in getting you're DC group off the ground. I know it has been very successful in my church and blessed and encouraged many.

 

Yes, One called Jesus Christ. :love2:

 

Birds of a feather...