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Fundamental self-righteousness

Discussion in 'Fundamental Baptist Forum' started by MamaCW, May 9, 2011.

  1. MamaCW

    MamaCW New Member

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    It was mentioned that fundamental baptists have a self-righteous attitude and that we can't admit we aren't perfect..

    I'd have to agree...

    There's nothing more perfect than

    ~My bad temper.. and I have a pretty bad one..I say mean things when I'm angry (no cussing of course)...and I've been known to tear people down with my words..(and in the past with my fist but thats been a llooong time lol)
    ~My constant struggle with my flesh...I love music..and every time I hear a club song, rock song, pop song, or any non-traditional hymn in a public place.. I want to get on a go-go box and start dancing...or singing..or even just bounce my head...
    ~My occasional laziness/slothfulness...sometimes I just don't feel like doing anything quite frankly
    ~My occasional un-submissive attitude...I came from a home with a mother than was (and still is) on a raging power trip..she just likes to be in control...and I have that independent, domineering quality inside of me that's always trying to come out...
    ~My occasional struggle against letting my husband be the head of household God ordained him to be....every now and then I still get that "I was just fine taking care of myself before you showed up" mentality...
    and finally (not because this is the last one but because I dont want to go on forever..you are only allow 10,000 characters per post! lol)
    ~my constant struggle to be the perfect always in prayer, always reading my bible, always humble Christian........sometimes my pride says I DONT want to be humble..sometimes I don't feel like reading today's chapter or verse in the bible, sometimes I forget to pray...

    All joking and sarcasm aside...I know i'm not the only fundamental baptist here that struggles with things..I'm working on it EVERY DAY..I'm starting over EVERY DAY..I'm constantly reminding myself (and hearing my husband remind me too) of what I'm doing or thinking wrong.. I know for a FACT that I'm not perfect..and that I'm never going to be perfect...but I do know what the bible says..and despite my automatic nature to NOT want to obey what the bible says.. I also know I'm not going to try to deny what I know to be true... (ie, even though I know I can be independent, and make my own decisions, and answer only to myself..I will try my HARDEST to be a submissive wife that follows my husband's leadership because GOD tells me to)..

    yeah..just thought I'd air out some of my perfectly, self-righteous dirty laundry...

    anyone else want to join? I don't want to be the only honest one on here.. hehe
     
  2. dcorbett

    dcorbett Active Member
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    <<anyone else want to join? I don't want to be the only honest one on here..>>

    Sure, since I am the chief sinner, I don't mind!

    I struggle with:

    1) my mouth....I talk too much when I should listen more. I pray every day for God to help me keep my mouth shut when it is inappropriate to talk.

    2) my negativity - I pray every day for God to help me deal with my nit-picking and my "devil's advocate" behavior

    3) my lack of faith - I pray for God to help me trust Him more when it comes to my lost loved ones....I know God can do anything, I just have to trust Him to do anything...ya know what i am saying?

    There are more...I only scratched the surface....
     
  3. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    Ladies,

    You don't owe anyone any explanation. For one thing, it will do no good. Your self-abasement will neither abate nor placate the hostility of those who breathe the accusations, nor will it convince them. But most of all there is no one on this board to whom you must give account.
     
  4. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    Neither will it gain you points with God...
     
  5. MamaCW

    MamaCW New Member

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    I know this Aaron, but I still don't mind doing so as a testimony to myself..and it's also helped many relate to me more when I talk to others about Christ...many unsaved people I've talked to have the same view about Christians that some on here have about Fundamental Baptists..

    Now that's an obviously big DUH..
    no one was trying to gain points with God
     
  6. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    In some cases it bears saying...

    I've seen so many people locked into a works relationship with God, based on guilt and shame, that they cannot possibly live the gospel, which Jesus told us was to bring life, and that abundantly!
     
  7. DiamondLady

    DiamondLady New Member

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    The day I'm perfect....well it won't be here on earth! There is no amount of works possible that will ever make us right with God, nor will ever make us perfect. HOWEVER, I do sincerely appreciate the sisters sharing their hearts. I can understand perfectly what they are saying as those are things I believe most modern Christian women struggle with daily...especially allowing our husbands to be the God created Head of the Household. It's not easy not to treat our husbands like one of the kids and constantly tell them what to do...and I'm biting my tongue and sitting on my hands here because I really want to say how they are...oops, being quiet.

    I find if I simply do my best each day and let God handle the rest it works out pretty good.

    I am not quite clear on what you mean about not living the Gospel, I think I disagree with that. As for life abundant....I don't think I've ever had such an abundant life, my cup has run over into my saucer and it's running over onto the floor! :)
     
  8. MamaCW

    MamaCW New Member

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    Well that isn't the case here dear.. Never have I looked at anything I've done in Christ's name is a works relationship..nothing I do or have done is even worthy for heaven..and EVERY DAY I am thankful for God's grace because That alone is what is and will continue to keep me from where I, as a sinner, deserve to be...

    You get my point exactly DiamondLady!
    People will label some Christian's as "self-righteous" because that person may sometimes focus more on their strengths..I prefer to take the approach of focusing on my weaknesses because its a reminder to me of what I still need to work on daily, and it can serve as bringing people that struggle with the same issues together and help each other spiritually..thats part of what fellowship is about..

    I'm not doing this to prove myself TO someone..but I do this to prove that if people stopped judging prematurely, they may find that there's more in common between themselves and the believers in question..
     
  9. DiamondLady

    DiamondLady New Member

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    I always find if we will focus on the commonalities instead of the differences and stop trying to convince everyone else how wrong they are and how right we are we'd get along a lot better. I decided long ago it didn't matter what you believed as long as you believed that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord....the rest is man made religion and interpretation. Once we get to Heaven we're going to find that it didn't matter much anyway and we wasted a whole lot of time we should have spent doing more for the Kingdom of God.
     
  10. dcorbett

    dcorbett Active Member
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    As long as you have the steps to salvation correct, that is so true! Salvation is through faith and belief in the grace and mercy of God.

    What you do after that in your Christian life involves reading the Word and praying for guidance....in order to be sitting, standing, and walking in the will of God. It doesn't change your salvation status though!
     
  11. dcorbett

    dcorbett Active Member
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    nobody said it would!
     
  12. dcorbett

    dcorbett Active Member
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    sad for them....LIBERTY is a key word here, because most Christians don't understand liberty. I don't bear guilt, I am just being realistic about the areas I need God to help me with.
     
  13. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    I certainly understand where you ladies are coming from, but I don't think this thread would have been started if not for the onslaught in the 20/20 threads. The truth of that situation came out long ago, but a handful persist in their personal vendettas. Don't yield to it. Like I said, it will not have the desired effect.
     
  14. DiamondLady

    DiamondLady New Member

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    There are no STEPS to salvation, it's not a process it's an event. I think this is what messes people up so often and what causes doubt in their salvation later in their lives. So many think they have to say specific things, or be a certain place...none of which are true. We try to make something so simple, so hard. Christ said, believe and confess and that's it!

    As for reading the Word and praying for guidance, those enhance our walk but our salvation isn't dependent upon them, nor are they required for us being in God's will. It makes it EASIER to be in God's Will, it gives us a greater desire, but I believe God gives us the hunger for His Word, he gives us the desire to live our lives in constant prayer. I'm not sure there's any effort, other than obedience, on our part. I think it's sort of like faith...God gives us the faith we need to have faith.
     
  15. MamaCW

    MamaCW New Member

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    You are very right :) That thread gives me a headache now anyway hehe
     
  16. DiamondLady

    DiamondLady New Member

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    I have not read the 20/20 thread, and have no intention of doing so. I'm quite certain (after watching that program) there are many IFB members whose hair is on fire and they feel quite incensed at what they feel is an attack by a liberal media (can't tell you how many times I've heard THAT phrase!)

    The title of this thread appealed to me because of the word self-righteousness. You don't have to be IFB, SBC, AB, GB or whatever to have that word apply. Matter of fact, you're a little self-righteous in trying to tell us we shouldn't have this discussion. and I'm not sure it's your call as to whether or not something will have a desired effect, as you didn't start the thread and I don't think you're understanding MamaCW's intention here. If three of us get it and are willing to have this discussion and agree, then I think it's had its desired effect.
     
  17. MamaCW

    MamaCW New Member

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    Aaron's actually correct on that my dear..I started this because another poster basically said that all IFB's are in denial to the abuse in the churches, that we can't admit that we are not perfect, and that we have a self-righteous mentality..

    but you are very right in your point that self-righteousness is not limited to just specific camps...along with abuse...but not everyone got that memo.
     
  18. DiamondLady

    DiamondLady New Member

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    Oh, I figured, but I didn't like that he ASSUMED that's why the thread was started, he didn't ask you if that was what started it.

    I agree that self-righteousness, nor abuse, is limited to any one group....just ask the Roman Catholics!
     
  19. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
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    This is such a difficult topic because it can "get you" on both ends.

    You can be self-righteous and think that you can do no wrong, or you can be self-righteous through exaggerated humility.
     
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