Standards vs Personal Liberty

I'm not being defensive, I just will not attend a legalistic church, telling me which bible I can use, if I can wear pants, or how long my hair should be, what kind of car is acceptable, wrong color of shoes, etc. some act as if others salvation hang son it, as if they are disobedient to God when it's man's rules not God's.

 

I believe a church should teach high standards. You know, stuff like mercy and justice and compassion.

Only when we get that done should we worry so much about who's hair is short or long or what Janie and Johnny are wearing.

 

Taboos and what is conservative change. It used to be years ago that what the prostitutes once wore is much of what the conservative women wear today. Things like particular under garments and make up.

 

Menangeriekeeper posted...

God have mercy.

God have more mercy.

God have overflowing oceans of mercy.

Its churches like that that make me want to SCREAM!!!

 

This is for the OPer - Where did you get the term "Personal Liberty" from?

 

Thank You Salty!
My understanding of "Individual soul liberty" would be that each of us have the responsibility to live and worship God according to the dictates of our hearts based on His Word and not forcing others to believe or be a member of our Church who do not agree. Example:The RCC forcing those who would not agree with them to convert or die. Was this what you are meaning or am I way off here? Or are you referring to what one might consider gray areas where principles (from scripture) are used verses clear "Thus saith the Lord"? That those within the Church may believe different?

I believe that the Church is responsible to hold High Godly Standards and Practices, to not allow worldiness to reign in the Church. Keeping in mind that each church is "Christ's Church." And He is the one who has set the Standards which the principles of separation from the world (worldliness) and ungodliness apply. Then there is the aspect of "Christian Liberty" which means that we are free (when saved) from the power to live according to those fleshly desires (our desires) that would include living worldly and/or ungodly to live holy (seperated) and righteous lives. Of course that is through the power of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5). Is not the Church to be Holding up God's Standards and not man's. I think so. I for one want to attend a Church that is a godly influence on those within and without. The Church should be a godly influence on the world, not the world being a ungodly influence on the Church, and I believe that many Church's today have allowed this influence by wordly Christians just to keep people or to get others to join. There main interest (so it seems) is to be Worldly Mega Churches instead of seperated, godly Churches. It seems more and more that those Churches that continue to hold high the standards are even being judged, condemned and ridiculed by Christians who claim to be godly. I have to say that those who claim they are going to do, dress, act, however they want are now those who are judging those who say if you come to my Church you will be challenged to live seperated, godly lives. And yes I am sure there are Churches that have high standards that are self-righteous, and judgmental of others. But the same is true of those who judge all Churches who hold high standards with the same brush. You now have become judgmental and unloving and unyeilding against those who give clear priciples to back up godly living. It seems as though you have become what you detest. Enough said. Please don't judge me or my Church for endeavoring to live according to the Word of God in the Power of the Spirit of God. And I believe (with conviction) that every Church is to be doing the same according to the Word of God.

 

I believe it to mean both and everything in between.

Worldliness can be a highly subjective word and each must determine for himself/herself if a particular activity is "worldly". That is where the trouble starts. See in my particular example of wearing pants my mother insisted that I wear them (for reasons pecurliar to herself perhaps, but legitimate nonetheless) while my church was equally insistant that I NOT wear pants if I wanted to be a "good" Christian, rather than one who was too aligned with the world. Very confusing to me as a teen. Who was I too believe?

The comprimise then was for me to wear dresses to church activities and pants at home, though my mother didn't hesitate to let her feelings be known every time I headed to church for a car wash or something other than worship! (In her mind dresses were okay for worship because in that case it was presenting our best to the Lord, though her best was often a nice pair of pants so she didn't go often!)

As I grew older and became more mature as a Christian I found that pants wearing right along with playing cards, dancing and tobacco use wasn't even mentioned in the Bible! And gasp, the apostles even threw lots (gambling!) in order to choose Judas' replacement! How to settle the question?

Well soul liberty settles it quite easily. This passage in particular:

1Co 10:29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
1Co 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.