Conform To The World

SFIC,

I think the verse is pointed at those who would subvert the Christian gospel. Jesus ate often with sinners.

It seems to me that you use the gospel to justify your prejudices. Do you really think that many are going to come under conviction by someone simply telling them that they are going to hell? Do you really want to see others saved? Because it sounds more like you enjoy telling those who are different that they are going to hell.

 

Charles, that is my understanding of the verse too -- It's false teachers of the gospel that I shouldn't bring into my house because it would give credence to their teaching when none was due.

I am dismayed by parts of this thread. Feed the hungry and then tell, doctor the hurts and tell about the Master Healer as ointment is applied. Give the poor and the sick a helping hand and let them see Christ's love as we minister so that our words mean something.

 

Yeah, we can't be associating with sinners... we may catch something!!!
Sinner cooties... oooooeeeewwww Stay away from sinners....

eeek, there comes one Ma... quick hide....
Kids turn off that TV....
Get those lights off....
shhhhh.... Quiet....
.
.
.
.
are they gone yet?
.
.
.
They left...good... don't want to influence them in anyway...
Why, if we invited them to church, they just might show up, and we can't allow someone like THAT in our church.
Why, they may bring in an NIV, and listen to CCM, and allow the women to talk and wear pants... why, what example would that set for our perfect teens. They may even invite other sinners... NOOoO. WE can't have that.
We must keep our nice little country church pure.
A sinner free zone is what I call it.
Jesus must be soo proud of us!!!


:1_grouphug:
:BangHead:
It must be nice to be perfect...

As for me, I will go on trying to win others to Christ.
Because I know what Christ saved me from, and I want to see others saved.. If that goes against YOUR theology, deal with it!!!!

We will sort it out in Heaven.

 

Not mocking, but upholding the Word of God...
"Go into ALL the world" not just around people of the same culture.

If you don't want to win souls by being around them, then tell me how do you do it? Are you for the Angry Street Preacher that stands on the corners and yells, "Turn or Burn, you sinners"?

Tell me SFIC, how do you win souls to Christ?
I believe in building a relationship, and then leading them to Christ.
How do you do it? And is it effective?
My method is for me.
If yours is effective, then praise God!!

If it is not, then, may I suggest using something different.
Just telling people, "you are going to Hell" is not enough, they must hear how to be saved.

If I was a sinner, and you came to my house, and told me, "you are going to Hell", I would show you where the door is.

But if you allowed the Holy Spirit to convince me of that, and then told me how to escape Hell, I would listen.

 

I'll tell you what, I'll list 3 types of People, and you tell me how you would witness to them:

Muslim
Gang banger
drunk

 

What is your definition of success or effective? This goes right back to an earlier post which I will find and quote again.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Here is the post I was referring to.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I think I agree with you on this one Joseph...

You are a success if you just witness.
You are effective if you lead someone to Christ
YOu can be a success even if you are not effective.

But you cannot be a success if you refuse to go around sinners.
Nor can you be effective.

I see them as 2 different things.

I define effective as "producing a desired effect"
As in witnessing, the desired effect is leading someone to the Lord.

I define success as doing what we are called to do, and that is just being a witness.

 

I would argue that if one is obedient to the call of God to witness to the lost, then one has fulfilled their call to God. They are not only successful in the eyes of God, but also effective to what God has willed for their ministry. It is God who is effective in drawing the elect unto him and saving them.

But, let me ask you the follow up question to illustrate my point:

Was Isaiah effective in his ministry when it came to convincing Israel to repent? Was Jesus effective in his witness to the Pharisees?

Joseph Botwinick

 

Those are 2 very good points and I will ponder those.
Isaiah was told in the beginning that they would not repent.
Jesus knew also that the pharisees were, well Pharisees.

I believe both were successful in fullfilling their call, and were effective in what they set out to do.
But strictly speaking, Isaiah did not effect a change in Isreal, while Jesus did effect change in at least 2 Pharisees, maybe more...
I am thinking of Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimethema (sp)

Thanks Joseph, now you got my brain turning, and I was going to bed...

 

I don't know if this is steel sharpining steel but the more I thought about past events Maybe you and SFIC are correct and I should stop inviting in the JW. Maybe it's not worth it for me to chase them down the street and tell them how offended I am that they skipped my house. Maybe they are following this same concept and I should just accept it as we both agree to disagree.

In other words, what I thought I was doing for the Kingdom I was really doing for myself and own gratification. Thanks Guys, I will take this into constant prayer until the Lord makes me sure what he wants and expects of me. I never took this verse in this light, but it appears most commentators agree with SFIC.

 

All of the local churches in the Bible are house churches. Therefore, if a lost person came to church they came to a believer's home. In fact, there are still house churches all over the world. So, do you agree that unbelievers should be allowed to come to church? If so, shouldn't he be invited to the home of a house church pastor?