Epistle to America

Uh oh... I have a feeling some will jump on this post...

Imagine saying a Christian can sin even the big sins....
WOW...

Time for the hardhats folks!

 

I dont have a hardhat, so its a good thing I have a hardhead!!!!:laugh:

AJ

 

I think this discussion has invoked the "rainbowchristians banner." :laugh:
Look at the two "gay" christian" guys in it on one side and the two girls on the other. :laugh:

 

One more post just to get off that 666 number.

 

Nuff said, and forgive me also, I was sort of smart mouthed in that I already knew the answer. More to say... at a different time. I have a tendency to scarcasm that I have to guard against. Most of my posts never see the "Submit Reply" button after careful consideration and prayer. And CCM has me done for the night.... no not C Christian Music. Cancer, chemo, and meds. Live to fight another day. Hope God blesses you exceedingly.

 

Okay Tim.... back on the job.... and this rant of yours (I call it that because you did) I find at least slightly objectionable. You seem to convey (and by that I simply mean that "to me" you seems to convey) that if everyone was as afire about the gospel as you are, we could live in a wonderful world, and that all types of folks could get saved.

I am going to start with CCM because I think that is something you find desirable for worship and attracting the unchurched. Granted I appreciate some CCM. I find it a pleasant experience to listen to it on the job, and think some of the exceptional songs make great "specials" during the song service. (what some would call praise and worship) I also think that in a number of years some of the songs will make their way into our hymnals and that in say year 2043 people will be defending them against the CCM of the day. I'm sure they will replace some of the less appreciated and or less used songs of our current hymnals. They will pass the test of time and become accepted. There is also a lot of what is on Christian radio and perhaps in church praise and worship that I would be hard pressed to identify as Christian unless I studied a copy of the lyrics so I would know what I was listening to. We personally change the channel to oldies but goodies at times because the so called Christian radio station isn't inspiring and doesn't sound any different than the local rock n roll stuff.

I'm also a firm believer in the autonomy of the local church...... whether it is affiliated with an association or independent. And that means we don't have to use CCM. We can for our own reasons, within our own doors, be as you call Anti-CCM. And we don't have to feel we are being unsymphathetic to the unchurched because we aren't taking their preferences in to account when we conduct our services.

We are well aware that we could have bigger crowds if we played AC/DC and served tap beer. And we could even take in more money with a cover charge than passing the plate. But as you see I am now digressing into the sarcasm that I warned you about. Tempted to delete this last paragraph but will leave it as a feeble attempt to prove a point. And yes, I acknowledge feeble.

Later today, or perhaps tommorrow after I get back from my chemo treatment, I'm gonna have some things to comment on the KJVOism. Don't ya just love the way I throw this chemo thing in from time to time to appeal for sympathy vote. (Even use it at church, though I'm really doing quite well, to try to get the ladies to bake stuff to send over to the house.)
And as before, may God richly bless you Tim. And as your authorized spokesperson the same for rbell.

 

I didn't mean to sound like I have it all together... I am preaching (ranting) to me and about me as much as anyone else!
I have a legalistic tendancy in me that I would love to shake... and I have to constantly remind myself that Jesus died for others not like me! So Don't think I think I am on fire and others need to be like me... I hope others aren't like me in a lot of ways...

I agree... there is some CCM that I run from!!! But at the same time, I, like you, believe some (possibly "Above All", or "Amazing Grace My chains are gone") will be in future hymn books...

Which reminds me, I had the privelege to see a 1878 hymnal this past week.. .most songs in it, I have never heard of.

I am also reminded about something that happened last night...
Remember the TV show that used to be on Sunday mornings in the 70s called "Gospel Jubilee?" The Florida Boys hosted it, and it had the Hinson's, Inspirations, Speers, Happy Goodmans, etc.
Well, I was in Dollar General last night, and I found some DVDs of the show... for $5 each... I bought two one of the Hinsons and one of the Inspirations... I was up at midnight last night watching them! Memories flooded by mind.

Absolutely!!! We use many different types of songs... and every church must follow God the way it seems fit. I for one hate to hear the argument that we must use CCM to reach out to the younger crowd.
I use CCM (or probably more appropriate to call what I use "praise and worship") to worship God.. not attract people. God's Spirit attracts people. Music is not bait... it is a tool to lead us into worship.

But churches that do that are not concerned about worship.. they are concerned about their own image in the world, and numbers. Again, I use different types of music because our church enjoys worshipping using different types of music. Last week we combined Casting Crown's "East to west" with "I'll fly away" bluegrass style, and we used "Rock of Ages" in old hymn style, and even had an old hymn lined out, while a lady played a dulcimer, and cello! If that isn't blended, nothing is!

My rant wasn't really about KJVOism, or CCMism... I was trying to explain that many never try to understand the other side, and will only listen to preachers that believe the same thing they do...

I am not KJVO... therefore, my tendancy is to not listen to KJVO preachers.. but I have forced myself because I NEED too in order to better educate myself.

I am not anti-CCM, but I have listened to preachers that were.. I have read a lot of books from authors that are because to be fair, I have to.

And this goes for a lot of Doctrines we are not used to.
If a person beleives something just because a former pastor or Sunday School teacher tells them too, their faith is not founded in Scripture.. it is founded in the faith of the person that told them.

I want to encourage everyone to do their own homework... then once you work through your doctrinal belief point by point.. you can then say you stand on scripture.

That is what good teachers do.. they don't tell you what they believe.. they give you many different sides of a doctrine, and they force you to work through the beliefs to find the ones that line up with your belief.

Gotta do whatcha gotta do! Church ladies' food is always a good thing!

 

Would have been back sooner but had a couple of rough days. Never fun not feeling well. I don't think there is a lot more to discuss here. You obviously have strong feelings along certain lines and I am not naive enough to think you need instruction from me. I am very much KJVO for myself. That is not to say I think everyone else is hell bound because they don't share my opinion. Others have already said more eloquently anything I could say. http://www.av1611.org/kjv/reagan.html I think this just about sums up my feelings.

The greatest fault I find with the arguments the new translators make....... are that they seem to declare that we do not today have the infallable word of God...... because we don't have the originals. Or even worse, that unless you have advanced degrees in greek and hebrew.... you won't be able to understand what you are reading anyway.

I understand the frustration of trying to bring people to a knowledge of Christ and not having them understand the gospel. But in my mind that is not because the book is misunderstandable. It is because God has not or hopefully we can say "not yet" opened their hearts to receive his words.

Course I have previously made know that I am of the as you would call "calvanist" camp. I believe our work is to declare the mighty works of God. Or declare the Gospel. And the holy spirits job is to guide the understanding.

Others not of the same beliefs may feel it is their job to impart the understanding... and in that case, good luck, but I think you are trying to do something that wasn't given you to do.