Accountability partners are not only biblical, it is necessary.
Accountability is not just for a time, it is for all times, and requires our discipline and dedication to keep at it. If we stop, we soon go back to our fears and complacency. When this happens, sin that before was of no consequence has now grown big and is knocking on your door. Commitment is essential to making anything that is precious work, from a friendship to marriage to being a member of a church. We must be committed and continual. Commitment brings about hope and growth through sacrifice, as we pour ourselves into it while being fueled by our Lord.
Local Churches Avoiding Addressing Gossip
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by saturneptune, Dec 1, 2013.
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righteousdude2 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
If the pastor preached on the evils of gossip!
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Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Then I have 3 that are with me constantly -
My wife and I were in a church where it was well known that most likely if you wanted to gossip about someone to a church leader then they were going to take you to talk with the person you were talking about. That would only have to happen a few times and gossip would slow down a lot.
In one church I pastored I spoke on the subject of gossip and it drew a lot of attention. One of the church leaders did not like it and started yelling at me. He waited for me after church and it was obvious he wanted to pick a fight. He was exposed as the trouble in the church but the church leaders did nothing. Today the church is steadily declining. They got a pastor who they liked and would listen to them but now they do not like him. -
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thisnumberdisconnected--obviously your experiences are different than mine.
But I've sat in churches where the membership DID NOT KNOW adultery was a sin. DID NOT KNOW lying is a sin. DID NOT KNOW stealing is a sin.
Why? Because they have uninformed consciences. Now, lots of us grew up in a time where even the rankest sinner DID know right from wrong.
But we now have a couple of generations that WERE NOT taught right from wrong at home. At school, they were taught relativism that told them THEY get to decide what is right and wrong FOR THEM. And then they were won by "friendship evangelism" to come and "be a part of our fellowship" but HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD there is such a thing as sin, hell, repentance, or salvation.
So NO, I'm not talking legalism, more talking basic education in right and wrong. I can "preach Christ" to you all day long as a loving elder brother (and He is), as our best teacher (and He is), or as a model for you to strive to emulate (and you should.)
And none of that will keep your kiester out of hell. The gospel ISN'T that God loves everybody no questions asked.
He DOES call us to repentance.
And if that offends any, so be it. -
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Perhaps the difference of opinion I hold with some of you is two fold based on experience.
Never been victim of legalism as some describe.
And I live in an insanely UNCHRISTIANIZED town. By that I mean not just folks unsaved, but generations since anyone in the family darkened the door of a church or opened a Bible.
They don't do the latter as it is considered just another book of fairy tales.
Those circling within so called Christendom would have different experience than us literally among the pagans. -
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