Yeah, I don't think I've ever actually heard the phrase "the means justifying the end" -- only the other way around.Regarding salvation. . . the first thing that comes to my mind is the increasingly common method of "getting people saved" by having them perform some [i]action[/i]. Such as, "Just pray this prayer. If you really mean it with all your heart, you'll be saved." Or, "Walk to the front during the invitation if you want to be saved." In this case, the end DEFINITELY doesn't justify the means, because these methods are not authorized by God's Word. Salvation comes from Him, not from some act that we do. But many Christians are very well-meaning in telling these things to lost people. They want to see them saved. Unfortunately this has led to tons of people in the world who [i]think[/i] they're saved because they remember a specific act they did, and somebody with authority told them they were saved as a result. Concerning this topic, let me take the opportunity to spread the word about the [color=990000]True Church Conference[/color] which will be held at my church this May! The theme is "The Miracle of Conversion." Speakers include Voddie Baucham and Paul Washer. Check out this website: http://www.ait.fbcms.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=158&Itemid=38
_________________Jennifer Richardson
Thank you all. I have abetter understanding now.
tjservant wrote:Christ was the means (sacrifice) for the ends (our salvation). He provided the ends by being the means.
_________________Aaron Ireland
Thank you for posting this. I wasnt trying to present the Gospel, just give the original poster an example, but I guess I should have given the rest of it.Thank you.TJ
_________________TJ