Hi DesiJr...
believe that church is the body of Christ.....is that not a biblical definition?The body of Christ should be a Holy place....do you not agree?Somehow, somewhere along the line people changed the church to a place that where nonbelievers get saved.
_________________Christopher
My brothers in Christ,I believe somewhere along the line we got a little sidetracked here. I am sorry if I was unclear in my posts.The i was moved to respond to the smoking issue because of the compromising that takes place.Every generation gets more and more bold to be more and more disrespectful of not only worldly things but things of Christ as well.This is not about the building. I never meant to say that the building was Holy. I was trying to say the gathering itself is Holy. Thats what makes it the body of Christ the believers in the gathering.I myself make alter calls in my home study group, plus my church does alter calls on Sunday. I believe it is a great way to establish relationships between believers and non-believers, in order to begin the descipleship process.But I would never consider anyone who responds to an alter call saved. I would never tell any other person that he is saved. That is not me to judge. That is only for God the Father to judge. And by telling people that we are giving them false security.So when you say that someone was smoking and then he is a child of God, I just put up a yellow flag and say, well brother,how long have you witnessed his pilgrimage. Have you seen him not only speak but move in a way that exemplifies someone who is walking with Christ? And if you have he is a Christian, or a disciple, or whatever you want to call him, but certainly not saved, yet.The point of my posting was you calling him saved and waiting until after the meeting to approach him. Instead I believe you should have paused the meeting for 30 seconds. Explain to him that smoking is not allowed at the meeting but you would love his attendance there. And move on with the meeting. If he didnt come to the Lord right then and there, its not your job. You stay true to the gospel and move forward. What do you think Jesus did when he went to the temple and saw people in sin at the temple? He kicked them out.When they repented they were allowed back I'm sure.we have grown soft to sin. I, like you, wish that ever last person who ever lived makes it to heaven. So my obligation to Christ is to witness and evangelize and disciple men. But at the same time without compromise.Did Jesus lower his standards for the Rich Young Ruler? No, he was sad that he couldn't forsake his sin but he didnt lower his standards.I love you guys,Desi, Jr.
I'm not an advocate for smoking in buildings (anywhere for that matter), but I'm wondering if the ones who Jesus threw out were hypocrites or blatant sinners?I wonder if these verses go along the same lines.1Cr 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 1Cr 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 1Cr 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. What does everyone think?
_________________Josh Parsley
My brother,I think the texts you site bring to mind that we are not to compromise the body of Christ with people who have made a desicion to be slaves to sin instead of Christ.Now if an unrepentant heart shows up to a service by all means don't kick him out.....but do not water down the gospel so this heathen won't be offended, but instead move forward with the preaching for the believers, and if he sticks around then we should move forward with a call for him to repent.Instead the body is to move out into the world and preach righteousness by word and example and bring new believers into the body of Christ.I think this is how the "seeker-sensitive" movement has grown to such power. We are preaching a gospel in the body to people who are not believers. When then are believers going to hear preachers of righteousness calling for holy living if the whole time pastors are preaching messages trying to appeal to the lost in the congregation. Messages for the lost should be preached in the streets not in the meeting of believers.My desire is the we honor Christs' sacrifice through Holy living and discipling the people that He has given us out of this world!Desi, Jr.