Poster | Thread | StarofG0D Member
Joined: 2007/10/28 Posts: 1232 United States
| In the Battle Between Church & Strip Club: Love Wins! | | In the Battle Between Church & Strip Club: Love Wins! Update on previous blog: Strippers Fight Back
After hearing breaking news about women from an Ohio strip club showing up to protest at a local church that had been picketing their club for years, our friends from JCs Girls in San Diego decided to show up. And I mean literally. They got on a plane and went to the strip club in Ohio to love on the girls.
What happened next is truly incredible. On Day 1, they had the opportunity to visit the strip club dressing room, tell share their stories, and tell them how much God loves them. They were met with open ears and open hearts.
On Day 2, knowing that God can change things around through Love, they decided to reach out to the Pastor of the church that had been protesting. There too, they were met with open hearts and ultimately invited to speak to the entire church on Sunday. They invited the congregation to CHANGE THE FACE OF CHRISTIANITY by standing with us and truly LOVING Gods Beautiful Girls just as Jesus would. The people of New Life Ministries Church rose to the call and committed to loving their community, beginning with the women who worked at the local strip club. They went to the women, loved them, hugged them and even sought forgiveness from them. The Pastor himself promised one woman he would not fail her.
Even the Pastor and Strip Club Owner have reconciled and scheduled a lunch date! My heart is touched and inspired by this story. It is amazing to see what happens when we fulfill the mandate of Love that is placed on our lives. I believe that this community will never be the same.
http://iamatreasure.com/2010/08/in-the-battle-between-church-strip-club-love-wins/
_________________ Michelle
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| 2010/8/28 15:44 | Profile | sojourner7 Member
Joined: 2007/6/27 Posts: 1573 Omaha, NE
| Re: In the Battle Between Church & Strip Club: Love Wins! | | Love believes, love hopes, love endures. LOVE NEVER FAILS !! _________________ Martin G. Smith
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| 2010/8/28 16:32 | Profile |
| Re: In the Battle Between Church & Strip Club: Love Wins! | | dear sister Michelle, that is REALLY good news, God bless you for sharing that story/testimony. with all the dark dire news and junk flowing about on the airwaves/internet et al, that's the kind of good news we need to keep us going, to encourage us and to model our own lives/personal ministries.
neil |
| 2010/8/28 17:41 | | narrowpath Member
Joined: 2005/1/9 Posts: 1522 Germany NRW
| Re: In the Battle Between Church & Strip Club: Love Wins! | | I do not understand.
What good comes out of this when the girls are just being loved and embraced by the christians and still continue in their wicked ways?
Is this the "gospel of tolerance" that tells people, God loves you as you are, you are soo valuable to God, just accept his love there is nothing wrong with you?
I do not think that campaigning and protesting with banners and megaphones is the right way either.
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| 2010/8/28 18:06 | Profile | StarofG0D Member
Joined: 2007/10/28 Posts: 1232 United States
| Re: | | Thanks Neil! :) What makes it even better is that this was only 40 minutes from where I grew up. I love to hear about God moving in/near my hometown. _________________ Michelle
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| 2010/8/28 18:07 | Profile | knitefall Member
Joined: 2010/3/2 Posts: 253
| what I'm talking about! | | See JimP, this is what I'm talking about! I was about to leave SI but then I seen there are some folk who know what love is.
It works much better to witness with no condemnation doesn't it? |
| 2010/8/28 18:55 | Profile | DHuff Member
Joined: 2009/5/9 Posts: 64 Atlanta
| Re: | | I'm confused as well. Maybe I'm missing some of the details of some of the conversations between the church and the women .....
What I do know is that the Lord Jesus, our example in all things, often showed love to the unlovely -- but it included Him exhorting them to go and sin no more. Let's ask ourselves how He would respond to these women.
Christians certainly shouldn't be mean-spirited, but Ephesians 4:15 tells us not just to love, but to speak the truth in love. All parents understand (or should) that showing love to children sometimes includes disciplining them.
Showing love to women caught up in a sinful profession like theirs may open the door of dialog, but only the Truth will ultimately set them free. _________________ David
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| 2010/8/28 19:23 | Profile | Lysa Member
Joined: 2008/10/25 Posts: 3699 East TN for now!
| Re: In the Battle Between Church & Strip Club: Love Wins! | |
Quote:
narrowpath wrote: What good comes out of this when the girls are just being loved and embraced by the christians and still continue in their wicked ways?
I'm sorry, I have something to ask. Where would you be if God had said, "Narrow can't stop some of his wicked ways, so I'm going to hold off on saving him." How long was the time from when you got saved until you stopped your wicked ways?
Matt 10.8 says, "freely ye have received, freely give." No where in the Word does it say or even allude to that if 'wicked ways' are still happening, the cost of giving goes up!
Quote:
DHuff wrote: What I do know is that the Lord Jesus, our example in all things, often showed love to the unlovely -- but it included Him exhorting them to go and sin no more.
In Luke 14.22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
It doesn't say anywhere here that the Lord told them to go and sin no more; did I miss it if it was there?
God called us to love, period, no judgment (that's His job), so I beseech you to please read the following Scriptures on love...
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 13.10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Galatians 5.13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
1Tim 1.5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; 7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
You know what? I'm not where I was 5 years ago, let alone 10 years ago or 25 but thank God Jesus believed in me!
God bless you, Lisa _________________ Lisa
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| 2010/8/28 21:33 | Profile | DHuff Member
Joined: 2009/5/9 Posts: 64 Atlanta
| Re: | | Good words, Lisa, and thanks for sharing those passages. Like I mentioned, I realize I don't have all the information about the encounters between the church and the ladies, and I'm definitely glad that believers are taking the initiative to be loving toward them.
When I was a young unbeliever, God ministered to me, and revealed himself to me, through some very loving, more mature Christians. I'm grateful that they loved me just where I was (which is Scriptural), but I'm even more glad that they share the entire Gospel message with me -- including the parts about repentance and putting away my sinful lifestyle (which is also Scriptural).
I guess my point was that I trust the believers who are spending time with these ladies will do both.
"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (Luke 15:7)
In Christ, David _________________ David
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| 2010/8/28 21:49 | Profile | StarofG0D Member
Joined: 2007/10/28 Posts: 1232 United States
| Re: | | Quote:
You know what? I'm not where I was 5 years ago, let alone 10 years ago or 25 but thank God Jesus believed in me!
jesus loves women! and Lysa you inspire me!
DHuff, Some of the women witnessing used to be strippers as well, and i'm pretty sure they are not anymore. So I would think they are also telling these women that what they are doing is sinful and not at all pleasing to the Lord.
Just because someone isn't rebuking sin like a pharisee doesn't mean they're easy-believism either. _________________ Michelle
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| 2010/8/28 23:37 | Profile |
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