In Reply to: Re: Clergy example posted by Farmer on February 06, 2010 at 18:21:20:
Farmer:
Yeah--claiming a born-again experience doesn't necessarily mean having had one, or of having continued on to follow the Lord, at all.
Also, Calvinists, not known for fearing God while they believe OSAS--Presbyterian, all Reformed Theologians and several other denominations over the years), and/or/Faith Formula" adherents, KNOWN for trying to manipulate God and His Word, rank the highest for divorce--also not a surprise, these days. Probably a LOT of people who will say "Lord, Lord..." in the judgement, if you ask me.
As I mentioned before, churches and now "superchurches" get building/staff salary loans based on a running count of tithing members literally shown to banks--that's just a hard business fact.
Directly calling or inferring in any way that divorce is the opposite of what God call it (I.e.: something He literally HATES) may "grow the church" faster than preaching the truth, but what kind of church do you end up with, except a Laodician one?
So, as I was inferring, the count HAS TO BE SKEWED.
You have to be a REAL Christian, working on a REAL marriage to qualify, in God's tally; of that I am sure.
Mollycoddling people doctirnally/socially is NOT preaching/teaching the Gospel; IMO.
Teaching OTHER than 1 Cor 6 and Gal 5 (the ENTIRE LIST in both passages) about, say, homosexuality (condoned in MANY of t he "churches" listed by Barna, and/OR every OTHER habitial/unrepented sin listed there having ANY other consequence than specifically "...NOT inheriti[ing] the Kingdom of God" is blasphemy. I do not care what else anybody says on t he matter; other than to say 'I BEG YOU--be reconciled to God".
Got to go for now! 'Bye
OT2