Posted by Mister Metal on September 21, 2002 at 09:07:08:
In Reply to: Re: touchy subject but it has to be talked about regardless... posted by quequel on September 20, 2002 at 23:54:31:
: : Yes, I know Pastor Steve is the one to discuss this with, but here's my experience. Sin is sin, there is no big or small. As we grow in our very personal relationship with Christ, He deals with our personal sin. "Big" or "small," sin eats away our relationship with Him and causes us to disassociate ourselves with the fellowship of believers. But we all have it--this horrendous secret that shames us as though we're the only ones. When we think we no longer have sin, it's wonderful that Christ has helped us to overcome, but we are not invulnerable.
: : The problem is, we don't realize how vulnerable we are. We don't realize how one moment of focusing on the sin of another takes our eyes off Jesus and all of a sudden, we can look up and realize we've fallen into the ditch and have mud on our cheeks.
: : Be careful when you approach the sin of others. Approach all things with love. Unconditional love, with the understanding that the person, not the sin, has eternal life and is a precious, oh so precious, eternal creation of the Loving God.
: By the way, please don't feel that everyone is against you, or that noone but you understands what it is to "be real with people," or "speak the truth." One of the joys of knowing this group is the fact that we have people of all levels of experience. We need those with the passion of those just turning their lives around toward God, as well as those with an agonizing awareness of their fallibility, and those with the comforting awareness that God's grace and love go beyond our fallibility to something much higher. We are all striving for purity in our mortal shells, and we are all learning that the relationship with God is a personal one that, if pursued, leads us to that purity. We do love you, Raul!
well i hope yall understand that i aint goin nowhere..and if i see something that is wrong..my voice will be heard..granted i will be more methodical about it next time..i just am not one to keep my mouth shut and i do feel that this can be used..and i honestly never really did feel that anyone was totally with me to begin with but i choose to get out of my head for even two minutes and realize i need to fellowship with people who love God..and if i let my head dictate to me..i would be long gone from clf by now...so yeah..i dont feel that anyone totally feels me..but i still go to church for the spiritual relevancy..not because i feel like i totally belong..i dont..but i am here..and this is good.