On Thu, 19 May 2005 01:39:17 -0400 [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
jt: We all battle the same things, and there is no sin that is not common to mankind. However, what is going on in today's Church should not be. 85-90% of pastors, having a problem with pornography tells us that something is very wrong. If this is where the leadership is walking - what about the people?? Do you suppose these men believe they can be a "carnal christian" and still accepted with God and this is how the enemy snared them??I have seen figures that are much less (30 -40%) but a serious problem nonethelessjt: I agree, it should be zero; the higher numbers come from our pastor's sermon last Sunday. I don't know where he gets his figures but he is a godly man who rightly divides the Word of Truth weekly so I don't discount his figures.JD: It all goes back to this growth thing. You imply that 20-40 years is enough time to get it right. Maybe. But, if that is a universal truth of some sort, why is it not a statement of scripture? Do you understand that I quote scripture, here? I read "carnal -- babes" in I Co 3:1 and know that I must, as a student of scripture, accept the implications implicit in Paul's use of those words.jt: Scripture teaches growing into godliness and holiness; I don't see any exhortation to grow out of sin. We are told to stop it. If someone is in the habit of stealing, or working as a prostitute, they don't grow out of it. We have to stop participating in behavior that is killing us.If we are growing into godliness, we are growing out of ungodliness.jt: No JD, we don't grow out of sin. We reckon it so by faith; we reckon our old man dead to sin and alive to righteousness and stop it now; it is a choice. A thief is to "steal no more" and a liar is to "lie no more" (Ephesians 4:28)
