I have seen figures that are
much less (30 -40%) but a serious problem nonetheless
jt: 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.
Nor would I. For a pastor, it
is such a dangerous activity in addition to being
contrary to what God, the God
he represents, to what God desires from him.
for some pastors, they seem
willing to put at risk their profession, the investment they have in
time, money and energy (think PhD), the distress it can cause to his
family and wife, and the disappointment to those who looked to the
pastor for guidance..... a patiently selfish act.
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)
We have a difference of
opionion as to what sin is, Judy (and thank you for taking a softer
line in our discussions -- much appreciated.) I do think that in
most cases, "sin" is a reference to what I have been calling "event
sin" (drinking, smoking, lusting -- and so on). In that case, I
completely agree with you. It is just that I nearly always bring
into the concept of "sin" character flaws (selfishness, conceit and
the like - things that are with us to some degree, things that we do
"grow out of" and sins of omission.) These are biblical
considerations -- you agree ? --- but these are not to added to the
soncept of "sin" as often as I seem to think.
Add to this list of "sin"
rebellion. Not all sin is rebellion.
You comments above are, of
course, right on.
