Re: An interesting essay for evangelicals

From: Jim Armstrong (jarmstro@qwest.net)
Date: Wed Jan 22 2003 - 21:20:56 EST

  • Next message: RFaussette@aol.com: "Re: An interesting essay for evangelicals"

    Sure, but I don't think I said all judgement is wrong. There was a
    context for my comment. JimA

    sheila-mcginty@geotec.net wrote:

    >Jim,
    >
    >You are definitely correct in that we are not to alienate people. God called
    >us while we were yet sinners - imperfect, sinful, and wrong. We are like
    >fish, men help catch us but God always cleans us.
    >
    >Judging, however, is not always prohibited. Matthew 18 gives a very clear
    >definition of when we are to judge, who has the right to judge, and how we are
    >to judge. For example, I am not allowed to judge you because you have not
    >wronged me nor am I a spiritual leader in your life. When we make ourselves
    >accountable to spiritual leaders, we give them the right and responsibility to
    >judge us. Prohibiting judgement of any kind is wrong because judgement and
    >consequences is what allows us to be reconciled and restored to proper
    >relationships with each other and God. We are, in fact, responsible for
    >judging wrong behavior in ourselves and others so that we can maintain our own
    >spiritual walk without stumbling. The problem is when we judge
    >inappropriately.
    >
    >Sheila
    >
    >
    >
    >Quoting Jim Armstrong <jarmstro@qwest.net>:
    >
    >
    >
    >>You've touched on the heart of the issue in your last sentence. So what
    >>
    >>will you/we do with and toward these who are also part of God's
    >>creation, also "neighbors", also brothers & sisters, and fellow
    >>participants in our domain of stewardship in His creation. Oh, and I
    >>suppose we must also be mindful of those "judging" prohibitions, and the
    >>
    >>egalitarian nature of sin (in the view of many of us). "Just as I am"
    >>comes to mind.
    >>
    >>This is not an easy or trivial matter. However, I am persuaded at the
    >>end of the day that attitudes and actions that result in alienation do
    >>not reflect the patterns modeled for us in the life and teachings of
    >>Christ, which often transcended the traditional and written heritage.
    >>Because we live in the light of the additional revelation afforded us
    >>through the life of Christ, I'm pretty sure that we are now held to that
    >>
    >>higher standard. Also, best I recall, conviction is not our job. We may
    >>
    >>be amicus curii, but we are notably neither judge nor jury. We are left
    >>
    >>very little wiggle room by the relational examples Jesus, uncomfortable
    >>
    >>or not. JimA
    >>
    >>Jan de Koning wrote:
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>>At 09:50 AM 22/01/2003 -0700, John Burgeson wrote:
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>>>On Mon, 20 Jan 2003, John Burgeson wrote:
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>You
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>>and I, Michael, did not "choose" our heterosexual orientation, we
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>acquired
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>>it either by nature or by nurture. Likewise, my homosexual friends
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>did not
    >>>>>
    >>>>>
    >>>>>>"choose," but found themselves to be simply different from the
    >>>>>>
    >>>>>>
    >>norm.
    >>
    >>
    >>>Being different from the norm does not mean that you are now allowed
    >>>to do anything that comes up in your mind.
    >>>As a defence for homosexual relationships I think the defence is not
    >>>sufficient. Many of us have sinful wishes, that we must contain all
    >>>our life. I do not necessarily want to throw out all homosexuals, but
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>thus far I did not find a biblical, and logical defense of even
    >>>"committed" reationships.
    >>>
    >>>Jan de Koning
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>
    >>>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >
    >
    >
    >Sheila McGinty
    >sheila-mcginty@geotec.net
    >
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    >
    >
    >
    >



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