Question

[Kathi]

Do you think there are things that we as Christians do in this world that has a potential to cause harm to our walk with God?Things that we may not even recognize?

 

[reba]

Yea.... Thinking ... ever walk holding the hand of a child ... You have talked about a fun day at the zoo..... The fun food the funny critters....He is all excited and off ya go....The child that wants to go the way he wants to go... the day at the zoo is one long tiring battle...
He is tugging and the ice cream shop goes unnoticed... pulls til he falls on his back side... and the cotton candy is blown down the path...

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

Do you think there are things that we as Christians do in this world that has a potential to cause harm to our walk with God?Things that we may not even recognize?

compare Corinthians to Ephesians, and then to today.
Corinthians never got passed the milk to the meat. (though I don't think too many were kicked out for their sin, some were).
the church in Ephesians did get to the meat- obedience to God's Plan (but later fell apart too, was actually ripped apart by the wolves, after Paul left)
today, how many churches get passed the milk ?
partly from Scripture verses at http://www.cfcindia.com/web/books/zac/the_full_gospel.html

 

[Gary]

Do you think there are things that we as Christians do in this world that has a potential to cause harm to our walk with God?Things that we may not even recognize?

Matthew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’



These people were doing things that caused great harm to their walk. Things they did not recognize as being wrong.
.

 

[Kathi]

Matthew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’



These people were doing things that caused great harm to their walk. Things they did not recognize as being wrong.
.

Yes,that is what I was thinking.

 

[iLOVE]

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NIV

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV

 

[Angel]

Matthew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’



These people were doing things that caused great harm to their walk. Things they did not recognize as being wrong.
.

Very humbling verse... Makes me fear God.

 

[Gary]

Very humbling verse... Makes me fear God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
.

 

[Angel]

The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding...
(My fav version of the verse. )

 

[evenifigoalone]

Definitely. Though, there are some different ideas on some of these things, and it shouldn't become a battle between people who allow themselves some liberties that other believers disapprove of.

 

[Kathi]

Definitely. Though, there are some different ideas on some of these things, and it shouldn't become a battle between people who allow themselves some liberties that other believers disapprove of.

It all depens on what they are.

 

[evenifigoalone]

It all depens on what they are.

True.

Bringing it up mainly because...well, in the church I grew up in, women wearing pants was a sin. Stuff like that. Serious sins are clearly defined in scripture leaving little room for debate. Other things, people tend to apply their own interpretations to.

 

[Kathi]

True.

Bringing it up mainly because...well, in the church I grew up in, women wearing pants was a sin. Stuff like that. Serious sins are clearly defined in scripture leaving little room for debate. Other things, people tend to apply their own interpretations to.

Some of that stuff is legalistic.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

Do you think there are things that we as Christians do in this world that has a potential to cause harm to our walk with God?Things that we may not even recognize?

It all depens on what they are.

about 20 years ago a person in housing shocked me . she was a mom with 3 children on welfare, and when she learned of the mark of the beast and that no one who receives the mark , without identifying it(just realizing it's coming),
said she would get it !!! --- she said "the government feeds me and my kids, we have to eat."

so even recognized sin may be accepted by many (pastors last 2 years have said not to worry about the mark !! - reports on media say so anyway) , and the mark is irreversible, not harmful. it is fatal and final - no repentance is possible if the mark is received, whatever it is. (I think because instead of faith in God, it shows a lack of faith in His Word and in Him, and a mis-placed trust in man/government to take God's place).(But Jesus said so, with or without reason for us to know).
http://www.k9safesearch.com/search.jsp?q=jesus+warns+against+mark+of+the+beast&v=w

Revelation 15,16,17,18,19

 

[agua.]

Matthew 7
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’



These people were doing things that caused great harm to their walk. Things they did not recognize as being wrong.
.

Yeah Gaz and it seems they maybe even thought they were doing the right thing.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

this has been happening since 312 a.d. and earlier.
it is happening in the usa today(sorry, no refs - just general from "voice of the martyrs" site and literature - testimonies of the saints and perhaps some of those whose families have been martyred this year and last year)
John 16:2
Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 They will put you out of (expel you from) the synagogues; but an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think and claim that he jesus warns against mark of the beast (people think it's the right thing)has offered service to God.

they may even think that the mark of the beast is a GOOD thing!

http://www.k9safesearch.com/search....beast+(people+think+it's+the+right+thing)&v=w
search terms >>>

jesus warns against mark of the beast (people think it's the right thing)

 

[Gary]

The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding...
(My fav version of the verse. )

Here is the companion to that verse.

Proverbs 4
7 Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
.

 

[Danus]

Do you think there are things that we as Christians do in this world that has a potential to cause harm to our walk with God?Things that we may not even recognize?

Absolutely, but I think if we look at your question more deeply, we might see something beyond "harm".

Proverbs 16:9 came to mind reading your question. It says; 9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Some versions read "man" and "direct", as opposed to "humans" and "establishes".
It's that second part that is to me the most interesting; "but the lord establishes their steps".

I believe that we often make ourselves the focus when we think of what we do or don't do, and in doing this we might miss the true focus of what "directs" our steps; us or God?

I prefer, and I believe the Bible concurs, that the true "doer" of our faith and relationship begins and ends with God; "but the Lord establishes their steps". But, this begs the question; what then are we responsible for? I answer that question like this; We are responsible for our disobedience; our sin. That's it.

For me, this places responsibility squarely where it belongs within the relationship we have with our Lord, where each can only do what each can possibly do. God has no ability to sin, and I have no ability to be right with God, so what is it that makes the connection? Jesus Christ.

Can I do anything knowingly or unknowingly to harm my relationship with Christ, within my relationship with Christ? YES, but only God can do anything to direct me to my relationship with Christ, and I think our relationship is best served knowing this.

 

[ironmonk]

Do you think there are things that we as Christians do in this world that has a potential to cause harm to our walk with God?Things that we may not even recognize?

Sin is a labyrinth and the more I try to find a way out the more deeper I get. That's one thing I know harms my walk with the Christ.