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Christian liberty; Carolyn's thoughts; habits and customs; etc.

Davies said:
Whatsa matta you? Funny wise guy. (In my Chinese accent)

- Davies
Click to expand...

Davies:

Are you of Chinese heritage?

Anyway, with regard to the view quoted at the beginning, the person seems like she is basically glad to have quit smoking years ago, although appears to wish that she could just occasionally inhale from a cigarette again. I don't find such honesty problematic, although one would maybe exercise caution in some circumstances.
 
Davies said:


Hi Toby,

The point you have made is the point the church today ignores. The self has become more important than anything else. Instead of thinking others better than ourselves, we strive to be better people, confusing this for sanctification. I believe sanctification is as John the Baptist said.
John 3:30

New King James Version (NKJV)

<sup class="versenum">30 </sup>He must increase, but I must decrease.


Though CORE is right to point out that we shouldn't quarrel over opinions, keeping God the priority should not be disputed even when it comes to our liberty in Jesus.

- Davies
Click to expand...
Again, absolutely agree.

I suppose my main purpose in here was to make sure that the record of this thread reflected scripture that warned against both extremes - That we are not to abuse our liberty so as to indulge the flesh, but rather exercising it cautiously and at times even sacrificing our liberty for the sake of our brethren and unity.

Likewise, those who feel they can't exercise certain liberties should not pass judgement on those who do.

Now I think it's important to identify our liberties. A sermon I've heard recently from a church I attended when I lived in california gave some great instruction on how to keep our liberties in check. I seldom post external resources but I feel this this is very appropriate for this thread.

Here are some questions to ask concerning our freedoms:
-Will it have a profitable spiritual impact?
-Will it contribute to spiritual development/edification?
-Will it be an encumbrance, weigh you down and dampen your enthusiasm for God?
-Will it control you? (we should not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12)
-Will it be used to cover up some type of sin in our life?(1Peter 2:16)
-Will this issue violate your conscience or train you to violate your conscience?
-Will it help others by it's example or will it become a stumbling block?
-Will it lead others to Christ?

The sermon goes into greater detail of the scripture if anyone is interested:

Using your Liberty
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/TMC239/using-your-liberty
 
Davies said:
farouk,

Shall I be the first? Are we getting to the CORE of the issue? Sorry, I'm a sucker for puns. The worse they are, the better. :lol

- Davies
Click to expand...

I was just wondering...Is there anyway for my name to be all lower-case. I did not intend it to look that way. It's to big and seems rather pretentious, lol...It bugs me. I'm hoping it could be changed.
 
CORE said:
Again, absolutely agree.

I suppose my main purpose in here was to make sure that the record of this thread reflected scripture that warned against both extremes - That we are not to abuse our liberty so as to indulge the flesh, but rather exercising it cautiously and at times even sacrificing our liberty for the sake of our brethren and unity.

Likewise, those who feel they can't exercise certain liberties should not pass judgement on those who do.

Now I think it's important to identify our liberties. A sermon I've heard recently from a church I attended when I lived in california gave some great instruction on how to keep our liberties in check. I seldom post external resources but I feel this this is very appropriate for this thread.

Here are some questions to ask concerning our freedoms:
-Will it have a profitable spiritual impact?
-Will it contribute to spiritual development/edification?
-Will it be an encumbrance, weigh you down and dampen your enthusiasm for God?
-Will it control you? (we should not be mastered by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12)
-Will it be used to cover up some type of sin in our life?(1Peter 2:16)
-Will this issue violate your conscience or train you to violate your conscience?
-Will it help others by it's example or will it become a stumbling block?
-Will it lead others to Christ?

The sermon goes into greater detail of the scripture if anyone is interested:

Using your Liberty
http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/TMC239/using-your-liberty
Click to expand...

Core:

Some good thoughts there.

The bit I highlighted is often forgotten.

Blessings.
 
Indeed, but at the same time, I feel it necessary not to over-emphasize that highlighted point. I believe many of us understand our fallen-ness/depravity. When our liberties cross that fine line, the brethren have a responsibility to point that out. I suppose this is probably best accomplished by those close enough to hold us accountable.
 
CORE said:
Indeed, but at the same time, I feel it necessary not to over-emphasize that highlighted point. I believe many of us understand our fallen-ness/depravity. When our liberties cross that fine line, the brethren have a responsibility to point that out. I suppose this is probably best accomplished by those close enough to hold us accountable.
Click to expand...

Core: It's good to keep a sense of balance, yes.
 
CORE said:
wouldn't that be "funny rise guy?" :-p

I love accents!
Click to expand...

CORE said:
I was just wondering...Is there anyway for my name to be all lower-case. I did not intend it to look that way. It's to big and seems rather pretentious, lol...It bugs me. I'm hoping it could be changed.
Click to expand...

Hi CORE,

I think I would feel strange typing your name differently now. It's not a good idea to change it. :lol My Chinese accent has an American accent.


Hey Nick,

The double quote works great. I never paid attention to it before.

- Davies
 
Davies said:
Hi CORE,

I think I would feel strange typing your name differently now. It's not a good idea to change it. :lol My Chinese accent has an American accent.


Hey Nick,

The double quote works great. I never paid attention to it before.

- Davies
Click to expand...

Anyway, wasn't Core the name of a leading musician in the days of the Psalms?
 
There is liberty in Christ and that we use not that liberty as a stumbling block, but to educate and come against that which religion deems a sinful act. I'm not going to take my liberty and beat up religion with it, but to educate through scripture of why I have that liberty to do the things I do.

Example: drinking is not a sin, but where the sin in drinking comes from is what it causes the mouth to speak. There is noting wrong within the drink, but in the person who abuses the drink.
Example: smoking is not a sin as this flesh is not the temple of God, Mark 7:15-23, but our Spirit is that temple where the Holy Spirit dwells as we all know this flesh is sinful and will always sin and will return to the dust of the ground and rot away as God can not even look at the flesh of man.

We do not enter the kingdom of God through the flesh, John 3:3 and the flesh will be transformed as Spirit to put on that of incorruptible and immortality when Christ returns, 1 Corinthians 15:52, 53.
 
for_his_glory:

Anyway, the preacher Spurgeon used to smoke. (It probably gave him some sort of relief from his gout...)
 
Hi farouk,

Spurgeon would be the first to tell you he had many faults. Smoking is a vice and a vanity, and I imagine it has robbed people since the beginning, whenever it started to be used. Smoking is a liberty that shouldn't be exercised.

- Davies
 
Davies said:
Hi farouk,

Spurgeon would be the first to tell you he had many faults. Smoking is a vice and a vanity, and I imagine it has robbed people since the beginning, whenever it started to be used. Smoking is a liberty that shouldn't be exercised.

- Davies
Click to expand...

Davies:

Well, thanks for responding to my query.

I think you are looking with 21st century American eyes on what you assume Spurgeon's heart in the 19th century was on the matter, but thank-you anyway.
 
Hi farouk,

Why would you say that? Do you think smoking was good for Spurgeon? Maybe it helped is gout, I don't know, but I'm sure it was good for his lungs. Maybe it extended his life? Nope. I'm not judging Spurgeon's heart, but when we talk about the doctrine of man, people often mistake a truth statement for being judgmental.

- Davies
 
Davies said:
Hi farouk,

Why would you say that? Do you think smoking was good for Spurgeon? Maybe it helped is gout, I don't know, but I'm sure it was good for his lungs. Maybe it extended his life? Nope. I'm not judging Spurgeon's heart, but when we talk about the doctrine of man, people often mistake a truth statement for being judgmental.

- Davies
Click to expand...

Davies: Oh, well I may have stumbled over my use of words, so thank-you for clarifying. I was just commenting on your linkage of 'faults' with Spurgeon's smoking, I guess.

Blessings.
 
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