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Marco said, "http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/world/asia/06missionary.html?ref=world" in i told u i was hardcore.

Brian said, "The decline of mainline Christians is most intriguing. I'm studying the consequences of churches committing too closely or explicitly to political ideologies, and the impact on their public opinion and attendance. The dr...(read the rest)" in by the numbers.

Jonathan said, "Here is an interesting article on Evangelical's uses of statistics, as well as commentary on recent studies of religious affiliation in America.
(read the rest)
" in by the numbers.

jeff ronk said, "dont forget the visual aid: http://bit.ly/TN5BI" in service, 2009.10.11.

jordan said, "where mark 6:6-14? did nursery that week. has?" in service, 2009.10.11.

deadly sins
jeff pointed out this john piper sermon on battling the unbelief of lust, in which piper says the following:
My text on that point was Matthew 5:28-29 where Jesus says, "Every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell." I pointed out that Jesus said heaven and hell are at stake in what you do with your eyes and with the thoughts of your imagination. After the message one of the students came up to me and asked, "Are you saying, then, that a person can lose his salvation?" This is exactly the same response I got a few years ago when I confronted a man about the adultery he was presently living in. I tried to understand his situation and I pled with him to return to his wife. Then I said, "You know Jesus says that if you don't fight this sin with the kind of seriousness that is willing to gouge out your own eye, you will go to hell and suffer there forever." He looked at me in utter disbelief, as though he had never heard anything like this in his life, and said, "You mean you think a person can lose his salvation?" So I have learned again and again from first hand experience that there are many professing Christians who have a view of salvation that disconnects it from real life, and that nullifies the warnings of the Bible and puts the sinning person who claims to be a Christian beyond the reach of biblical threats. And this doctrine is comforting thousands on the way to hell.
Jesus said, if you don't fight lust, you won't go to heaven.

same goes for other sins referenced in that section, not just lust. our attitude towards sin has to be energetic, active resistance; not self-pity, not self-righteousness, and certainly not half-hearted.
Entered by taylor on 04.15.2009 at 17:59
Comments : 4            


 
Comments
Definition of Lust
He throws out a pretty specific, biblical definition of lust, per the passage he's covering: "Lust is a sexual desire that dishonors its object and disregards God." He does a good job of explaining it, too. Helpful in pondering the idea, specifically its implications
Posted by Neil () @ 04.20.2009 0:41
 
"The Great Error That Must Be Exploded"
I completely agree with piper, and would even like to emphasize how incredibly serious of a problem i think this is within the church today. I've heard it taught and I've seen it hurt lives, and more importantly souls. i believe it stems from pride and an unbelieving heart - from not attaching our real selves to our beliefs. may we fight against this deception in our conversations with other christians and pray that it would be eliminated, that the true gospel may reach more people and further into their lives. can i get an amen?
Posted by jordan () @ 04.20.2009 23:13
 
oh yeah!
amen brother Jolly.
Posted by jeff ronk (jeff@breadandcircuses.com) @ 04.24.2009 20:58
 
what pendulum?
i'm getting in a little late on this, but the "amen brother jolly" was too compelling. so for about two or three years now i've been moved again and again at how important it is for the christian to deal with sin. it sounds silly admitting that that's some sort of new revelation, but coming generally from a background that is more concerned about fighting legalism or having some niche to argue in regards to "free grace" rather than pursuing christlikness, i've certainly lived the idea that you can separate what you believe from what you do. i think its a fairly mainstream idea unfortunately. hebrews has been brutal on this topic. i've had people tell me that the pendulum seems to swing back and forth between an emphasis on works/removing sin and some emphasis on grace and salvation without works in spite of sin, but I can't escape how normative it is in the bible. I don't think its really a pendulum at all. its just truth. fear god, and keep his commandments. great discussion.
Posted by Jeremy () @ 05.13.2009 0:24
 

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