JoshuasonFlower

How about, who is fit to judge a tare thinking themselves the wheat?

To keep it short, the elders decided to send an invitation to certain community spots in the local gay community to visit our "open" church. Without telling the congregation of this first. The reason being we found later was to test our spirit of love for our fellow man and woman. Open though modest displays of affection ensued as the first gay couple arrived. Women. Followed by others being the first were received by the elders and many on the board after service. Meetings with them did not change what was happening being we'd not been consulted before it happened. Reasoning that the scriptures say these people should be saved from their sins, not condoned and encouraged to openly express them were rebuffed. It is for God to judge not us! Was the defense our pastor gave for this decision by the few in charge. For me the last straw was when the bulletin arrived announcing the upcoming wedding of two men in the spring of 2016. Our community announcement board advertised it to the public as well. Does that assist your understanding?

I most certainly did. It was a gradual process of distance growing between myself and the identity the elders hoped to reform for the whole of the place. I call it that because I do not consider it a true church. What would be the permissive stance when it came to very express prohibitions for certain behaviors as described in scripture. That is what eroded trust in the direction we were going. I think many could identify with what I'm describing in quite possibly a poor manner so as not to be indelicate. Thou shalt not lay with a man as with a woman.

Romans 14:5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. I'm glad someone shared that passage early on. For me my commitment to God is a relationship with his spirit and his son. And like any relationship that intimacy of being joined one to the other, the believer carrying God's holy spirit within, is going to have an understanding of worship unlike someone else who is in relationship with Christ. I left my former church due to conflict in teachings. The relationship was slowly decaying between the members in the congregation and the teachings from the word preached and then exampled by the leadership. Now, I have my time in what I call one on one with my God on Saturday. As was the giving of the order in the commands. And I am ever aware and with my faith and Savior all the day long everyday.

It does say that. And often that is overlooked by members in Christ's flock. Tares in the parables of Christ were in actual life what is called darnel seed, also called ryegrass. It looks like wheat but it does not produce the same. In Jesus parable of the sower in Matthew 13, he speaks of one who came into the field and sewed the dreaded darnel grass that does not bear wheat for the labor as would the actual wheat. It is false though it appears like wheat. The one who sneaks into the field to sew the ryegrass is comparison to the world and the message therein is the enemy of the farmer. That which would have his crop yield him nothing for the bounty of a full crop of wheat. But rather would have instead that the farmer lose his ability to sustain himself at the harvest with the blindness in the winowing of ryegrass. That sower of the darnel seed is the enemy of the church. Hoping to seed fracture into the congregation. I witnessed this in my former church. I knew then it was changing and the sewing that was going on was to corrupt the flock dedicated to truth and light. Because the human tare assuming the guise of bountiful wheat will then cause in its germination in the field for as long as it is allowed to in human terms call the wheat's identity into question. By its flourishing the ryegrass over populating the wheat then makes the wheat appear to be the interloper. The weed. I should add, this parable is that which embodies the wisdom in Matthew 7. "You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" That which seeks to sew discord into the peace of Christ are examples of this. They're found to flourish on the Internet due to the anonymity factor. However, just because we read each other rather than speak face to face does not mean we are not able to discern that which is the sower of the weed. The fruits are then discerned word for word, seed by seed, that is hoped to take root and distance the members of the church from one another. Making an unhealthy slight crop that would otherwise be lush furrows of wheat.

I think Jesus spoke in this way because as in other of his wisdom teachings he couched his meaning in depictions the people could relate to. I think that is why he said he was the good shepherd, that he would make his disciples fishers of men, and so forth. In this parable in Matthew I believe he wanted the people who were burdened with the labors of every day life, and those who were an agrarian culture to relate to the beasts of burden in their fields. The yoke being that which gave authority over them to the master at the reigns. God's commands, God, is the master. His commands are the rules for tilling the field that is the everyday life following the words and leading of God's purpose. Therefore, to give solace to those who listened Jesus said his yoke was light. And the burden of it is light, meaning it is a righteous walk for those who are guided by the light of God's spirit that will find a home within them and illuminate the followers path in this dark world. I think it especially comforting to the people of those times when Rome was a harsh task master and their yoke was at times unbearable and the burden to keep in step with the commands of Caesar lethal if transgressed. Jesus offered the mirror opposite of that. That's what I think.

I think the greencard question is one for ICE or the local immigration office where you applied. No one here would be qualified to say I don't think. Have you read the bible? Marriage is a life long covenant with your spouse. There are certain provisions that permit divorce and those are found in the bible too. What you've done is from the sound of it entered into a legal contract, the marriage license, with the express purpose to defraud. My sympathies lay with your wife.

How old is the pregnant daughter? What has she done thus far that would lead her daughter to choose abortion over life?

There is a wonderful article that I will share with you. I found it when I was wondering if I was walking in the correct way as to make my Father in Heaven pleased. Or if I was even one in his number that are called to his son. I can't post a link as yet as I understand it being I'm new. Here is the title of the article. And you can find it shared at bible.org where they have a search box to enter it into. Lesson 103: Spiritual Failure and Restoration (Luke 22:54-62) We that are in Christ can come under Satanic attack. Though we have the holy spirit inside us that does not mean Satan and his intentions do not try to lead our mind toward fear. I hope that article helps you Sight.

I think Abraham's story is something that speaks to me at least as that which warns what happens when we grow impatient with God's timetable for our life. I do believe God used it all for furtherance of his intentions for this world. And for Abraham and his future as well. Did you notice also that none of God's chosen men of prophecy and destiny were perfect? They all had their human flaws. And yet God used them to further his kingdom. When we think we're not good enough that's a great reminder that we are able to serve God and his purpose.