Re: [TruthTalk] Joanna Williams - friend of some 10 years speaks on believing teens

[Lance Muir]

IFF this query extends from Joanna's commentary then, I'll simply speak for myself: There are few though not none with whom I'd not meet for a conversation. The same would apply to them attending any Christian group I was a part of. I'm more of a non-exclusionary guy. ----- Original Message ----- From: ShieldsFamily To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org Sent: March 13, 2006 11:57 Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] Joanna Williams - friend of some 10 years speaks on believing teens BTW, I’m supposing this couple are not Christians.  However they seem to think they are, and apparently so does the writer.  So what to do??? How do you witness to people you won’t keep company with??? iz   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of ShieldsFamily Sent: Monday, March 13, 2006 10:53 AM To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org Subject: RE: [TruthTalk] Joanna Williams - friend of some 10 years speaks on believing teens   To be fair, Kevin, we are told not to keep company with Christians who are fornicators.  We cannot keep Christian standards for unbelievers.  What do you think? iz   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kevin Deegan Sent: Monday, March 13, 2006 10:31 AM To: TruthTalk@mail.innglory.org Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Joanna Williams - friend of some 10 years speaks on believing teens   No I did not miss the part about the authors INTENTIONs Did you miss the part about the Authors command to NOT to company with Fornicators? Was it the N word? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: And you comment has what to do with my post and the question within:   Hey,  Kev  --  did you somehow miss the part in the discourse below that presents the author's desire, hope and prayer for change in the lives of those whom she is working with?   And your approach to helping the addicted is ....................what, exactly   .....................   just send them directly to the trash heap somewhere outside the city of Jerusalem?  I await your answer.    jd     -------------- Original message -------------- From: Kevin Deegan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> What was it for you the N or the O? [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hey,  Kev  --  did you somehow miss the part in the discourse below that presents the author's desire, hope and prayer for change in the lives of those whom she is working with?   And your approach to helping the addicted is ....................what, exactly   .....................   just send them directly to the trash heap somewhere outside the city of Jerusalem?    jd   -------------- Original message -------------- From: Kevin Deegan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 1 Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators   Which part is hard to understand the N the O or the T ?   "As we sipped on coffee"   if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. The N or the O?   "He relates a lot to Job" LOL!  a lot? NOT! - N or O or T? Job 1:22   In all this Job sinned not   Then we have a declaration, GREAT VICTORY! the Fornicator is STILL a FORNICATOR! Your kinder gentler Humanistic Religion really works! What a testimony! Lance Muir <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Well, since I'm being asked for a response on this...my initial feeling is that we need to live in the real world having contact with real people...perhaps listen a little more to others and how they live.  In my experience with people, including believers by the way, struggle with sin is common.  By the way, people are so much more harsh on visible sins such as addictions to alcohol, pornography, drugs etc...whereas I believe Jesus always looked deeper into our hearts and spoke to much that was invisible to many...such as self-righteousness, judgement towards others, jealousies, religious obsession. etc.  These are way harder to weed out of our lives than outer behaviours that seem to upset the church so much.  I pray that we may see these situations with the heart of God, listening and dealing with others on a very real level which unfortunately is so often tucked away and not talked about enough.  We have many hurting people in our churches who are deeply addicted to many non -christian behaviours...but rather than judge...it may be much better to listen, to learn and to work out the deeper rooted hurts and issues that cause people to lose themselves in the worlds of pornography, alcohol, sexual relationships etc.  It is so important to be the kind of Christian that is listening to others with an open attitude and no pre-conceived judgements in mind whether they are in the church or not.  A couple of instances pop into my mind right now...one is from last Saturday when I actually popped by my friend's house...co-worker from the bank where I work.  As we sipped on coffee, her boyfriend/spouse began to talk about how he used to go to church in England and considers himself a believer in God and Christ but would no longer go to a church anymore because of the questions about his relationship with my friend and the fact that they were living together.  He began to share his hurts about this situation and then we got into one of th e best discussions I've ever had on the book of Job.  He relates a lot to Job and the judgement his well-meaning friends brought to him during a rough time in his life when they should have been listening and loving him and not judging him...  How wonderful at the end of the book when Job not only comes into a deep trust with God but God also invites him to pray for the very friends that incessantly accused him.  Great victory there and much to be learned from that story.  Another situation I am reminded of is happening in my church right now with a young teenager who is pregnant and has come to our church for shelter.  While she loves the Lord and clings to His love at this hard time in her life, she is also still involved with her boyfriend outside of marriage right now and realizes her situations are not perfect.  I have just chosen as a youth ministry leader to walk beside her, with no judgments give n , and just let the Word of the God speak to her and let her make her choices...letting her know God's great love just as she is.  I feel as if as a church, if we come out of the little religious bubble we've allowed ourselves to be in...much awaits us.  Sure life will not be black and white but it will be interesting and beautiful...as diverse as each person's dna and personality is...it is in these simply unique ways that God does touch and change each life...not in cookie-cutter ways or via textbook answers!  I hope this helps somewhat...would love to continue the conversation!!  All the best to all of you...Roll up your sleeves and get into the amazing mix of life with others...God will pop up in the most surprising places!!  My e-mail address is [EMAIL PROTECTED]   if any of you care to contact me at any time!  Thank you!      Yahoo! 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