Tuesday, August 26, 2008

My "opinion"

I've recently been called out for being narrow-minded because of my beliefs and the beliefs of those I associate with. I have to admit, I am narrow-minded. Narrow is the way. I strive to follow Jesus, not the crowd. I don't want to involve myself in evil, even if that evil is socially acceptable.

Matt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matt 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil;

I will not change the way I believe about: Salvation (and the denominations that have it wrong), sodomites, fornication, abortion, the KJV, sissified preachers, modest clothing, and so much more. I will question something if I think it's wrong, especially when it comes to those that I love. For the record: No, you do not have to be Baptist to be a "Christian". In fact, a lot of Baptists have jumped on the faith plus works bandwagon. The only thing you must do to be saved is believe on Jesus Christ. Period. However, I think you would be hard-pressed to find many non-IFB churches that still believe in by grace through faith, plus nothing minus nothing. Most churches add works to grace, teaching that one must "turn from all their sins" and maintain a good life to stay saved.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.


We simply can’t compromise our convictions and beliefs for the sake of having unity at all costs. Consider the words of Jesus: "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."
So hate us if you must. Jesus and Paul weren't popular in their day either and suffered terribly. Repeatedly they warned Christians to expect persecution:

1 Cor 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
1 Cor 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1 Cor 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1 Cor 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1 Cor 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

2 Cor 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2 Cor 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2 Cor 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Matt 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matt 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matt 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Matt 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Matt 10:18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
Matt 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Matt 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Matt 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Matt 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matt 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Matt 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Matt 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Matt 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Matt 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Matt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matt 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Matt 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matt 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Matt 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Matt 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Matt 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Matt 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matt 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Recommended listening (WARNING: Not for the thin-skinned!)

The Mother Whore
Independent Churches
Tradition v. Bible Doctrine
The King James Bible
King James Bible Only
The NIV's Attack on Jesus
Standing Alone
Without the Camp

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sarah,

I just wanted to say that my husband and I are with you in your goal to lead a God pleasing life. We are narrowed minded also. I can understand the criticism especially on the the church issue. No one really understands why it is wrong to be part of a denomination. I also get weird looks because we live with my in-laws and I don't have a job. I believe that it's a women's job to stay home and be a mother to her children regardless of the situation. The Bible doesn't say only stay at home with the kids if you have your own house or so much money in the bank. In the grand scheme of things it probably doesn't really matter that we are here right now regardless of how stressful it is. What Jesus says matters, not what the world says even if it's from your own family and friends.

God Bless,
Brittany

Anonymous said...

Well I for one stand behind you. There are many in my life that don't have the same values as my family does. Everyone thought the world was going to end when we stopped watching tv. They think that way because tv controls there life. Praise God it does not control my family anymore!

Anonymous said...

Amen!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Great post! I agree with you one hundred percent.

Anonymous said...

Oops. I think I accidentally commented as my son, but I'm the one who read and agreed with your post. :)
Raani

Anonymous said...

My name is Chris Davis and I endorse this post.