From: jmanghan@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (I am G!)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: advice wanted
Date: 26 Aug 92 06:33:45 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <Aug.25.02.07.10.1992.18896@athos.rutgers.edu> milton@cs.ucla.edu (Milton Wong) writes:
>Recently, I was close to joining the L.A. Church of Christ. After visiting the
>church for a while and participating in their Bible study group, I became
>a believer. However, there are some important issues on which I disagree
>with their interpretation of the Bible. Because of this disagreement,
>I decided not to become a member of that church.
>
>The most important points of disagreement were:
>
>1. They demand that you commit a lot of time to meetings with the church, and
>demand that you are active in recruiting new members. 
>
>2. As a member, you are not allowed to date non-Christians. While I accept that
>dating non-Christians might in some cases create problems, I cannot accept
>their unconditional ban on such relationships. Also, their definition of who is
>a Christian is very narrow. They seem to consider only themselves to be true
>Christians.
>
>3. According to their interpretation, "sexual immorality" includes having sex
>before marriage. If a man and a woman love each other, I consider it acceptable
>for them to have sex, provided of course that they are not involved in other
>relationships at the same time.
>
>Now I am looking for a church whose doctrine agrees with my own beliefs. I 
>would appreciate any comments or suggestions. I would also appreciate if anyone
>could outline the most important differences between Baptists, Lutherans, and 
>Methodists.

Good Knight!  I don't believe this post, or what response was given
to it.  Now, I am a part of the San Diego Church of Christ, and I
could list all the scriptures that support what you disagree with
above.  But I won't do that, since it seems that you have already
studied out discipleship and have already seen what the Bible says 
on these matters. 
My concern is the lack of hard-lineness among other Christians out
there who kind of 'tell' this guy what you think is right.  Well,
I am going to stand up for Jesus and say what is right, in love of
course.  
Now, Milton, maybe you have a girlfriend you deeply love, and I can
understand what you would have to give up if you followed the Bible,
sex before marraige.  It is not a privelige.  You can go to a church
that tells you that you can believe anything you want, but that is
not the church of the Bible.  I am sure you have read Galatians
5:19.  Read Revelation 21:8, where it says that the sexually immoral
will go to hell.  Now you have your choice.  Just because a church
has the label 'church' doesn't mean it is a church of God.  Now, if
your feeling are in the way to believing that sex before marraige or
sex used in any other way than what God intended, then look at the
other points you have raised that you disbelieve.  Maybe your
feelings are in the way of the scriptures as well.  Read Matt
28:18-20 and Matt 6:33....that might help clarify what Jesus demands
from all men who choose to receive his free grace.
I just wanna correct so that you may sound in the faith.

JeeMan

"And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, 
I am only a resounding gong, or a clanging cymbal.  I f I have the
gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love,
I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender 
my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing....And
now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest
of these is love."--1 Corinthians 12:31-13:3, 13:13
-- 
JeeMan

"Do you want to get rocked???" --Def Leppard