Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
I believe the points Ohio was trying to make to Steel is that whistleblowing tends to result in a person and their family in being shunned and expelled. The fallout from being shunned is the issues at hand become marginalized.
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I was clear on that.
But my response was focused on "...being shunned and expelled..." from what?
A particular meeting of believers in the local church (local church being all believers in an area)?
Whose problem would that be if before the Lord those who were "...being shunned and expelled..." were actually standing in the Lord... And those doing the shunning and expelling were not doing so in the Lord?
Not mine if it were related to me.
I'd simply say "Amen, Lord... You open doors and You close doors... Lord, I'll wait on You to open another door... And do so praising You and rejoicing in You."
People have problems with being shunned and expelled because they are holding to their vanity and not Christ.
Matthew 5:10... "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens."
Matthew 5:11... "Blessed are you when they reproach and persecute you, and while speaking lies, say every evil thing against you because of Me."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
Given Christ doesn't marginalize or expel any believer, but receiving everyone is not practiced in the local churches.
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Well... Welcome to the way of the fallen man that corrupts us all... Us all being all of us born again believers in Christ.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
Ones who may have been shunned or marginalized may become unwelcome for fellowship and may even be escorted out when attempting to meet with a given locality.
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Oh boohoo.
Suck it up, take the way of the cross... Be brought into resurrection life... And rejoice all the way through the next door that the Lord opens for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
The alternative of saying go meet with another assembly is easy to say, but not easy to do for ones whose Christian fellowship has been primarily among the local churches.
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And why?
Because they have been following their own natural preference/affinity... And not the Lord.
Which is why the Lord comes in and removes believers from their familiar, comfortable, preferred environments.
Shoot...
If I could I'd just rent the building next door to the building I was just escorted from and carry on with the Lord without loosing a step... Make it easy for anyone else who suffers the same... Same ministry speaking... Same recovered way... With the hope that the Lord would in His mercy and grace save myself and any I meet with from becoming religious also.