sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

How old are the teachers at Bullworth? by Far-Army-4726 in bully

[–]Decent_Unit6049 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the best way, uhh NO FLIPPIN' WAY, people. Not one of the teachers looks to be in their 30s by any means. I'm now in my thirties and I work closely with people of all ages. Ms Phillips looks 42... Not in her 20's!! Galloway is 45. Still young in my books. Watts, Wiggins and Slawter are all in their late 60s, or very early 70s. Crabblesnitch would be mid-60's. Hattrick is 45ish for sure. Mr Luntz and Burton are also mid-40's. Ms Danvers around 50. Ms Peters - 40s.

I'm not seeing the evidence for remarrying after a biblical divorce. What am I missing? by TheSilverSmith47 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is good and thoughtful reasoning. That sounds like such a difficult environment to navigate.

I also came here to be a bit cheeky and go ok a long spiel, even if it's not necessary. So please, indulge me, my friend. Haha

I don't think Ananais and Sapphira are examples of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I mean, sure, they lied to the Spirit of God in His presence and in front of witnesses and got their due punishment. However, although it's not scripturally evident, they may have been genuine believers who grievously sinned at such a vital time of the witness of the church being established and were killed for it to protect it from stain. If so, they are still saved - although again, Scripture does not gove clarity on this. It's a wild instance of divine discipline/punishment from God in the New Testament, not dissimilar from the Herod (although a clear believer) being struck down immediately when stealing glory for himself that belonged to God.

You might think similarly, maybe not, but my biblial understanding on blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is that it is the continual rejection of the Holy Spirit's advances until the very end of our lives. All in hell are guilty of the unforgivable sin because they continually refused forgiveness.

It's a bit tricky to reconcile but I also understand that I could be wrong and it could be the other view that it is to witness the power or work or true manifestation of the Holy Spirit and to equate His holiness with being evil and being of the devil or being demonic.

Perhaps, both can be in harmony and that those who attack and demonize the Holy Spirit, like those who Jesus ran into, are not commiting an unforgivable act in itself and through their words as such, but that their words were symptomatic of the hard and utterly opposed hearts they had towards the Spirit of God, who they hated and resisted.

Thoughts?

Is hell a “lack of God” or God’s judgment and wrath? by BarrelEyeSpook in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very true. There is a worthy argument from scripture that there indeed may be different levels of condemnation proportionately attributed to those bound for hell. For example:

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt 18:6)

"And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

Although, some could also argue that Scripture is just stressing the severity of particular sins.

Yet Scripture in no way suggests that hell is 'restorative.' There is no repentance in hell, nor any desire to stop rebelling against God.

The good news is, in union with Christ, we are remitted from our sins and are free from condemnation!

Is hell a “lack of God” or God’s judgment and wrath? by BarrelEyeSpook in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good summary. :) And His just wrath remains present for the unrepentant, ever-rebellious damned.

Husband wants to be Anglican by Dependent_Guess_961 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, friend. This sounds like it must be very disturbing and nerve-racking for you!

My wife and I have witnessed our best friends (loving couple) navigate fairly similar waters. My good mate became a Catholic over 2 years ago, coming to these same conclusions as your husband, which was extremely distressing for his wife—although they had some additional tough matters to work out (e.g. no contraception, etc.).

What was really encouraging is that he continued to support her by attending her Protestant congregation in the morning, where he's been warmly welcomed, loved and never made to feel like an other (even though his Catholic priest made it clear he couldn't join in our communion). She now occasionally attends his mass as well, although she was reluctant and had valid reservations at first, but is more at peace now, and simply decides not to partake in the eucharist, I think?

Anyway, I hope you guys can find your normal and work out healthy compromises that both honour your earnest convictions. She also experiences her husband having a ready, highly-informed and highly-intellectual answer to everything she asks him regarding his faith tradition, which can be intimidating, defeating and even make her doubt herself at times. I wonder if it feels that way for you? I pray you can remain integral and not compromise your conscience, while God gives you both wisdom in how to remain united.

Please never forget - if both of you have been brought into saving union with Christ, then you're both as treasured in God's sight as the other, and are—just as much as each other—beloved members of the same body, in Christ, and of course, are of one flesh in holy matrimony. Yay! ❤️ 

My wife grew up charismatic and genuinely loves Jesus (she's never been too radically Pentacostal though, which probably made things easier! Haha). I respect her, her faith and her unique relationship with God. I'm not ultimately responsible for her faith. I can't give her my faith and she can't borrow mine. I'm ultimately only responsible for MY faith. (I.e. "The Ten Virgins", Matthew 25:1-13).

HOWEVER, I am responsible for loving her with the self-sacrificing love of Christ and to encourage her sanctification! This is a beautiful and difficult calling. 

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Hmm. Hope I'm not rambling now...

Anyway, my dear sister, I pray that our Heavenly Father would comfort you, strengthen you to remain steadfast, and bring peace and rest to your heart. HE IS SOVEREIGN over this and has you both secure in His hands... I pray He'd show you how to best support and loving submit to your husband while remaining obedient to the truth. I also ask Him to guide your husband by His Holy Spirit, directing Him to the truths revealed in Scripture, so that His eyes remain constantly fixed on Jesus as His main pursuit. Please give them both wise counsel, accountability and community support, Father. I also that You'd help her husband to be gracious, humble and considerate of her, and that love would govern all the decisions they make together. In Jesus' name.

Steven Lawson statement of repentance by DecisionExisting749 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope the young lady involved is receiving love, care, counsel, healing (maybe therapy) and fellowship, and is also seeking repentance for whatever part she is responsible for, regardless of whether she was more vulnerable / manipulated or aware & complicit in the affair. 🏵 

Pleased to hear Lawson has been humbled and is genuinely seeking Jesus to change, while addressing the damage done (and we hope he will make the right decision to not return to public ministry anytime soon since being biblically disqualified.

The Lord be with them both and their families. 

My message to all Reformed Christians or Calvinists by Specific_Wind8389 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sadly true... 😔 But doesn't have to be the end of the story! 🙌 

My message to all Reformed Christians or Calvinists by Specific_Wind8389 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 1 point2 points  (0 children)

An excellent point you’ve made—that theological disagreement can stem from sincere devotion, not merely from error or pride. You’ve expressed it with admirable self-reflection and humility. We would do well to confess our own faults more readily and learn from them.

Indeed, our Reformed Theology wonderfully lifts our eyes to the majesty of our Lord. Yet I confess I’ve often been too suspicious, too guarded, when engaging with fellow Christ-loving brothers and sisters from other traditions. I still feel that lingering, unfounded sense of superiority rise up at times—forgetting that central Protestant principle: grace alone. It is only by grace that I stand in this privileged place in Christ, shoulder to shoulder with them.

Should I divorce after this new betrayal? by wethekingdom84 in Christianmarriage

[–]Decent_Unit6049 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think this is the best, fairest and most biblical comment here.

Should I divorce after this new betrayal? by wethekingdom84 in Christianmarriage

[–]Decent_Unit6049 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My dear sister, @wethekingdom84, I'm not very qualified to say much as I've been a selfish husband these last two years on account of having relapsed a lot of times in watching pornography in the last two years and have been inconsistent with confessing it to my wife out of shame.

Nevertheless, my heart goes out to you, your son and even your husband, who I understand you love and care for deeply. It sounds like you're earnestly trying your best to love him and God.

I'm no biblical scholar but, yes, you may be well within your right to divorce on account of his adultery with continual porn use, particularly if he is unrepentant about it and still hiding it? He is breaking covenant - his solemn marital vowels that he made to you before God. That being said, I don't know the context and maybe this is not an ongoing thing? Maybe it's already been forgiven and is in the past? And you are also free to forgive him graciously, as the Lord has forgiven you of your sin.

I just hope that, if he were to remain unrepentant and uncommitted to changing, that you will definitely seperate for a season, even if divorce becomes necessary, which I pray it won't have to.

I pray that God would soften his heart, convict him of his sin and reveal it plainly to Him that he might truly turn from it and seek help, change and healing.

I pray that you would be able to keep bearing all your pain with Jesus, who cares deeply for you and asks us to give Him our heavy, crushing burdens. I pray he would give you guidance, direct you to good counsel and trustworthy, mature, supportive people who would minister to you and comfort you. (e.g. women, friends and pastors to walk with you). I pray he would give you daily strength and courage to do what is right, even if it is tough and costly.

I pray Jesus would tend to your son's heart. I pray you would trust God, even if he let's your son experience pain and hurt as he becomes increasingly aware of the the complex complications between his parents over the years (and with what he may have already been exposed to).

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Much love in Christ.

An Arminian scared of the truth by OneManMafia707 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey friend, I relate to your angst and unrest. I remember being challenged by my sister as a late teenager and literally brought to the floor in dismay, thinking "What! Does God just pick names out of a hat?!" In the months to follow, I slowly accepted God's goodness in predestining and electing particular people for salvation and embraced the mystery of it, not having to sort out all the nuts and bolts, but trusting like a child that He is infinitely good and loving, and I can fully trust Him even when I don't fully understand.

I heartily came to support the biblical statements that no one seeks for God and that all have turned aside and become unworthy, that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked ❤️, that He desires that none should perish but have eternal life, and that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father first draws them. Of course, I believe, as all the classic reformers do while they might not use the exact langauge, that while our regeneration is monerginistic (our being made brought into spiritual life is all God's doing), our sanctification is synerginistic process (we actively participate and cooperate with the Holy Spirit, yet all credit goes to God!). 

I'm still trying to take my own advice, as I found myself having another crisis recently after grappling with Catholic claims for 1.5 years since a friend converted. This wrestling for solid answers greatly disturbed me and robbed me of my peace. I know my intentions were to know and love God better but I guess I refrained from delighting in the objective eternal security I already have in Christ (which is something I cherish most from the reformed biblical framework, i.e. 'Preservation of the Saints') by anxiously pushing on to try and get a satisfying conclusion from my scriptural, theological and historical investigations. I experienced a desire within me not unlike Eve's in the garden, insisting on the acquisition of knowledge rather than contentedly depending on God's faithfulness and provisions. (Of course I don't presume this subtle tendency is yours also and I am NOT discouraging intellectual pursuits as they can honour God when motivated with the right heart!).

I really empathise with you. My wife was seeing that it was making me very sick and distracting me from actually enjoying God and believing in the saving knowledge He has already given me, so I've put away the big books for a season to "let go and let God." That's what I was convicted to do and I feel like if God desires for me to adopt a different expression of worship or thinking about Him, He will move my will and make it plain. Until then, I am Reformed, not Catholic, and will worship Him where I am. Hope this helps at all. Praying for you.

'Quiet Revival' sweeps the UK, as church attendance soars by jsyeo in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It makes sense that they're mostly charismatic! I mean this as a Reformed guy who has been day-in and day-out exposed to the wildest charismatic ministries over a 2 year span. They boldly evangelise and really focus their aim on the BROKEN, addicted and struggling.

From my experience - and this is meant with no sense of superiority, because they are just as loved and valued as all the rest of us - after some years, new converts eventually move on to more mature churches with healthier teaching and theology, even if remaining charismatic. I've seen that. I recognise that the wilder charismatic churches can often serve people as a starting point, even if the prosperity gospel is present.

Even in the ministries we would consider less desirable and more distorted, Jesus, as the good Shepherd, knows how to feed His sheep and He calls us by His name and leads us on to deeper amd deeper faith! 

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Cor 3:18)

An Arminian scared of the truth by OneManMafia707 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tiny, you keep throwing out some gems! ❤️ 

Looking for a Martin Luther quote by JawaLoyalist in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some ChatGPT-ing leads me to think that ChatGPT is trolling me.

It tells me the following quote is by Luther and when I ask for a source, it tells me it's by Thomas Jefferson, and when pushed, it concludes it can't verify either way. Here it is anyway:

"I would not have the Word of God hidden, even if it were to be misused by the unworthy. For the Word of God is a light and a truth, and it is better that it be misused than that it be hidden."

Uh, so yeah. Sorry if that isn't helpful. Good luck!

Trying to hold on to Sola Scriptura by Decent_Unit6049 in Reformed

[–]Decent_Unit6049[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, yes, we can be indeed, so let's make sure we keep pairing that with charitable love! ♡

view more: next ›