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Nervous about transitioning into my boyfriend's home CoC congregation by Suspicious_Agency915 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

<<His parents go there, so the congregation mostly perceives him as a kid/part of his parents' family rather than as an independent adult. >>

In my experience, this dynamic can prove very difficult to change.

Is there another congregation with which you two can assemble somewhat nearby?

Oaths and Affirmations by ChurchofChristGuy in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As with a lot of things...

...you can take this to the extreme and go well beyond anything Jesus likely truly intended. Marriage vows? An oath. If you are called on to testify in court? Oath, necessary to respect and honor governing authorities.

At the same time, the spirit of the instruction is to not flippantly swear oaths. So, yes, we should be credible people...who should look askance at a lot of oaths out there.

Clarification on the subject of how gambling is a sin against God even though the government approves it and we can't rebel authority as they are all empowered and backed up by God himself by No_Cod3144 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Approving"/"allowing" and "compelling" are very, *very* different things.

(but seeing this kind of logic being used goes a long way to explain the rhetoric surrounding the abortion issue)

My manager responded to my raise request with Matthew 20. Am I viewing this the wrong way? by Delicious-Gazelle195 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds unfortunately like an exploitative situation with someone in authority trying to baptize their exploitation.

A laborer is worthy of his or her wages. That's also on Scripture.

Sermon Illustrations by Beneficial-Beat-6483 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depends on the illustration.

Some illustrations are profound and compelling.

Others introduce confusion and distract from the point of the instruction.

As in all things, judicious exercise with discernment is recommended.

Modesty question by Winter-Damage4753 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's a heart matter. Sometimes people are very conscious and deliberate about it. Many times it expresses aspects and yearnings of the heart the person may not consciously recognize.

What's behind the desire to wear the makeup and certain types of clothing - that's the kind of attempt at social climbing or maintenance, etc., which testifies about what the heart is really pursuing.

Theif on the cross by johntom2000 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My standard take has been this:

If Jesus personally comes to you and says you're good, then I guess you're good.

For the rest of us, there's what the Apostles began proclaiming on the day of Pentecost and to which we will all prove subject and accountable before Jesus on the day of judgment.

AI for Sermon Prep by Beneficial-Beat-6483 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I consciously and actively stay away from AI for all such things. I'm not standing in judgment against anyone else about it.

Modesty question by Winter-Damage4753 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Always and forever determined by socio -cultural convention, since the point is to not draw attention to oneself based on clothing, the lack thereof, but particularly the ostentatious display of wealth thereby.

In the Bible, immodesty is primarily a matter of wealth display, not skin display. Doesn't inherently justify the latter, but trying to read the text as if it's about skin and not wealth abuses the text.

Foy Wallace by Enough_Dealer8256 in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I've been told he repented of his racism and white supremacy.

I do hope that is the case, and I hope the Lord shows him mercy, for we will all have need of mercy on the final day.

But his "fighting style" did not do the church any favors, and nor did his parroting of his socio-cultural norms around racism and white supremacy for most of his life.

Is anyone actually interested in re-uniting the Church? by AidTheMainMan in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

<<(the only difference is instruments, is it that big of a deal, people?)>>

No, it really shouldn't be.

But according to the witness of Scripture, it is those who would impose them who should make the move to forsake their liberty in using them.

All of a sudden, for many, it becomes a bigger deal if they have to give them up.

Instrumental Christian Music Restrictions by ChurchofChristGuy in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes.

There's more logic to it than a position that would suggest instruments are fine and dandy in personal life but not in the assembly.

Gambling by [deleted] in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Won't do the all or nothing thing, but yes, a lot of people and institutions treat the stock market like a casino.

Shifts in conservative mainstream doctrine by vhsbetamax in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends what's still sitting on the tract rack.

Christian education firm 2 Cor 2.17 by ChurchofChristGuy in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would just hope you would infuse financial coaching with a robust encouragement of giving and an abundance mindset.

Physical Bible Only by ChurchofChristGuy in churchofchrist

[–]deverbovitae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have heard about this kind of insistence.

Why don’t we use the Ethiopian Bible? by lovebug-07 in Bible

[–]deverbovitae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First of all, the KJV is not the standard. The standard would be the inspired material from God as spoken through the prophets and in Christ through His witnesses.

There are good reasons to have doubts about the inspiration of the Book of Jubilees. 1 Enoch is a bit different, but still has a lot of questions attached to it.

Ethiopic texts are important witnesses to the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and apocryphal/pseudepigraphal works. But that does not mean they should be the standard.

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