If Jackie-Boy showed up at your church?

[RAIDER]

Well, my biggest thought on this thread (and I really never intended to jump in on it...but I did) is, "Why spend time conjecturing meaningless things about someone whose impact on our life is over and who most of us will probably never see again?"

But it honestly rankles me, and I think it is a personal pet peeve, whenever it is insinuated that only those who "do" something at the church are serving the Lord.

I don't mean this to seem smart aleck, but how do you "serve" the Lord if you don't do anything?

Mat 25:40
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Absolutely!

 

[Binaca Chugger]

God is fully capable of using a Christian who has restored his relationship with Christ, his joy in his salvation and his yieldedness to sanctification in a way that we might not imagine.

Thank you.  This is what I have been saying for several posts.

...that we might not imagine.  BrainIsEngaged got it right.  Live a relationship with Christ, dedicating yourself to His glory in every activity of your life.  Stop seeking position.  When we start naming what we think any Christian in need of restoration might be able to do once they have achieved restoration in the church, we are naming what final sanctification looks like - and we are wrong.  Don't let position be the goal.  Don't let ministry be the goal.  Don't let function be the goal.  LET RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST BE THE GOAL!

 

[RAIDER]

God is fully capable of using a Christian who has restored his relationship with Christ, his joy in his salvation and his yieldedness to sanctification in a way that we might not imagine.

Thank you.  This is what I have been saying for several posts.

...that we might not imagine.  BrainIsEngaged got it right.  Live a relationship with Christ, dedicating yourself to His glory in every activity of your life.  Stop seeking position.  When we start naming what we think any Christian in need of restoration might be able to do once they have achieved restoration in the church, we are naming what final sanctification looks like - and we are wrong.  Don't let position be the goal.  Don't let ministry be the goal.  Don't let function be the goal.  LET RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST BE THE GOAL!

And with that you and I will go back to being on the same page 99% of the time. 

 

[Mathew Ward]

Raider, the issue that comes to my mind (and what I think might perhaps be triggering the response you've received from Binaca...although of course I won't presume to speak for him) is that you seem to put forth the idea that one can only perform service to God via a named / titled position in the church. I don't have any named or titled position in the church, save for 'member'...but I try to live my life for Him and thus I consider myself to be in His full-time service.

The OP is asking what JS might ever be able to do in a church again.  I have only answered his question.  With all of my posts I have stated that I am coming from an angle where JS would repent and get right with God.  I also have been coming from the angle that "proving time' has passed.  I have never elevated him to a 'position" unless you consider being an usher, working in the sound booth, or cleaning bathrooms a "position".  I have also stated that JS could possibly minister to those in jail.  Again, I don't view this as a "position". 

I would hope that you do something to serve in your church besides fill a pew.  Perhaps you work in the nursery, are a helper in a SS class, go soul winning, visit those in a nursing home, etc

Usher, sound booth and janitor are positions in the church.

So is a member and a visitor.

They are positions of authority.

A visitor holds no position with any authority.

 

[Mathew Ward]

God is fully capable of using a Christian who has restored his relationship with Christ, his joy in his salvation and his yieldedness to sanctification in a way that we might not imagine.

Thank you.  This is what I have been saying for several posts.

...that we might not imagine.  BrainIsEngaged got it right.  Live a relationship with Christ, dedicating yourself to His glory in every activity of your life.  Stop seeking position.  When we start naming what we think any Christian in need of restoration might be able to do once they have achieved restoration in the church, we are naming what final sanctification looks like - and we are wrong.  Don't let position be the goal.  Don't let ministry be the goal.  Don't let function be the goal.  LET RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST BE THE GOAL!

But the performance is what is stressed, expected and preached not the relationship.