So....

brainisengaged

brainisengaged

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So...the gist of our adult SS class lesson yesterday was the need to practice separation from those less spiritual. The illustration was: it is easier for a less-spiritual person to bring you down than it is for you to bring them up to your level. I think this was a JH concept, but truthfully don't know for certain.

There wasn't an actual Scripture referenced, but the context was how Solomon's wives turned his heart away from God.

There was the typical ifb joking..."The only thing worse than having 700 wives .... is having 700 mother-in-laws!" Ha ha ha ha. "Can you imagine how long it took Solomon to leave for work in the morning? Goodbye, honey...Goodbye honey....Goodbye, honey....after all 700 goodbye kisses it would be dinner time!" ha ha ha ha

But the big point was the necessity of separating oneself from those less spiritual than oneself. I wondered, how do we get to determine what level spirituality we are on? And how can we discern what level our acquaintances are on? Maybe we should initiate the caste system of India and imprint different colored dots on our foreheads? We would all know the most spiritual color and the least spiritual color, and we would then easily be able to associate only with those who are on our level.

I guess on the forum, since we cannot see each other, we'd have to be on the honor system... ;)
 
What a horrible thing to be teaching people.
 
So.....then what was Jesus doing hanging around with the less-spiritual than him.........disciples, tax collectors & sinners?
 
Posted by: fishinnut

So.....then what was Jesus doing hanging around with the less-spiritual than him.........disciples, tax collectors & sinners?
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I know, right? Obviously...He could bring them up. I guess since we are not He, we are not capable of being brought up to a higher level of spirituality by someone more spiritual than ourselves.
 
This is why Pastor needs his own special pedestal.
 
brainisengaged said:
...how do we get to determine what level spirituality we are on? And how can we discern what level our acquaintances are on?
Click to expand...

I can tell you how not to determine where you are at spiritually.

"...they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." II Corinthians 10:12

 
To be fair, it was not our pastor who taught this...he does not put himself up on a pedestal. It was our adult SS class teacher...

I know adult SS classes are supposed to be a way to create a small group within a large group... and I think that is accomplished, which is a nice aspect of belonging to an adult class if you happen to like and or enjoy the people in your class.

I also know you can't just have a "let's hear what you think about this passage" type open forum with the class...but I can honestly say in my over ten years of being a member of an adult class, I don't feel like the lesson has ever really been an eye-opening insight into the Bible.

I also fully realize that is my responsibility to accomplish by myself in study. So then, what really is the point of an adult SS class? Is it just the fellowship? There is something to be said for that, certainly, except in my own case where I find myself alone in a class in which I don't really like anyone -- maybe that's because I am on such a much higher spiritual plane, ha ha!  :P :P :P



(My better half teaches SS, so that is why I go by myself to an adult class, in case anyone was wondering)
 
Was this "teacher" a person from the former administration?

It is disappointing that some do not catch the direction of the pastor. This seems to be in opposition of Wilkerson's desire and mission.
 
As Rush Limbaugh says..."And now from the groove-yard of forgotten hits..."

Consider these goldie-oldies from a kool-aid drinking Hyles-bootlicker in Southeastern Ohio...

“If you ever get to the point where you cannot respect and obey the authority, then it is up to the servant to leave quietly.”

“A person who doesn’t agree with what the preacher says is a proud person.”

“The best thing for you is to have a job that pays just enough to live and nothing more.”

“You had better be careful when you get mad at the preacher.”

“We don’t need history or science.”

“Ask yourself the question, ‘What talent do I have that I can offer to the preacher?’”
 
Posted by: qwerty
Was this "teacher" a person from the former administration?
Click to expand...

No, not a former administrator. A former pastor who has moved back.

A current administrator spoke last night...were you there? Pastor is in China, so EL got to preach on his favorite hobby horse: obey your authorities. It will go very wrong with you if you do not obey and submit to your authorities. (completely paraphrased, but that was the point). Then DD got up after he preached, ostensibly to make announcements, but had to add his mini-sermon of, "Everything he just said was exactly right and you'd better listen."

But that's another story entirely! I just hijacked my own thread...
 
I don't think you can make a blanket statement about this issue.  Each person would be different.  I can see his point if a baby Christian is easily influenced by those who are "carnal Christians".  It would be better for him to befriend someone that would be a better influence on him.
 
I know there are many complicated aspects to the situations in which we find ourselves in life. The concept of separation is not categorically wrong. We all practice it to some extent in every area of our lives. It is the implicit 'fear' that is always used as motivation that irks me.
 
brainisengaged said:
I know there are many complicated aspects to the situations in which we find ourselves in life. The concept of separation is not categorically wrong. We all practice it to some extent in every area of our lives. It is the implicit 'fear' that is always used as motivation that irks me.
Click to expand...

It took a long time after I left HAC, that I realized God was not standing over me with a hammer hitting me on the head if I did anything wrong, or if I wasn't spiritual enough, or wasnt as good as someone else. I wasnt brought up that way, but those four years and then 12 years more of that teaching really took a toll on me! I dont call my self "free",  but I know in my heart that the Lord loves me and wants me to succeed!
 
Recently at a major meeting of employees pastor W suggested that there were several people who had been slow to catch on with the new direction and that they might feel led to go elsewhere.

I think your SS teacher might be in that group.
 
brainisengaged said:
So...the gist of our adult SS class lesson yesterday was the need to practice separation from those less spiritual. The illustration was: it is easier for a less-spiritual person to bring you down than it is for you to bring them up to your level. I think this was a JH concept, but truthfully don't know for certain.

There wasn't an actual Scripture referenced, but the context was how Solomon's wives turned his heart away from God.

There was the typical ifb joking..."The only thing worse than having 700 wives .... is having 700 mother-in-laws!" Ha ha ha ha. "Can you imagine how long it took Solomon to leave for work in the morning? Goodbye, honey...Goodbye honey....Goodbye, honey....after all 700 goodbye kisses it would be dinner time!" ha ha ha ha

But the big point was the necessity of separating oneself from those less spiritual than oneself. I wondered, how do we get to determine what level spirituality we are on? And how can we discern what level our acquaintances are on? Maybe we should initiate the caste system of India and imprint different colored dots on our foreheads? We would all know the most spiritual color and the least spiritual color, and we would then easily be able to associate only with those who are on our level.

I guess on the forum, since we cannot see each other, we'd have to be on the honor system... ;)
Click to expand...

So.......... to borrow a line from Driving Miss Daisy, "Things ain't changed all that much." Of course that makes me less spiritual.
 
Baptist City Holdout said:
So.......... to borrow a line from Driving Miss Daisy, "Things ain't changed all that much." Of course that makes me less spiritual.
Click to expand...

BCH, you are watching movies.  I can no longer hang around you.
 
RAIDER said:
I don't think you can make a blanket statement about this issue.  Each person would be different.  I can see his point if a baby Christian is easily influenced by those who are "carnal Christians".  It would be better for him to befriend someone that would be a better influence on him.
Click to expand...

Raider always looks on the sunny side. Guess I shouldn't have quoted from a godless movie so fast.
 
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