Comments on: Dear Pastor Tom

By: Oceanskaterhttp://unveiledfaces.org/wordpress/

Oceanskaterhttp://unveiledfaces.org/wordpress/ — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:56:37 +0000

Your story about that woman breaks my heart. I think the problem with "Christians" is that so many have an incorrect understanding of grace and sanctification. I could go on and on about this. God’s grace covers all of our sins, all our imperfections, all of our idiosyncrasies. Jesus’ death on the cross took care of all our sins – those we committed before we were saved AND those we committed since that moment.

But still, we think it’s easier to follow rules than to try to live in the reality of grace. We quickly forget Paul’s warning to the Colossians: Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23

Rules will get your nowhere fast. How many Christians have said "this is the last time I'll commit this sin", and it really wasn’t? And they certainly won’t help you to understand God’s character.

And sanctification is another story. Christians are afraid to get their hands dirty (yes, I've read "The Gutter" by Craig and cried all the way through it). I think of the story of Lazarus in John 11. When Lazarus came out of that tomb, he was smelly, dirty, and tightly wrapped in grave clothes. But Jesus saw through all that, knowing that Lazarus was once dead but had been made alive, and that underneath those stinky grave clothes was a new creation. He asked those present (Jews, who were forbidden to tough a dead person) to see past the grave clothes to the new person underneath and unwrap him. Christians often expect that when someone gets saved, they are instantly supposed to be a new creation. They don't want to have to get their hands dirty.

Keep sharing your thoughts and esploring them. And don't give up on Christians.

By: Oceanskaterhttp://unveiledface

Oceanskaterhttp://unveiledface — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 02:56:00 +0000

Your story about that woman breaks my heart. I think the problem with “Christians” is that so many have an incorrect understanding of grace and sanctification. I could go on and on about this. God’s grace covers all of our sins, all our imperfections, all of our idiosyncrasies. Jesus’ death on the cross took care of all our sins – those we committed before we were saved AND those we committed since that moment. But still, we think it’s easier to follow rules than to try to live in the reality of grace. We quickly forget Paul’s warning to the Colossians: Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23Rules will get your nowhere fast. How many Christians have said “this is the last time I’ll commit this sin”, and it really wasn’t? And they certainly won’t help you to understand God’s character.And sanctification is another story. Christians are afraid to get their hands dirty (yes, I’ve read “The Gutter” by Craig and cried all the way through it). I think of the story of Lazarus in John 11. When Lazarus came out of that tomb, he was smelly, dirty, and tightly wrapped in grave clothes. But Jesus saw through all that, knowing that Lazarus was once dead but had been made alive, and that underneath those stinky grave clothes was a new creation. He asked those present (Jews, who were forbidden to tough a dead person) to see past the grave clothes to the new person underneath and unwrap him. Christians often expect that when someone gets saved, they are instantly supposed to be a new creation. They don’t want to have to get their hands dirty. Keep sharing your thoughts and esploring them. And don’t give up on Christians.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:07:11 +0000

Truth is they’ve sat in their pews for two thousand years and they still don’t understand that Jesus washed her feet because the ground she walked on wasn’t pure enough for her.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:07:00 +0000

Truth is they’ve sat in their pews for two thousand years and they still don’t understand that Jesus washed her feet because the ground she walked on wasn’t pure enough for her.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 07:12:44 +0000

Hey, I left a message previously after finding your blog late September.
I've been reading along since then and every time you write, I get goosebumps down my spine.
It's really amazing to see how you're really taking a beating from a lot of people and you're still standing up straight. Good luck with your personal situations, eventually God will provide answers to that too.
Your letter to "Pastor Tom" is very straight to the point, I often hear "agnostics" or other people that do not believe in God, refer to christians in the way you desribed, even my boyfriend has simply been turned off by the many sunday-christians out there (my boyfriend's Mother one of them) that do not truly live in Jesus footsteps. They need a good smack upside the head, and I hope your letter will do exactly that to "Pastor Tom"

Goodluck, don't give up!
-Arenda

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 07:12:00 +0000

Hey, I left a message previously after finding your blog late September.I’ve been reading along since then and every time you write, I get goosebumps down my spine. It’s really amazing to see how you’re really taking a beating from a lot of people and you’re still standing up straight. Good luck with your personal situations, eventually God will provide answers to that too.Your letter to “Pastor Tom” is very straight to the point, I often hear “agnostics” or other people that do not believe in God, refer to christians in the way you desribed, even my boyfriend has simply been turned off by the many sunday-christians out there (my boyfriend’s Mother one of them) that do not truly live in Jesus footsteps. They need a good smack upside the head, and I hope your letter will do exactly that to “Pastor Tom”Goodluck, don’t give up!-Arenda

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 06:31:31 +0000

I have been reading your blog since i heard about it in a xxxchurch news letter. i have to say that what you say is so true and i wish and pray it wasn’t. From the bottom of my heart as a brother in our Lord, i am truly glad that you said what you did and exposed the problem within the modern christian society. One thing that i wish you would talk about more is the damage women go through, being in porn. Until i was reading some of your old blog that i really came to even imagine that these women could not be happy with the choices that they make. I guess i am asking why do they do something that the feel like crap after doing? I think alot of people could benefit from hearing what you have to say about this.

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 06:31:00 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 05:33:00 +0000

Hey Donny,

You’re a cool guy. The letter was pretty good. Well good luck buddy whatever you decide! You too Belinda!
Nothing wrong with a little nude photography here and there!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 05:33:00 +0000

Hey Donny,You’re a cool guy. The letter was pretty good. Well good luck buddy whatever you decide! You too Belinda!Nothing wrong with a little nude photography here and there!