once I realized I could breathe outside of it, life hasn’t been quite the same

I know some friends who have pastored and parented well-I also know way too many who have kids that feel they live in the ministry fishbowl and are confused about their own faith.

I was thinking about a pastor I knew who stepped down (my guess is under outside pressure of course and guilt) because his adult daughter finally admitted she had been playing the part of Christian but really didn’t believe as she had been taught…

you know how SGM policy is that pastors/elders can’t hold their positions if they have children who are unruly, rebellious, etc? And they base this on the single verse Paul wrote to Timothy or Titus, can’t remember which, about the qualifications of elders and being able to manage your household or whatever?

I always wondered about that, because how in the world does SGM logically hold the father responsible for the salvation and sanctification of his children when they are CALVINISTS?? Either those kids are elect, or they aren’t, and there isn’t one thing the father or SGM can do about it either way – except they certainly feel justified punishing someone for the lack of faith of someone else by removing them from a ministry position despite their supposed inability to bring about a cause or effect in their children…talk about inconsistent and stupid. 

The only thing consistent about SGM and so many other churches is their inconsistency and convenient applications of truth as they see fit – after of course, THEY have defined truth.

I suggest, that hereafter commenters on this blog be known collectively as the Synod of Snarkville.

John, think you can canonize the ideas here? you know, just to make it official so everyone will take things seriously and not have to go out and think for themselves.

oh wait… that particular line of thought is trending close to Universalist version of Pantheism.

humm… maybe it really does just all pan out in the end and hell doesn’t even matter.

>whispering< (wonder how long it will take the “orthodoxy” crowd to start screaming heretic?)

yeah, beliefs have nothing to do with behavior…you’re right. So we can be totally ignorant or off base and still be OK.  Cause God is sovereign after all, right?

Truth, wisdom and understanding are just silly notions I think God came up with to keep us occupied during our lives here. He really didn’t give us any ability to apprehend any of it.  And He would certainly NEVER expect us to figure anything out.

this:
Intentionally indolent and apathetic men always gravitate to HE who absolves them of the burden of finding wisdom and acting on understanding.
Intentionally indolent and apathetic men swear loyalty to HE who claims the sole authority to beat back the evil.
is brilliant….thanks for the mental nourishment John…so many are starving out here.