The Age of Accountability by Charles Stanley ---

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

I’ve never agreed with everything a church minister has said in every sermon, in any church I’ve been to. I do appreciate the ones who are “down to earth”, open minded, and are okay with questions and critique.

 

[unsafe]

Interesting article on open mindedness -----I just posted part of it ---

In my view our mind should be open to the Truth not what we think or want it to be open to ----God says His Word is Truth -----Jesus said ---I am the Truth ---the Life and The Way ------The way is narrow not wide -----


Read all here ---- https://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Basics/openmind.htm

The BIG LIE of Open-Mindedness

By David J. Stewart

"... If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" -Matthew 6:23​

We hear a lot these days about having an "open-mind"; BUT, it's one of the biggest fallacies today. So many people nowadays, who think they have an open mind, are actually very closed-minded to the truth.

We are living in a brainwashed generation of people, who have bought into the New Age Movement, hook, line, and sinker. The basic tenet of New Age is that there is NO one correct spiritual pathway to the light, i.e., what they perceive as god. Rather, they believe that there are MANY paths to the light. New Agers all profess to be "open-minded" towards other faiths, no one dare condemning any particular faith as being wrong. Thus, the New Age Movement is VERY ecumenical, i.e., differing faiths who are willing to UNITE in error, rather than to be DIVIDED over truth. Of course, the Word of God commands all believers to be divided over truth (2nd Corinthians 6:14-17).

There is much peer pressure in the world today to join the New Age Movement (which is simply the religion of the New World Order, i.e., the Beast system of the coming Antichrist). We hear a lot of propaganda nowadays about diversity, and tolerance towards other faiths, homosexuals, and the wicked in general. This is the "political correctness" of our day. If the Antichrist is to successfully usurp the reigns of power when he is revealed (2nd Thessalonians 2:6), then he is going to need the masses of this world all thinking the same way. New Age is a diabolical Satanic religion which prohibits it's adherents from denouncing any other faith as being wrong, or false. Consequently, New Age suppresses the truth. In a tragic paradox, New Agers who profess to be open-minded are in reality closed-minded to the truth, because according to New Age teaching no one group can be exclusively correct in their beliefs. So even if one group had the truth, it wouldn't matter, because New Age forbids accepting one faith as being more valid than another. In essence, New Age declares that all religions are equal. In New Age, there can be NO one exclusive path to Heaven.

Open-mindedness is the biggest lie of our day. MOST people who think they are open-minded are actually closed-minded to the truth. In their very attempt to be "open-minded," they foolishly refuse to believe that any one faith or spiritual teaching could possibly be 100% truthful over all other conflicting teachings. The inherent nature of the New Age mentality is extremely closed-minded!!! In New Age, you're not allowed to say that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven. In John 14:6 Jesus clearly stated, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." That is an exclusive statement! Jesus is claiming to be the absolute ONLY way to Heaven! Hence, if you want to find life, truth, and the way to Heaven--then you MUST come to the Father through God the Son, Jesus Christ! (2nd Thessalonians 1:8).

 

[chansen]

More smoke.

 

[unsafe]

 

[Northwind]

I cannot follow a view that believes children are born evil sinners. I also cannot follow a view that has a limited view of "truth". Those are ingredients for mind control and toxic faith.

I'm more comfortable with the thoughts that @revjohn shared above where sinful nature is more about being fallible and redeemable.

 

[Luce NDs]

It's a grand fabrication by a tentmaker by a famous name ... numerically speaking of passing numbers! The Shuttle BUZZ ...

Expect some weaving and dance ... numinuss?

 

[revjohn]

John, you're only addressing the judgment, not the punishment.

Yes, and no.

The judgement is that all have sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of God. Doesn't matter whether or not you were born with a sinful nature or work hard at developing it all on your own.

Punishment is not a function of judgment.

It is a function of sentencing and it is in sentencing where God reserves the right to be scandalously gracious.

Some Christians operate as if there is a possibility of us being found "Not guilty" and so being set free. That seriously discounts the whole aspect of Christ dying on the cross for our sin. The only way we Christians can lay claim to being new creations in Christ Jesus and therefore free from condemnation is if we are bound to Christ's life, death and resurrection.

The horror porn isn't the judgment, it's the punishment.

Disagree. The horror porn is in whatever inspires fear and trembling. The punishment is meant to do that which is why some are able to wax so eloquently about what eternal suffering will be like and when it comes to talking gospel matters like grace and forgiveness become stilted an unconvincing.

The judgment is just moronic.

If by moronic you mean self-evident then I can agree with that. I know I am not perfect (textbook definition of sinner) and I hope I am not speaking out of turn when I say that you have not convinced me that you are perfect either. That we might appeal to different standards is, I think fair, that we might hold each other accountable for standards we do not embrace is, in a word, unfair.

Which is probably why Jesus spends more time counseling his disciples to examine themselves rather than encouraging them to sit in judgment on others.

The punishment is the fear mongering.

Yes and no. That there is the possibility of punishment is no more fear-mongering than is stating the fact that if you speed you could get a ticket. It is a factual comment about possible outcome. Insisting that someone will be punished is where fear-mongering begins simply because it denies God the Sovereignly free choice of being gracious or merciful.

The punishment, we know, changes depending on who you ask. God apparently left that one up for interpretation as well (he does that a lot).

I expect that is a function of Christ's use of hyperbole. Many mistake it for a literal/factual accounting. I suspect that it is meant to tell us that final punishment will be a reality we cannot even begin to imagine. Doesn't prevent folk who are addicted to fear from trying. I know what scripture says about hell and generally, I know which form of hell scripture is talking about at the time. Most don't recognize that hell is a multi-faceted term in the English which doesn't recognize the nuance of the original texts.

Which is why thoughts on hell vary. Ignorance of nuance leads to isolation of facets.

For some, it is eternal pain and suffering. For others, it is a poorly-defined "separation from God". At the very least, it is seen as separation from those who are "godly", leading to separation anxiety for parents.

For some, according to scripture, it will be eternal pain and suffering. Most of the texts which reference hell are not addressing this particular facet. We would need to know which word is being rendered in English as "hell" to actually understand what the author of the text is invoking. Fear-mongerers find no profit in that exercise.

And never mind that the book of Revelation which is the final peek we get at how the universe winds up posits a numberless multitude dressed in white it will always be assumed that the number of those who failed to get white robes must be higher. I suspect that is how self-righteousness functions, there are always more that do not meet the standards I choose to proclaim my own righteousness by.

I don't run into a lot of parental separation anxiety with regards to hell or even the idea of sinfulness. That said I don't walk the same side of the street with the fear-mongering crowd. Jesus was a friend to sinners. We who identify as disciples of Christ should try a similar approach. Scaring the hell out of people isn't friendly.

This is the fear mongering. This is the truly hateful, evil bit.

Agree that fear-mongering is hateful and evil. Scripture claims that perfect love drives out all fear. So I wonder, what is it that resorts to fear when presenting the gracious love of God is a completely viable option?

Mind you, it's hard to argue with the results. Challenge accepted.

Results vary.

It would be foolish of me to suggest that it was not fear in his heart which prompted John Newton's repentance.

It would be foolish of others to think that it was some human agent which put that fear into Newton's heart and therefore we should be doing the same.

Personally, I think the doom and gloom contingent of Christianity is just about the laziest aspect of the historical faith a Christian can attach themselves to. Which significantly colours how they abuse things like the age of accountability.

I respect Charles Stanley. His writings (obviously dated because he was a man defined by the times he lived in just as we all are) have been a tremendous asset to the Christian faith primarily because he, himself, was not a fear-mongerer.

 

[Luce NDs]

Horror porn is when the soul is stripped down and revealed of all its darkness ... a black pool of hyperbolic nature ... kind've metaphorical if one can get beyond it! OBI's or ABUs ...

 

[GeoFee]

At the core of every child the image of God is present. Over time that image is obscured by the physical, mental, and spiritual circumstance of the mother and the home in which they live. That obscurity is amplified as the child conforms to the patterns of the home, which tend to be the patterns of the social context. In effect, the image of God is treasure buried in a field; fully conscious and waiting to be found. Those finding it gladly sell all that they have to obtain it. They, in effect, die to the way of the flesh and rise to the way of the spirit. We see this in the baptism of Jesus. He goes under the water, symbolizing death of the body, and rises a new creation; the image of God in history with no trace of sin.

I gladly embrace the sanctifying fire, which burns away dross to reveal what is precious. The apostle uses the image of an athlete abandoning what hinders to increase opportunity for overcoming opponents met along the way.

Lectionary passages for the past weeks have focused on the consequence of turning from the way of God. I wonder how many speakers made plain what those texts make present to our day under the sun? That it is we who are now in Joel's valley of decision. Increasing evidence makes plain that our human imagination and determination have brought us to the precipice of chaos. Deuteronomy sets before us the way of life and the way of death. Why on earth would we persist in the way of death?

We are not only accountable to God. We are now also accountable to science, which makes plain that pollution of water and air will lead to the destruction of our bodies. To say nothing of cultivating addiction to sugar for the sake of profit; bringing into play an epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Both of which contribute to the failure of cardio and pulmonary functions. All of which brings much profit to the medical industry and the pharmaceutical producers.

All while the masses are distracted and diverted by the technologies of suggestion and persuasion.

 

[chansen]

At the core of every child the image of God is present.

You never met Carter.

 

[GeoFee]

You never met Carter.

Dad’s boy?

 

[chansen]

Just insulting my late son.

 

[GeoFee]

Not my intention. Apologies for any offence.

 

[revjohn]

Not my intention. Apologies for any offence.

From my window of observation two points.

1) That Carter was his father's son is, I think, on the nose.

2) It was Chansen who was insulting his son not you.

If my observation is off I am sure Chansen will correct as necessary.

 

[GeoFee]

Just had point two in mind after posting. Will watch for clues going forward.

 

[chansen]

2) It was Chansen who was insulting his son not you.

Exactly.

No worries, George. It's just kinda what I do. You should hear me with the new one.