"You Are Not Right With God"

[Don]

(07-06-2011 11:20 AM)FinallyFree Wrote:  Justification makes me right with God. I have nothing to fear. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
This idea that fundy preachers love to declare (especially the so called evangelists) is a manipulative term designed to get people to the "altar." Sadly it leaves genuine Christians feeling condemned, burdened, and fearful. Many have no joy because they are worried that they are not right with God all the time.

and... in many cases regarding the Fundie (self proclaimed) evangelist such preaching produces doubt induced anasalvation and an altar full of anasalvationists.

[elfdream]

I would think that most people who are 'not right with God' already know it and they don't need anyone to tell them what they already know.

[GraceThruFaith]

Can one be a Christian and not be right with God?

I would imagine a Fundy would bring an example, like someone who gets drunk alot or is having premarital sex. "How can they be right with God but be doing such a thing?" a Fundy would say. What would the proper response be to that?

[pastor's wife]

I'd rather say that they are in disobedience. Both drunkeness and premarital sex are forbidden in Scripture. I would say that a believer doing that is living in disobedience to the Word.

[rebel?]

I think the "right with God" stuff in regards to Christians is the wrong question. It puts the focus on our own works, as though we can please God in our own strength. When we abide in Christ, His life flows through us and produces righteousness. When we are not abiding in him, the result is sin (jealousy, immorality, etc.). The focus should be on the relationship between Christ and the person, not on the external acts. The externals are only a symptom of the heart condition.

As a side note, I think the presence of the fruit of the Spirit (or lack thereof) is a much better indicator of heart condition than the "big" sins of drunkenness or immorality. Just my 2 cents...

[paul]

(07-08-2011 01:44 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote:  I would imagine a Fundy would bring an example, like someone who gets drunk alot or is having premarital sex. "How can they be right with God but be doing such a thing?" a Fundy would say. What would the proper response be to that?

Snark Aggressive Response: How can you claim to be a Christian and think you are right with God when you are gossipping about that person and judging your brother? What about your "pet" sins?

Theological Debate Response: When they became a Christian, did Christ's blood cover all of their sins or just some of them? If, in God's eyes, their sins were paid for by Christ and they are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1) then how can you suggest they are not "right with God"? Isn't that God's decision and not yours?

Fire with Fire Response: Seriously? Why not worry more about that beam in your eye before you go judging the spirituality of other Christians? Read I Corinthians much?