The church's calling is to reach you, teach you, love you and pray for you, not to control you. That is your heart's choice to obey or disobey the Spirit of God. Your faith, salvation and commitment to God must be your own, between you and God. There is no church, religion, Pope, Preacher or wall of any kind between you and God. He who is convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Your spirituality, or lack of it, is yours alone. Whether it be good or bad, real or pretended, it is between you and God. Your faithfulness to God cannot be justly demanded or commanded by someone else, preacher, parent, friend or foe. The Pope may declare someone to be a "saint", but doing so, he defrauds what is God's jurisdiction not his. Others may force your outward actions or words to be acceptable to them or their clique, but not your heart, which they cannot see. That change must be done by example, prayer, and loving instruction in the Holy Scriptures. If the heart isn't changed, outward appearance means nothing but subjection or deception.
We are all answerable to God, not anyone else, for our soul's condition, our faith, salvation and commitment. One may be accountable to someone else, parent, spouse, employer or to the law. Or, their own accountability to God may require them to instruct or discipline of you, but it is you who will give an account to God for your private thoughts and feelings. "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom.14:12.
You have as much right to approach God the Father, in Jesus' name, as Billy Graham or any other person ... and are expected to, by Him.
You have as much right to approach God the Father, in Jesus' name, as Billy Graham or any other person ... and are expected to, by Him.
Yes, your church or pastor may be forced, for the preservation of the Church's good name, and accountability to God, to discipline you, but what you do is your choice and your responsibility, not theirs. And if you are a member of a church or have a pastor who thinks they are appointed by God to control your actions or life, leave that cult and find a real church. But... don't swing to the other extreme and join a "church" where anything goes and nothing is sin.
The key priority in this life is to sincerely love God with our whole self. When that is true, you will judge and prune your own life for Christ's sake and for your love of God, and your own spiritual health and testimony. But it must be your own free choice.
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matt.22:36-38.
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