DISQUS

Angel · 9 months ago

I have always heard that we are called to be the fishermen. It is the Lord's job to dress the fish ... not ours. :)

RickD335 · 9 months ago

It is our responsibility to live our lives in such a way that what others see in us attracts them to Christ; after that, if we continue to listen to the Spirit and continue to change those areas that God reveals to us - and are seen doing so by those we've brought into the family - it makes it easy for the other fish to be dressed (or re-dressed) :)

rupzip · 9 months ago

Rick...I have mixed feeling here. For a long time, i thought the "come as you are" was definitely the way to go. But I think I'm turning a little. And here's why: Far too many people never change once they enter the doors. The lowest common denomitor is now the norm. And we dont hold people accountable. We dont encourage them to progress. We dont want to offend. We dont want to encourage. So we have millions of believers who never will make a difference. Wasted conversions....

Thanks for the post!

David
www.redletterbelievers.com

RickD335 · 9 months ago

I know what you mean, Dave - I can only speak from my own experiences, and that for me included far too many of the "If you want to believe in Jesus, fine - but get a haircut and some good clothes before you sit in our church" attitudes. I do believe in come as you are - but I also believe that as you are now must change into who God has called you to be, and that means change of an organic, or natural, order - one that comes from within, rather than change imposed from without.

Some folks who darken the door of the local congregation may only be there as canaries in the coal mine, but unlike the birds brought below in cages, these folks can (and sometimes do) leave when the warnings they give of rising toxicity are ignored.