The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum The Lord's Supper/Communion practices

Yep, getting too far afield here I think!

In reply to:

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. . .instead of worrying if everyone is dressed (or not dressed) for the occasion. Yes?

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So, I'll just briefly make a comment on this statement of yours, and if you wish, go ahead and start a new thread on "dress codes, etc."

I agree that one should not be preoccupied with other people's behaviour. But other than being inordinately preoccupied with "other people's dress" and the like", there is certainly a room for and a warrant to be concerned about another's spiritual welfare, no?

Prov 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so [is] he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart [is] not with thee."

Surely, one's actions, whether it be the clothes worn, the truck with the boat attached in the church parking lot, or whatever are indicative of something of what that person thinks about God, worship, the Sabbath, et al. We live our theology Susan. It may be right theology or wrong theology, but it's still indicative of what our heart dictates in the majority of cases.

Matt 24:28 "For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together."

The same is true with those who are fixated on what others are doing! I don't believe God has simply opened wide the floodgates to allow anything that man thinks is to be reckoned as "okay" and therefore acceptable. The Harris' book, I'm Okay. You're Okay. isn't sound theology.

If, in a typical church, people are attending formal worship "dressed down" (and you would find these same people attired in "finer" clothing at other less formal events, eg. a dinner party, etc.) I contend there is a problem:

[*]The pastor has failed to preach the Word properly. Or,[*]The people are either spiritually immature or perhaps unconverted. Or,[*]A combination of both. Or,[*]Something else which isn't commendable.[/LIST]Remember, I'm not speaking of a group of shipwrecked individuals on some remote island who are gathering to worship. I'm speaking of your average church congregation here in the Americas.