Church-sanctioned Activities

[cricket]

My question is not one that concerns what the individual should or should not do. It is a question of what a church should or should not sanction.

Is this so difficult to understand?

And, because we are at Club Adventist, my question primarily pertains to what an Adventist church should or should not allow. Ideally, the things an Adventist church should or should not allow should follow the things Christ would or would not have done.

Admittedly, it confuses me when it is preached from the pulpit that Christians should be avoiding activities X, Y, and Z and should be participating in activities A, B and C. And then, the church itself sponsors an event in which activities X, Y and Z are encourged.

[cricket]

Originally Posted By: cricket

The church is a place for sinners, but it isn't a safe haven for sin...

I would like to believe that is true, but sadly most churches have a list of certain types of sinners that aren't so welcome... And some churches seem adept at being a safe haven for some kinds of sin.

Let me correct my statement then. In my opinion, the church is a place for all types of sinners, but it shouldn't be a safe haven for sin.

Better?

[Narcah]

You should not have gambling based upon pedophilia as a church sanctioned activity. Just sayin'.

Now here's what's funny: I was once verbally chastised for watching "worldly" movies by our pastor. I let him talk until I got bored of listening to him, then I pointed out that I had to leave a movie that was being shown, church sanctioned, in the fellowship hall because I didn't approve of it. :D

[Woody]

Quote:

Admittedly, it confuses me when it is preached from the pulpit that Christians should be avoiding activities X, Y, and Z and should be participating in activities A, B and C. And then, the church itself sponsors an event in which activities X, Y and Z are encourged.

I'm not sure I can relate to this. Can you give me a specific example?

[cricket]

Sorry, Woody. Can't do that. I'm talking in generalities on Club Adventist these days. When I talk about specifics people get too focused on those one specific examples.

If it's not something you can relate to, you probably can't help me understand it anyway.

[cricket]

Thanks, Jason. I think that's a great example of the sort of thing I'm talking about.

[joeb]

Originally Posted By: cricket

The church is a place for sinners, but it isn't a safe haven for sin...

I would like to believe that is true, but sadly most churches have a list of certain types of sinners that aren't so welcome... And some churches seem adept at being a safe haven for some kinds of sin.

Hmmmm.... You mean there are human beings in churches? Who knew?

What you describe here is unsanctified human nature. Nothing more, and nothing less. I think we all share in at least some of that. Some of us more than others, but we're all guilty of the same thing.