By Thy Words

[Josh]

I think Cory is a long ways from an impure heart, but if you have concerns, by all means, send him an email or call him up and share your concerns.

It concerns me quite a bit that there is really no room to talk anymore about if something may be a problem without being drowned out by saying, "If you think there could be a problem, you must have a very impure heart". Overall, the world is quite immodest and indecent, and it doesn't mean you have an impure heart if you notice these things.

I am not interested in the liberal-progressive trajectory that eventually allows anything (provided it is worldly), and that's the only path to go down besides conservatively honouring tradition, and policing those who decide to test or break those boundaries. Liberal-progressives viciously attack anyone who defends tradition, such as Cory Anderson. It is quite telling that he's been trotted out as living in some kind of sin, or having an impure mind, despite zero evidence of that.

[Josh]

I am not exactly sure what the writer had in mind when he said”to the pure all things are pure”. But it would seem to me that the exact opposite might also be true. To the impure all things are impure.

i totally agree.

So, does this mean it's impossible to ever notice or call out improper behaviour? It sounds like the standard is that if you notice someone is living in sin, or getting close to it, it's "impure" to notice and even worse to speak up.

By the way, folks, this is how abuse happens. Because people are afraid to speak up or notice. When I confronted someone about improper, immoral behaviour, he told me I must have had an impure mind, because a "pure mind" such as his own could spend lots of time alone with a woman who wasn't his wife without falling into sin.

I reject that kind of gross immorality.

[ABC 123]

What things have you lived through and why are they wrong?

This is a really fair question. I am contemplating how much to say and maintain some degree of anonymity.

In our first week of marriage we had people who were greatly troubled that we did not faithfully attend the week of spring revival meetings. That we had been newly married the day before the meetings started didn't seem to be a good excuse. (By Thy Words talks about weddings, wedding trips, and that sort of thing. Yes to all of those rules and expectations. Even going on a wedding trip was frowned upon. We were required to attend communion the next morning.) Not wrong, you may say. Psychologically...um yeah. Their wedding and post wedding edicts are not recommended.

In our later adult years we ended up with temporary custody of another family's children because the dad didn't value their safety from a known child molester. The dad had a greatly exaggerated sense of authority fed by some twisted teachings. (The post above mine refers to some modesty comments. This dad had some unbelievable ideas about girls and modesty.)

The messages over the pulpit were designed for specific people. A minister (who was related to some involved) might know a group of young people had purposely driven to see Christmas lights. The sermon on the nearest Sunday would be about the evils of Christmas lights and how sincere Christians won't go out of their way to go look at them. There were other designer sermons that addressed other grievances that preacher had against things.

I was once thanked/congratulated for spanking my son (too hard) during church. That church took literally "blueness of the wound" and not sparing the rod. (By the words has a post or two up about that now too). I hate myself for attempting to follow some of that harsh parenting and my children suffered. I have since repented.

I have a plethora of other examples that I feel too vulnerable to share at the moment.

[Josh]

ABC,

Would it be reasonable to ask what affiliation this was?

If you don't feel comfortable sharing that, perhaps the level of conservativeness? I can make some guesses, but I've never been around any kind of group that would teach against going to see Christmas lights, from the pulpit. Going to the movies - maybe that would get spoken against.

[ABC 123]

Ultra conservative Beachy.

[Josh]

Ultra conservative Beachy.

An affiliation that is, I think, extinct by now? Allegedly, I live amongst the two "most conservative" Beachy congregations. My nephew goes to the youth group of one of them. Suffice to say that attendance at Christmas light shows is probably the least of anyone's concerns. Things sure change fast in the Beachy world.

[Signtist]

but I've never been around any kind of group that would teach against going to see Christmas lights, from the pulpit. Going to the movies - maybe that would get spoken against.

You're blessed, then. No beaches, no movies, no sunroof (except if you're related to the preacher), no volleyball on Sunday, no blue jeans to youth get together, no white socks, no shoes that show the toe because you don't wanna know what that makes worldly men think, running shoes must be black, no CB radios, òh good grief. We could go on unmercifully for some time if you care to listen.

[Josh]

but I've never been around any kind of group that would teach against going to see Christmas lights, from the pulpit. Going to the movies - maybe that would get spoken against.

You're blessed, then. No beaches, no movies, no sunroof (except if you're related to the preacher), no volleyball on Sunday, no blue jeans to youth get together, no white socks, no shoes that show the toe because you don't wanna know what that makes worldly men think, running shoes must be black, no CB radios, òh good grief. We could go on unmercifully for some time if you care to listen.

Is "no movies" somehow a bad thing? Is Christian life enhanced by attendance at worldly movies?

I mean, I get that things can be a bit heavy-handed, but my current observation looking around is that "more worldliness" is generally not what christendom is in need of. In my experience over the last seven years, the single biggest cancer has been the world creeping in and corrupting the saints.

When does it end?

[Signtist]

I only used movies because you mentioned it. A lot of the requirements could have been fine, but having the little green book pulled out and read from whenever the bishop preached got a little tiresome. I liked the guy as a person, BTW.

[Signtist]

Oh yes, and boys spending nights sleeping in tents. Not cool. I almost forgot that one. Mentioned in a sermon on moral purity.