No wicked thing

[Ukulelemike]

4 hours ago, Jim_Alaska said:

This pendulum can also swing in a dangerous direction that is too far in the the right direction. Carried to its extreme, which is natural for mankind, it will result in legalism. I am not warning against the scripture cited, or the convictions of anyone posting to this thread, I am simply cautioning against extremism.

 1John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

We are all individuals and what may convict me, may not convict you. (Outright sin excepted of course.) For instance, to shop or not shop at Walmart because they sell wine is quite different from frequenting a bar or nightclub.

This sort of thing, carried to its extreme would be cause to sequester ourselves like monks or nuns. This is not to say that we should not be careful in what we allow ourselves, but it is simply to caution against becoming too extreme.

When I was yong and full of zeal more than sense, I recall a very old preacher tell me that if we truly want to keep ourselves from all influences of sin, we have to sit in an empty room, naked, in the dark and stare into the corner. Satan has his hands in about everything out there anymore-stores woned by the Mormons, or those who actively donate part of what you pay to causes we would never support; everyone sells booze, tobacco, naughty underwear, be it Wal Mart, Target, or Sears, I mean, really, where shall we go? Even the churches are full of people who still think impure thoughts and sometimes deal with all sorts of sins in a personal manner.

I think the point of David's words are to be careful not to intentionally place anything that we know can cause us to sin before our eyes. I'm not sure if it was before his incident with Bathsheba, but if after, it would certainly have inclined him to think that way. I know what things will set me off and what won't. For instance, I suspect I could (though I wouldn't), go to a bar and eat a nice meal without ever a thought toward having a drink. Not my thing. But let me look once at a billboard of a suggestively-dressed woman and it will set my mind off in the wrong way. Now I didn't specifically set that before my eyes, but that sort of thing is always out there and I need to set my heart against such. As an example, i was driving through Reno once going to visit my parents, and a movement on a bridge caught my eye and I looked and it was a couple women lifting their shirts at the traffic. I didn't even get a clear view, but it set my mind on it all day and to this day it can be distracting to drive that route without looking up again. So, knowing all this, it is extremely important that I not purposely set things I know will weaken me and bring me to sin and error, before my eyes.

By the way, I go to casinos to eat at the buffets, and I never give a thought to gambling or drinking. But if that's your issue, might not want to set your eyes upon it.

[Genevanpreacher]

4 hours ago, Jim_Alaska said:

This pendulum can also swing in a dangerous direction that is too far in the the right direction. Carried to its extreme, which is natural for mankind, it will result in legalism. I am not warning against the scripture cited, or the convictions of anyone posting to this thread, I am simply cautioning against extremism.

 1John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

We are all individuals and what may convict me, may not convict you. (Outright sin excepted of course.) For instance, to shop or not shop at Walmart because they sell wine is quite different from frequenting a bar or nightclub.

This sort of thing, carried to its extreme would be cause to sequester ourselves like monks or nuns. This is not to say that we should not be careful in what we allow ourselves, but it is simply to caution against becoming too extreme.

I'm sorry but I have to say something here.

Amen!