robmac68

Yes, the number and timing of children are to be left to God yet the wickedness of the world has permeated many areas of Christianity with the selfish, proud, humanistic belief that it's up to us how many children we have and when we have them. It comes down to us thinking we know better than God.

Similar things such as aspects relating to divorce, dating and the role of women have also been wrongly influenced by the radical feminist movement and other worldly ideologies.

With all that said, there is no such thing as a perfect church. If we follow God's direction, He will lead us to the church He would have us attend.

There are many ways many of us claim Jesus is our Lord yet we turn around and demand that we are lord over certain areas by our actions. This often shows itself clearly with regard to spouse selection, children, career, college, homemaking, the church we attend, our entertainment, friends, etc.

Jesus addressed this by asking those around Him why they called Him Lord when they didn't do as He said. It seems to be difficult for most of us to give up ruling our own lives and truly accepting that Jesus is Lord and we are to follow His lead in all things.

I remember something now. Several years ago I made myself a binder on soul winning. It was from sermons, writings, ideas and such that I found on the internet. Alot of the stuff I printed out was from Jack Hyles. I have read over this manual many times and even preached from it on one occasion when I filled in one Sunday at the church I will start to pastor on May 6th. I have found nothing Scripturally wrong with what I got from Jack Hyles writings and sermons. I was in the car with my brother-in-law, who is a missionary in Mongolia, and he told me he didn't care much for Jack Hyles. I about choked. Being in a chuch that had a grad from HAC and alot of visiting preachers linked to HAC, I had never heard anything bad about the man. I asked what on earth he was talking about. He told me that towards the end of his life, Jack Hyles changed his view on asking forgiveness for sins at the time of conversion. He felt by "asking" you were doing something. If you were doing something, it was a work. We are not saved by works so this was wrong to do. All you need to do is accept Christ as Saviour. So repenting and asking is not to be done because it is a work. I do not know if this is true in that it came from Jack Hyles. All I can say is I did not go home and throw away my manual. I like and believe what I got from Jack Hyles. I also did not go home and do research on him and all he said. I have to be accountable for my actions/beliefs, not those of Jack Hyles.

This past Sunday night, my youngest son, Jonathan, was baptized. The heater in the baptistry was not working, but he didn't care - he wanted to get baptized. He sure was shivering when he came out of the water!

I would have to say that I believe that women should not be praying in a mixed congregation (meaning men and women present). When a person publicly prays, they are leading in prayer...meaning that the entire group present bows before the throne, following (and praying along with silently, in many cases) the person praying. Because woman is the glory of the man, I believe that for her to pray in public (with men present, I mean) is the same as having her head uncovered - it dishonors her head, her husband. Single women might not have husbands, but I do believe they would be dishonoring their Lord (just as married women would). Does that make sense?

Testimony is different, I believe. The person giving testimony is not leading spiritually in any way. They are, rather (at least supposed to be), giving glory to God. At the same time, a woman giving testimony needs to be careful that it doesn't come off as though she were preaching or teaching a truth (I have sat through testimonies like that and they are hard to sit through!).

There are churches I know of who don't allow women to testify. That is the business of that particular congregation. I think it cuts off some praise coming from that quarter, and don't totally agree with it, but again, that's that congregation's business and none of mine.

Business meetings are different. I know of churches where women don't even attend (and some where, if they do, they are silent and don't even vote). Again, church decision. And not one I am averse to at all.

I believe the scripture you mentioned, heart, applies more to actual teaching/preaching, as well as things like business meetings (women who want to control can often try to wrest control of the meeting and cause havoc. Men can too, but it's more often women). Business meetings are set to take care of the business of the church. I know many women who won't like this, but I don't think women necessarily need to be involved in that type of thing.

Positions of leadership are the target for verses on silence and not speaking, etc. And praying in public would fall in that category, IMO.

Congrats, robmac. Where will you be pastoring?

I have difficulty just witnessing to homosexuals. I don't know how I might witness to an autistic homosexual about salvation. What route have you thought about?

Autism runs a gamut of differences. Many people who have Asperger's can seem as "normal" as the next person for the most part. And there is a growing number of autistic gays.

I find it interesting that he comes into the kitchen and begins discussing his "problems" with you. Even though many autistic people are not good listeners (even highly functioning aspergers are not always able to listen well), you have an opportunity to reach this young man with the gospel. As John has mentioned, it is not the young man's homosexuality that needs to be dealt with at this point. It is the fact that he, as is everyone, is a sinner in the sight of God.

I have a friend whose young son is autistic. He does not listen well all the time (no child does, but autistics do it differently), but he does hear. He knows in his head that sin is sin. And he knows he has to obey when Mom and Dad say something. But a lot of his actions are rote at this point (because that is how autistics often operate - put them on a set schedule, and don't change things, and they are happy). He can tell you why Jesus died. He can tell you he is a sinner. But there is not conviction within him yet. He hasn't come to a place where he understands.

It sounds like the young man you know has a higher capacity for understanding. I would do as John suggests: just give him the gospel. When you get to discussing sin, ask if he's ever disobeyed his parents. When he comprehends, he will honestly tell you yes (asking if he's ever told a lie might elicit a no - because autistics don't do much lying! Of course, high functioning autistics might...). You can show him in the 10 commandments how God says we aren't to do that...and then take him over to James where it says "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. Quite clearly we see there that just breaking one law makes us guilty of it all...hence, we are all sinners.

Then on to Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." This underlines the fact that everyone has sinned - not just certain people who do certain things, but all. And that glory of God that we come short of is Jesus Christ (James 2 calls Him the Lord of glory). So, our measuring stick (or, rather, God's) is His perfect Son.

A good verse to insert here would then be Jer. 31:3 "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindess have I drawn thee." And then go from there into the plan of salvation.

If the young man is a reader (and some autistics are - they don't always completely comprehend what they are reading, but they do read), show him scripture. If he's not, use a wordless book, quoting scripture. He just might be fascinated with the idea of a book with no words (and that is often an "inoffensive" way to present the gospel...even to the mother).

After salvation is the time to focus on other things, as he is discipled. The Holy Spirit will begin to work in him in ways that just might surprise you! Pray much before you talk to him...and after!

The son must have a mild form of autism if he can drive and has a job. That means he's likely able to comprehend the Gospel if someone presents it to him patiently and clearly, and the big "if", if he's willing to listen.

One of the best ways I've found to present the Gospel to homosexuals is not to focus upon the homosexuality. As we know, homosexuality is just one of the many sins any lost homosexual is living in. Most often it's best to approach a homosexual with the Gospel in the same manner as with any other lost sinner. Like all lost sinners, the homosexual must come to realize they are a sinner (not just in their homosexuality), there is a terrible price to pay for their sins, they need a Saviour.

In whatever way you have successfully helped others come to Christ, that would be the approach, or something very similar, I would use with the homosexual son.

What typically DOESN'T work is focusing on their homosexuality, only addressing their homosexuality.

Their sin of homosexuality will eventually have to be confronted, but it usually works best for them to bring it up after we have already discussed other sins with them as we help them to learn they are sinners. Even then, try to be careful not to get caught up in totally focusing upon the homosexuality. Make it a point to be clear that their homosexuality is just one of the many sins they are guilty of, they need to repent of, they need the blood of Christ to cleanse them of.

Unfortunately, homosexuals themselves will often try to focus totally upon homosexuality and then put up a wall of "I'm offended" and become defensive about "who they are". Rather than addressing the Gospel they focus only upon their prized sin of homosexuality. In most such cases there is no getting through to them at that time. They tend to become argumentative and defensive so that parting from them as kindly as possible is best at that time. If they are open to it, offer to pray for them and/or let them know if they ever want to talk about anything they can come to you.

After that, lift them up in prayer and await the Holy Ghost to open a door for you with them or to send another that may reach them.

Also, with regards to prayer, spend serious time in prayer for this person and how to reach out to them before you act.

This is my first post/reply and I hope it doesn't get me kicked off the forum. I have had personal opinions/beliefs on this subject and they have always leaned towards the belief of "Standing Firm in Christ." I see his belief is not too popular so I guess my won't be either. I do keep an open mind about all my beilefs because how am I to grow if I don't believe I can learn different from my beliefs to grow. I do not want to lean on my own understanding, therefore my open mind.

My sister and her husband are missionaries to Mongolia. When he told me he was called to be a missionary, I asked him what his next steps were. He told me he needed to get his finances in order and pay off some bills so he would be debt free. He also told me he was going to college for four years. After he did this, he went on deputation for another year and a half to 2 years. If memory serves me correctly, this took close to 6 or 7 years. All I could think about was when Jesus called a man and he said "let me go bury my father first." How long could it take to bury his father? What did Jesus say to the man? Let the dead bury the dead. This made me believe that when you are "called" that you drop everything and go. This is what I got from God's word. Jesus didn't have a place to lay his head. How did Jesus's ministry survive without the monetary support from local churches? I believe Amy Carmichael had this belief too. Her ministry survived on faith, not deputation. She had full faith in God to provide her needs. Isn't that what were told in His Word. If he clothes the lily's and feeds the sparrows, how much more will He do for us? If someone has the beleif to leave it in God's hands, how can we say anything about that person's faith?
My brother-in-law learned alot while going to school and on deputation. I am not talking about subjects he learned in college, but life lessons. He experienced the splitting of a church and school. He experienced a pastor from his past coming out against him and actually driving to my brother-in-laws school to protest to the President about my brother-in-law. There was alot more he experienced that helped shape him into the "strong" man of God he is today. Was this God's will? If he would have just "jumped" would he have missed alot of life's lessons that helped shape him? Maybe God lead him first to go to school and, second, to go into the field. If it is God who is leading a man, can we not have faith that God will lead the man where he needs to go?
Someone replied to "Standing Firm in Christ", who stated he will no longer reply to this thread, that he actually couldn't reply because of basically being hit up side the head with the Bible. Could someone please hit me upside the head with the Bible so I can know what to believe. I think "SFiC's" belief sounds more like Christ telling the man to let the dead bury the dead.