Watch out for this and more pagan philosophies in a church near you

We still need to do that

We need to follow anti-biblical principles and love unrepentant pedophiles, harlots, murderers, gluttons, drunkards, adulterers, liars and thieves?

If thats so, then we must relabel their sins as 'lifestyle choices', to avoid any accountability for their actions. Nice workaround.

This precisely explains why church buildings are filling with all sorts of those ppl, because 'believers' like you in the church are following pagan philosophies instead of biblical ones.

Mark 7:7NLT — Their worship is a farce,
for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’

Loving others, even those that sin, (everyone but Jesus) is not accepting their sins. We must love them (Agape form of love, unconditional) enough to share the good news with them. The same good news that freed us from the chains of sin. We point out a sin as the reason we all need Jesus. If we consider someone an 'enemy', Jesus told us to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. I didn't deserve the grace offered by Jesus, yet he offered it to me, freely. Many won't accept God's mercies and I mourn for them and what awaits them. Ephesians 6:12 I think, tells us 'we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' Ray Comfort does it well when he reaches out, in love, to unbelievers to share the good news with them. He never uses insults or hate to reach the lost. People are drowning in sin, in an out of 'churches'. Be sure to reach out to help them in the boat, never to hand them an anchor. Just my two cents.

Hello Diogenes, with respect, its not helping anyone in the church when the shepherds keep allowing obvious wolves to stay and dwell among the sheep. That's why the sheep are being scattered now.

Ray Comfort does well to reach people, but his idea of Gods 'unconditional love' is not biblical, as every single time God's love or mercy is poured out in scripture, it is relating to a Covenant that must be kept by both parties, either now or eventually. Love always has conditions.
Deuteronomy 7:12 NLT - 12 "IF you listen to these regulations and faithfully obey them, the LORD your God will keep his covenant of unfailing love with you,

Psalm 25:10 NLT — The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who KEEP his covenant and obey his demands.

The modern church has reversed the terms of 'unconditional love.' They say, “It doesn't matter what we do, God will always love us.” That’s utterly incorrect according to scripture, for a righteous follower of God will have unconditional love towards God!

It should be preached this way "It doesnt matter what GOD does, we will always love Him, unconditionally!"

There is also a stark contrast between two types of sinners that is always overlooked—the repentant sinner (a saint) and the unrepentant sinner. Jesus only even offered love for ONE of those kinds.
Consider the story of the publican and the pharisee:
Luk 18:10 KJV - 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican"....only one went away forgiven.

Paul says the same thing to those who allow sinners in the church:
1Co 5:10-11 NLT - 10 But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people.

Does this sound like Paul is commanding them to love and accept these sorts of unrepentant sinners in the church, or throw them out?

1Ti 1:19-20 NLT - 19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I THREW THEM OUT and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

Hey listen I'm a complete radical. Hut some things just go too far. It isn't up to us to decide whether someone is condemned. God chooses, and he could take a person who is so lost in sin they can't even stand up and whip a 180. Our purpose is to point out their sin and hope they have a change of heart.

Jesus, Paul, Jeremiah, and all the apostles were considered radicals as well.
Truth is, it isnt up to us to decide whether someone is eternally condemned when they appear as though they are righteous (as in the chaff and the wheat) and we don't judge the souls of unbelievers.
We also cannot judge a persons motives, only their deeds.
Pro 16:2 NLT - 2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.

We are commanded to judge the deeds of those inside the church:
1Co 5:12 NLT - 12 It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.

Mentioning the 180 is important, for a real expected change must take place in their lives. That's a condition of Gods mercy. It may not be immediate, but it is necessary. Once they change, they are no longer called sinners but saints.

Now, once we point out someone's sin who enters the church, what do we do if they willfully refuse to change after many warnings of the danger of their sin?
Should we still love them?
Does Gods mercy run out for those people?

Jeremiah 11:10-11 NLT — They have returned to the sins of their forefathers. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. ISRAEL AND JUDAH have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. Therefore, this is what the LORD says: I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escape. Though they BEG for mercy, I will not listen to their cries.

In today's world, I'm never certain that I'm talking with someone "in the church".

I'm sorry that you misunderstood me. I didn't say you don't trust God, I said that we should always be ready to confidently judge a tree by its fruit, as Jesus told us too.
This is not a time to worry about what other people say about us anyways. So if another 'believer' makes a sharp observation, (whether wrong or right or a little of both) its our duty to take the fruit of it and spit out the seeds.

So please don't be discouraged, however, if a good Christian like you cannot tell if someone in the 'church' is really on the straight path, then its no wonder our churches are being overrun by goats and wolves.

That's because you are not confidently understanding your bible, or trusting that God's word is clear enough for all to obey and believe in. Honestly thats all we have got to rely on. Nothing else in this world is worth anything. Solomon figured that out for us after he literally obtained everything a man could ever want. Dont you get it?

I can tell within a few conversations with someone whether or not they are a true bible believer, regardless of whether their faith is small or great. There are multiple litmus tests within the bible that prove whether or not a person is hostile to the truth. Jesus always used controversy and other sorts of tests when he thought people might be following him for the wrong reasons, or whether he suspected their inquiries were nothing more than literary traps.

Preachers nowadays care NOTHING for those spiritual tests, but only care about butts in their seats in order to appeal for more funding from their umbrella organizations.
Yet another reason why church is not a place to learn anything about the bible. It must be learned primarily at home, alone, in your 'closet' so to speak. If you cant study and pray alone in silence as Jesus did, thats another litmus test failure.

We should love everyone because their sin is the only detestable thing. God's grace is unending, but his wrath can also be

God doesnt send 'sin' to hell, He sends sinners to hell. Maybe we should try to find out exactly who these sinners are and what kind of 'love' God and his close apostles have shown to them, instead of inventing a tolerance for evil that only a cursed church would do.

Although God criticized the church at Ephesus, He said this in commendation to them:
Rev 2:2 NLT - 2 "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people....

I can tell you don't study your bible or have any clear depiction as to what biblical 'love' is, or who the 'everyone' is to whom you are placing your love.

Tolerating willful sin is Satanic Love, not Godly Love.

Many ppl who call themselves 'christians' also think the devil is just a misunderstood villain who will be granted heavenly bliss eventually, since God's love is essentially 'unconditional', therefore nothing can escape His mercy.
That is the necessary conclusion to your philosophy, and it is anti-biblical, sorry.

I do not believe the non follower of Jesus will spend eternity with Jesus (Not to include those that never heard of Him, it's possible God might deal with them separately). I see the modern church increasingly succumbing to marriage to the secular message of the world, to the devil's delight. Jesus admonition to love your neighbor as yourself..whom, do you believe, was Jesus referring to as your neighbor? In Paul's Epistles, when he told the church to avoid the unrepentant person. The covetous, idolator, railer, drunkard, extortioner. I find that each of these are also prevalent. God died for us while we were yet sinners to save us from eternal damnation. He certainly doesn't intend for us to remain entrenched in our sins. "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?". You are clearly frustrated. We all see the entire world sprinting rapidly to the sewer. Evil has always been prevalent. Over 6 million Jewish people in the Holocaust, slaughtered. Tens of millions by Mao and Stalin. The "west" increasingly is becoming more entrenched in apostasy. This was prophesized to occur before Jesus return. Again.. just my two cents.

Jesus was specifically referring to the Samaritans as their neighbours. The Jews kept racially pure which was commanded by God. They rightly despised the Samaritans for mixing their marriages and religions with pagans, which God warned all of Israel not to do:
Deu 7:2-4 NLT - 2 When the LORD your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. 3 You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, 4 for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you."

However, during Jesus' ministry, he generally had warmer reception from the Samaritans than from the Jews, and told that story to bring them back together as a whole, which was Gods intention with that OT command:
Lev 19:18 NLT - 18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

As for loving our enemies, Jesus only ever spoke of that in the context of their physical well-being, and acting in kindness to them; but it is never in the context of salvation, spiritual tolerance, or allowing them to worship with us in holy assembly unless they are converted (or at least, act like it).
Never is there any example of God's people being permitted—by any prophet or command whatsoever—to allow pagan, heathen ideals or philosophies to share or dilute the gospel message. That was Pauls main purpose with his letters—putting out the fires of heresy.

Heres the sort of zeal that is needed nowadays, although Jehu ended up an idolator. his works were pleasing to God at the start—somewhat like Sauls.
2 Chronicles 19:2 KJV — And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD."

I would say this prophecy rings true to this day upon western society.
Wrath is certainly upon us.

Jesus referenced the Samaritan in his parable. This did not limit "love thy neighbor as thyself" to just the Samaritans. If I read you correctly, you are saying to love others, just don't help them escape the fires of hell until they believe..or act like they believe? I am willing to respectfully listen to your point of view. Print alone, can be very flat, so if I've misunderstood your POV let me know.

The neighbours specifically mentioned by Jesus were the samaritans, whom the jews regarded as forsaken by God for their general apostasy. Jesus showed them by their own admittance, that being a 'neighbour' doesnt mean looking out for your own kind only, but for anyone who needs our physical help, even if they are our enemy. ie., doing good to those who harm us.

What Jesus didnt imply was that we should befriend open sinners and permit them to congregate in our churches.
Jesus is NOT a friend of sinners, he repeated that phrase as a derogatory caricature against him used by the Pharisees. The Church of God is for saints, not sinners.

Yes, you certainly help sinners escape the fires of hell, but the bible is easy to read, and it is very clear what it means. So these 'sinners' entering in should be able to understand the many lists within scripture that define what a holy conduct is supposed to look like, and they must realize the seriousness of their repentance (which preachers do not emphasize enough).

If these new converts begin to ridicule, refuse and disobey, would you consider them ungodly and not associate with them, or still allow them to congregate with other sheep you are entrusted to care for in the church? What sort of shepherd would you be then?

Jer 10:21 NLT - 21 The shepherds of my people have lost their senses. They no longer seek wisdom from the LORD. Therefore, they fail completely, and their flocks are scattered.

For example, if a woman wanted to leave her husband because she didnt love him anymore, would you allow her to commit adultery and still congregate at your church? (I am related to a woman like this who still goes to the same church, now on her second 'husband', and nobody cares that she is living is open sin.
(GODS MERCY IS SOOO WIDE!)

Anyhow, acting/looking/working/living like a righteous person is absolutely mandatory if you are to BE a righteous person.
All true faith will display itself with true works. False faith will have no works. Therefore it is by WORKS we judge each other.

Now, if one clever goat pretends to be saved, does good works, and no one discovers them throughout their whole career (although some may question their motives) then they are like the chaff that will be discovered by the 'reapers' in the end, for they have done no harm to the sheep, but rather good.
However, they are only wasting time and fooling themselves, because God knows their motives and will judge them eventually.

So I have respectfully listened to you and agree on several issues. So e that I don't agree with include: I do not confidently trust my Bible. I do in ways you wouldn't begin to understand. I find several of your assertions lacking in depth. I'm not impugning your walk with God. Continue in your studies as I will and you might be surprised that we will meet eventually on the other side. Stay blessed and be well.