Amazing Grace
Puritan Board Junior
Just so I understand what you're saying, if its not grace that changed the heart, then what did?
Changed the heart to what Bob? Changed the heart to not watch the usperbowl? I am trying to pinpoint what grace leads to in this issue. Are you saying the less and less we do, the person who goes to assemble in th am, reads scripture for 5 hours, goes the evening service, comes home and has a study, doesnt do dishes, walks to church, unplugs everything electric has received more grace to do this?
Mod on.
Steady, everyone. We've been down this road before.
First, remember that everyone here agreed to one of the historic confessions. Part of those confessions is an acknowledgment that reverence for the Sabbath is important and is scriptural. Also, consisitent with the confessions and with Scripture is the idea that following rules merely to impress another is not a marker of faith. Let's be careful going into territory that attempts to measure grace with compliance with rules.
Raising this issue of who is holier than another because of particular practices on the Sabbath is framing the issue the wrong way and often leads to pointless namecalling. Let's keep the focus on what it means to keep the Sabbath and why, according to Scripture and our understanding of it, and leave shut the door about the state of someone's soul regarding their understanding of the Sabbath and their practice.
Mod off.
One could call me a pretty strict Sabbatarian. Certainly outwardly it might come across as that because I tend to avoid all sorts of entertainment, radio, most internet sites, I don't even like to talk politics on the Lord's Day. (I don't have a TV so watching the Superbowl is a non-issue anyway.) It is for me something that has become as natural as drinking cool water on a hot day. But I know a lot of brothers and sisters who don't see things this way, it's not my place to say I'm more holy, because I know I certainly am not.
But the personal practice has made me more aware of God's grace to me. The point I'm trying to get across is that your practice is not an indicator of grace at all, but it may be a help to realize the grace you've already been given.
I agree, AG, that looking for barometers of grace is not productive. We all deserve death and by grace we are promised life. It's not a matter of a little dose or a lot, as far as I can see.
If I did the above I apologize Vic, it was not my intention. I agree revernece and honor are biblical.
As an aside, ill try to keep the fight clean by no rabbit punches or hitting below the belt and break on your command..