Since I became a Christian on August 25, 1963, I have restudied some of my convictions and now take a different view of some of them. To mention a few, I once was convicted that...

1) Christmas trees were sinful, but not now.

2) Instrumental music in worship was sinful, but not today.

3) Paying a man to serve as a "Pulpit Minister" was sinful, but not now.

4) A divorced person was condemned for eternity, but not now.

5) A divorced man could never serve as a deacon or elder or preacher, but not now.

6) "Grudge Holding" would be over-looked by God, but not so today.

7) "Judging" as the Bible teaches was sin, but not now.

8) The New Testament spiritual gifts (tongue speaking, healing, prophesying,

raising the dead, etc.) should be practiced today, but now, I do not believe

this any longer.

9) Foot washing ceremonies should be practiced in Church Services, but I do not

believe this today.

10) A person born illegitimately was condemned to hell and could never be saved,

but I certainly do not believe this any longer.

11) One did not need a daily devotional life, but now I do.

12) People of two different races marrying was sin, but I no longer believe this.

13) Black (Negro) people were cursed with dark skin because Ham had sinned and

they are worthless except to be slaves to us "whities", but I certainly do not

believe this today.

14) Abortion of a fetus was okay if it was desired by the parents, but I now see it

as murder.

15) One church was as good as another, but since I have obtained more Bible

knowledge, I no longer believe this.

16) Church members could pick and choose which services they wanted to attend

and it was okay to miss any others, but I now see purposely missing services

as sin.

17) Being baptized by sprinkling was acceptable, and that one was saved prior to

baptism, but not so today.

18) A preacher should be called "reverend", but I do not believe this title should be

used today.

19) It was not necessary to partake of Communion weekly, but I do today.

20) Everyone's opinion was permissible in God's sight, but I have learned better.

What I would like to be considered is this - do not contend that any one of us is the only one with the truth (see I Kings 19:10). Every cult founder has done this and claimed that no one else "had it all together" except them.

(Continued)

I know several well meaning "Pulpit Ministers" who are so obsessed thinking they "have it all together" that they will not: watch or listen to a TV or radio church program other than that which "their group" sponsors; read a book written by a person of another religious persuasion; listen to a song sung by a soloist who belongs to another church; or speak to a neighbor at the mail box who attends another church. This person is an isolationist. How can one learn if he/she is right or wrong if one does not know what others believe?

Believe me, I have "been down this road" where many are today and it leads to a "dead end". Some are so dogmatic that they will not use any translation except the King James and condemn anyone who uses another. They would be in a "Fix", if they lived in France & spoke only French, wouldn't they? Likewise, they condemn various styles of church music, or methods of doing anything other than what they contend is spelled out clearly (so they think) in the Scriptures. God has so designed the Scriptures that He has given much freedom in style of worship and evangelism of the world. Some who condemn the instrument in accompaniment of singing as adding to the Word, will use hymnals, charts, chalkboards, films, projectors, radio, tv, literature, and the printing press to suit themselves (BUT where is the authorization in the Word to do so). Once one starts down the road of "You must have a Scripture to approve of every thing you do in worship or evangelism" - one is backing him or herself into a corner and is not pleasing to the Creator.

I would like to encourage us to do the following:

1) Pray seriously that God will give us the wisdom to continue to learn the truth .

2) Be tolerant of others who disagree with us.

3) Understand that we may think we are correct, but it is possible to be in error.

I just mentioned twenty (20)different areas in which I was convinced I was

correct, but through further searching I discovered my errors.

4) Be kind to our fellow human beings. People do have opinions and if we are

going to witness to them, one must differ in a spirit of kindness.

5) Make an earnest effort to learn the Scriptures from various view points.

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