Wednesday, July 16, 2014

The Power to Change Website; being "in Christ;" and walking after the spirit

The following comment was made by Dick B. in response to the walking by the spirit discussion on Power to Change and its Website:

This site just came to my attention because I have been writing extensively on Romans 8:1. A few anti-A.A. Christians condemn A.A. and the recovery movement because its founders engaged in spiritualism. But these two A.A. founders were born and raised in Vermont, brought up in their respective Congregational churches and Sunday schools (North Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury – for Dr. Bob; and East Dorset Congregational Church in East Dorset – for Bill W.). They studied the Bible with their parents and friends. They participated in prayer meetings, Bible studies, Young Men’s Christian Association activities. They attended revival, conversion, and Temperance meetings. Their parents brought them up knowing about salvation and the Word of God. They both attended Congregational academies–St, Johnsbury Academy for Bob in St. Johnsbury VT, and Burr and Burton Seminary in Manchester VT for Bill. Bill took a four year Bible study course at Burr and Burton Seminary; and both Bob and Bill attended Daily Chapel services at their academies. Those services included a sermon, reading of Scripture, hymns, and prayer. Students were also required to attend nearby Congregational Churches — North Congregational in St. Johnsbury and Manchester Congregational near Burr and Burton. In Bob’s case, Bob was active in the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor. And its program held required conversion meetings, Bible study meetings, prayer meetings, Quiet Hour meetings, topical discussions on Christian subjects, and witnessing outreach. There was a baptismal font in each church, and the church confessions and creeds covered the subjects of the Word of God and salvation thoroughly and rigidly. In short, the cofounders were Christians. They were “in Christ.” They were born again and had Christ in them, the hope of glory. Hence the attempt to claim they had "lost" their status as children of the living Creator flouts the very clear Bible verses making it plain that by accepting Christ they had accepted His Way, Truth, and Life–and Everlasting Life. And whether they or others strayed after getting sober and walked by the flesh, they had sealed in them the gift of the Holy Spirit and could choose to walk by the spirit–the subject of this site. Or walk after the flesh, which Bill W. so often did. A commendable subject by the website.. Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

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