A Shame?

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On Wed, 9 Sep 1998 02:00:45 -0500 tlwitness@juno.com (Jerry Welch)
writes:

>>Yes, I think it is important.
>
>But there is a lot of abuse going on in just that fashion.

I would agree that there is *some* although I'm not sure there is alot.

>>It was after Pac-man. Whoever told you it was wrong should've given a
better explanation.  
>
>But that was when I was blindly obeying my Pastor.  He said it was 
>wrong, BAM! it was wrong.

And so now you are trying to help others to prevent this from happening
by teaching personal responsibility which is a good thing to practice. (
IOW, I agree personal responsibility and not blindly obeying is a good
thing.)

>>But sometimes pastors are distracted or not understanding the 
>>impact their words are having.  
>
>And THAT is what I want to emphasize, not demonize.  I don't believe 
>there are really many Pastors at all out there that purposely abuse 
>the position that God has given them.

I'm glad you feel that way.

>>This is not meant to excuse a bad reply to why something is wrong, 
>but maybe it can lend a 
>>little understanding.  Many times I think pastors are looking farther 
>
>>down the road when they caution against something that, at first, 
>>seems innocent.  
>
>And alot of times, it is the uninformed decision of a man who is 
>afraid of new technology, as in the case of Television and, as we are 
>discussing, video games.  I wonder why Radio didn't have that problem?

Here is where we disagree in that I don't think most pastors are
uninformed.  Some are, I'm sure.  The weight on a pastor to guide lives
is heavy and I doubt that most take it lightly.  The men of God are
trying to help saints live for God.  Some are on a power trip, but a true
man of God will not be.  You've obviously had some bad experiences and
that is truly unfortunate.

As far as radio, maybe this was placed in the realm that you are trying
to place television in.  Radio was not seen as much of a threat to our
spiritual walk as television. ( This is just my guess.)

>Life isn't easy, and our mission was never promised to be an easy one. 
> We have to look at "what should be" and see how something could be 
>used to spread God's Word or to further establish saints, etc.
>
>It is more effective to our mission to attempt to influence/use 
>something when it first starts so that it is established as a Godly 
>tool.
>
>Jerry Welch

This is your theory but I'm not convinced it would work.  One thing I
have learned is that God will speak to those above me about certain
things.  I don't think God has ever *only* spoken to those above me and
left me out expecting me to blindly obey. 

 This subject reminds me of the OT prophet who was told to fast and not
break it and then an old prophet told him to break his fast and he did. 
God was angry with him for breaking his fast and a lion slew him. ( 1
Kings 13)  You are right that sometimes God will speak to us personally
and the elder will be wrong.  But I strongly believe this to be the
exception more than the rule.  I believe that the younger prophet in this
instance full well knew he shouldn't break his fast.  I think he just did
what he wanted and used the old prophet as an excuse to do what he wanted
to do anyway.

Lynne Yohnk

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