Subliminal messages

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>However, I have observed something, and HOPE it doesnt make people too
>uncomfortable to talk about, or issue and invitation for another wave
>of kamikazee messages:
>
Bro. Mark,

You can relax this is not a "kamikaze message"

>That is, people in areas where large scale revivial is taking place in
>this country may tend to keep their TVs for a while. While a measure
>of spiritual  health an individuals capability to respond to
>preaching, more and more, preachers are asking saints to make their
>own decisions from the word of God rather than spelling out "Get rid
>of the TV". Kids show up in church with these stupid haircuts, and we
>sometimes regret that Sister Shepherd did not yet teach "Necklines
>101" this year. In other words, open doors mean live people. Either
>live people are not always the sheep they are supposed to be, or some
>of us don't know much about sheep.
>
This is true. We must recognize that first thing God convicts a new saint about is their appearance. (I don't like the haircuts either.) Also if we have a number of visitors attending the assembly, then salvation messages may be in order, with discussion of standards being done at the midweek Bible study. Standards cannot be discussed in a vacuum. They must be explained in the context of Christlikeness and modesty. 

Here is where I will take the flak, but the Bible nowhere says "thou shalt not have a TV." Thus, while a new Christian can look through the word on their own and see injunctions about hair or alcohol, God will have to provide illumination with regard to TV. (i.e. in Paul's Philippians passage "whatsoever things are..."

>The bottom line is, there are perhaps more than one way to look the
>meaning of saints not immediately responding to preaching on holiness.
>my experience is, that in socially progressive areas of the society, a
>positive response to a positive message of holiness is as meaningful
>as the Holy Ghost infilling itself, and cause for great excitement. 
>
I would tend to agree, although with reservation, Holiness is a concept that modern society has eliminated, in favor of "morality" or "ethics" both of which can exist without God. Therefore we cannot assume that an individual entering church will recognize Holiness as a standard to be attained to.

>I greatly appreciate men who will preach with fire and resolution
>regarding absolutes of church standards, but am also interested in
>seeing a higher yeild, and lower "hypocrite fallout" (i.e.
>self-condemned who pretend to follow standards in public ... two
>wardrobes ...etc). Loosing people and separating tares is not one of
>our goals.
>
Bro. Mark, I am not sure above if you meant "loosing people" or "losing people" But I agree with your other points in this section. The world is returning to the condition it was in in the time of Christ. Human life is being devalued, pleasure is the highest good, pluralism is the standard, and people yearn for an authority to make the world safe (except in some parts of the US) I believe that as the world is returning to this mindset, and will surpass the Roman Empire in perversion and cruelty, likewise the church will return to New Testament power and anointing and even surpass that. Bro. Billy Cole's ministry abroad is an example of this.

>Holiness must envelop the believer in and out, being the character of
>the spirit and name which joins him to the Living God. 
>
That expresses my thoughts exactly.

In Jesus' Name,

 Frank Vandenburg