My Dear Brian,
Do not be offended by gentleness for it is one of the fruits of the Spirit.
Galations 5
22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
We all have to be careful not to fall into the trap of the Pharisees for they are the ones the Lord rebuked not sinners.
Luke 18
9: And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13: And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Consider this also;
1 Corinthians 13
1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
I know you have strong beliefs on Calvinism, I do not agree but respect your beliefs. The main concern I have is the idea that some are chosen and nothing other people can do will ever allow them to have a relation with God because he only wants me attitude. That is the very thing Jesus blasted the Pharisees for. Also, why evangelize since it is already determined and if I do it or not it won't matter much because God will save them anyway. You know me and know you do not have to blast me with scriptures taken to support your views, I know they are there and I also know verse that say the opposite are there. So it is a God thing IMO!!! He will save however He wants and we should not be to concerned we are only commanded to love others as He has loved us, and He did not blast sinners only the religous self righteous that misrepresented Him to the world as harsh and unloving.
Peace to you and I pray you take His yoke upon you for he gentle and humble of heart,
Nancy |
