Shalom,
I'm sorry. I know that wasn't the point, I grieve for those who are enouraged to accept a "peripheral" message which is really not the gospel, but I can't tell quickly on the face if one has really accepted Christ as Savior or is meeting with other Christians as a "social club."
Hasn't been that long ago that you posted the verses from John chapter 10 about Jesus being the good shepherd and Him knowing His own and His own knowing Him. Jesus is the end of all disputes and any questions as to who are genuinely following Him.
You cannot reach the entire world, but through Christ you can influence those in the sphere in which you move, right? If you or I do this in faith, what can we do except pray for those outside our "spheres of influence?"
I appreciate your sentiments -- all of us need to live "consistent" with what we confess, yet none of us does this perfectly. Paul discusses this in Romans, right?
A few days back my wife was discussing a married man in the local church where she grew up who had invited her unmarried sister over to his house -- she interpreted this as untoward and indicative of further sin in the man's life, but all she had was a second hand story from her sister. He may have had some bad intent and this may have been a particluar period of weakness
for him -- however, he may have not attempted any such thing before.
All I'm saying is we have to be careful not to judge -- correct teachings that are contrary to Christ by all means, but if we see a brother sin or fear that a brother may be lead into sin -- we're to approach him, not others, right? |
