Thanks for your kind words Emile.
I both hope and think you are right - that God is doing
things in my life.
I am moving to China in a couple of months if everything works out.
You can tell from my utter lack of patience I am not missionary
material - but none the less I really believe God is moving in China.
I plan to post from time to time from China - it should be fun.
The culture shock I believe is good for me - I have lived
such a life of abundance in Canada - that a little "want" will do me good.
I find it unfortunate that Christians find it impossible to SHARE
in conversation and insist upon debating at every point.
Surely this is keeping the Gospel under wraps.
Christ said this:
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
I dare not grace a church as I will be entailed in instance
confrontation for my Preterit persuasion.
I doubt Alan could attend many churches because of his Universalism
The only difference between Alan and myself is that he is actually wrong :-)
I would love Alan if he wasn't so "huffy" ROTF
In any case - I hope to actually help those who believe
in Christ in China and hope it a fresh start.
I have seen the results of theological pride and prejudices
Surely these sins are worse than we will grant:
Proverbs 6:
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed
innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that
be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies,
and he that soweth discord among brethren.
If just a PROUD LOOK be abomination how much more
a continuous attitude of superiority?
We must believe that what we believe is true otherwise we
would stop believing it - or become hypocrites.
The problem is that we not only believe it - we believe without
gratitude to God for the light He alone has given us:
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from
another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?
now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Actually Hawk eye is right - I am spiteful - easy to anger - and sarcastic
to the point where I must admit a hateful attitude toward many.
I have little patience and am quick to judge those who are
just like me - pride begets pride.
God knows how much I truly hate my estate - including my lack of effort to truly change...
Repentance is not just admitting fault it is trying to change.
I lose hope that I will ever be a man well spoken of once dead
but I hope to do some good while I yet breathe and live.
From my behaviour - I doubt any would think me capable of love
but there is a spark that Christ has put within me that does
cause me to love those who truly love Him in spite of their sin.
I see that in you Emile. I know you love Christ.
If we do not agree on anything other than the deity of Christ
why should we be separated and at odds?
It no longer makes sense to me to see men constantly looking
for reasons to separate under the guise of purity of doctrine.
No 2 men ever will agree 100% on absolutely every point of doctrine
so while we should strive to be unified in belief and to purge
ourselves of dogma and tradition - to become enemies is ungodly.
Christ gave Himself to the church - singular and not particular.
That can only mean that Christ - while he spoke to individual
churches in Revelation - judged them each on their own merits
yet see His bride in a singular fashion.
We need to stop pretending we are the church of Philadelphia
while everyone else must be the church of Laodiceans and
see ourselves in the singular - as one body some weak some stronger.
I do not see men fulfilling needs when they are battering each
other in theological debate ad nauseam - sick of it.
Looking for souls who want to reason without accusation is like
looking for a needle in a haystack piled deep and very high.
It is not difficult to find a Christian who wants to fight
it is very difficult to find one who doesn't.
Thank again Emile and thank you for wishing a blessing toward me.
Brian |
