Dear Nancy:
You know how I feel. You should feel more at home here than I do. If something happened that I could not post, this thread would go on; because it is founded on the solid rock of Christ Jesus. Jesus is lifted up here and God forbid if man is lifted up.
I appreciate your comments on the law but can I talk now that I have heard you out?
It is easy to see Christ in the OT, and in the Law and in the wilderness, and in the lions den and in the furnace now that we have seen and known Christ personally. Once you know Him you find out that He is everywhere. You know that He was everywhere , orchestrating all events in the OT speaking to the prophets, to the kings, and even to the people on occassion.
But take away the NT and see how much of Christ is visible in the OT. If you don't know what you are looking for, it is a lot harder to find.
The Ark to me is a symbol of estrangement. While the presence of God was seen there, the mystery of God experienced there,it was for someone else to enjoy and experience to the fullest. It represented the exclusion of all of the priviledges I have now in Christ. It represented the restrictions of priviledges, rather than the freely given, open,free will that I have now under Christ.
I have to admit; I get extremely agitated when I get the feeling that somebody is trying to place me back under the law, to put me in my place if you will ! And this can be done so subtely. I can understand the feelings of a defensive nature that in particular mature Christians feel when they catch the slightest wiff of manipulation.
These are some of the things that really wave a red flag to me; and I admit send off bells becaus it undermines the blood of Jesus IMO.
Comments made or heard like:(ALL TRUE)
"Brother, ( not Jesus ) GOD has given me a word of knowledge for you !"
"Unless you are a member of a church I just don't believe you can ever get to heaven"
"Unless you attend church regularly I just don't believe you can go to heaven"
"If you are not being healed then you have unforgiven sin in your life"
"Not tithing a full 10% will place you under a financial curse"
"I believe you have to come down to this altar to get deliverance"
"Cancer can only be driven out if the elders of the church lay hands on you"
"Women cannot be on the deacon board" "Women cannot be
ministers of the gospel"
"you cannot play golf, or be a member of a country club and be a Christian"
" If you want to charge your offering on your credit card, the church secretary will oblige you"
Am I saying that you are any of these , do not be ridiculous; of course not. This is all I am saying. You and Alan grew up under the law. You saw its kinder , gentler, happier side. And in a previous post I gave all the benefits of living under the law and how it was a much better way of life than many christians live today. But this doesn not excuse us from missing out on the richness and freedom that we SHOULD be living in Christ.
But most Christians did not grow up under the law, the gentiles, and heathen who have come to Christ in particular grew up under bondage to SIN, and this bondage is the worst of all; so that when Christ has set them free they are free indeed. Once having been that deeply in bondage I know I resent any type of bondage to the Law or whatever.
As to what is the worst type of bondage to be in to the LAW or to SIN, that is open for debate. That would be like me choosing between castor oil and drinking moonshine straight. John Doe may say I've been drinking moonshine since I was 12 years old, but that doesn't mean it would taste good to me.
Sincerely, lovingly, respectfully, in Christ..gregor
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