Dear Robert:
It has almost become a cliche that in the days of our Lord the big doubt was that Christ could or would forgive sin. This was why the leaders manifested the cross, in those days. However, today, the big doubt is in the willingness and the capacity of Christ to heal. Whole denominations doubt the same manifestations.
The explanations center around the , first, absense of Christ, and then second, the absence of the Holy Spirit as documented in the book of Acts. That was then, this is now, is the explanation.
But ask any sinner if they recognize that Christ must forgive their sins for them to enter the kingdom and approx 1/2 will say that they do not recognize that specific need and the other 1/2 will recognize the need, acknowledge that the forgiveness is in Christ and then as an after thought they will tell you they want to sow some wild oats first, or when the time is right after they have had all the fun in life they intend, they will make the decision for Christ.
But the big hangup, for most Christians is the healing aspect; and I am of the opinion that for most Christians this one aspect of Christian faith presents some very serious hangups. Second to this is whether or not Christ wants us to prosper financially, and third to this is about "suffering" for God's glory. Between the three of these we have millions of pretty messed up in the mind Christians IMHO.
In Christ.gregor |
