Chris,
Don't be so concerned about whether the messenger has his tie straight,
worry about the message. Especially if it concerns your eternal destiny.
You know, the way you say that, it sounds to me like you might be implying that my (and others) reaction to you and your pontificating manner is gonna affect our eternal destiny.
I know from personal experience that there are a few Christian individuals (almost always men) who are apt to use God, the scriptures, and religious doctrine as a tool to cut down others and implicitly elevate themselves into a superior position over those others. I happen to be related to one like this. This man has been actively involved in the church I grew up in for 40+ years. He's always been at the church every time it's open. He studies the Bible daily, has taught a Sunday school class for decades, and has served as Sunday school superintendent. I believe the only reason he isn't a deacon, is because of a previous marriage in his youth (that husband of one wife thing). He donates more than 25% of his income to the church. I know. He's kin and I do his taxes each year. I dare say no one in that church is more determindedly devoted to the church than he.
For years, he would spend one night a week with other men, visiting prospects (this in addition to Sunday services, weekly prayer meetings, weekly brotherhood meetings). He has little pamphlets he carries and gives to others with proof texts on them. He's given me supplies of these urging me to pass these out at my work and, of course, implying my eternal destiny relies on doing as he says. Of course, I don't distribute missionary literature at my office so I guess that's just one of many reasons I need to fear going to hell (in addition to my critical posts to you, huh?). If you should dispute or differ with him, he's sure to point out his concern for your salvation and how he'll pray for you.
I can't think of one person for certain that he has brought to God. Maybe there are some and for some unknown reason, I haven't heard of them. You'd think all that effort would have some result. I do know of several families of people (once active in the church) he chased away, including one deacon and his family. I say "chased away" figuratively. Actually they were harassed away - little criticisms here, little negative comments there on some point of doctrine or practice. I can remember hearing one side of a phone conversation which resulted in a deacon leaving our church. I can't remember what the issue was as it was so long ago. I just remember hearing him and thinking, "My God, he's actually lecturing a deacon now." Always he's "scripturally correct" and if necessary he'll quote a relevant verse. He's just correcting his fellows "in Christian love". And if any think him obnoxious, well, he's just acting in a good cause. And he is a devoted pillar of the church after all and his intentions are pure.
I don't buy the good intentions stuff anymore. And I don't believe you either, Chris. IMO you're a fraud and a pretender through and through. (Yeah, yeah, I really don't know you, so I could be wrong about you but I'm probably not. But I read your posts and you sound so familiar.)
Being a lost soul bound for hell and not a good Christian like you, I can't quote scripture very well, but I do seem to recall that Jesus once said something along the lines of not all who say Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom and I believe he said something about false teachers and how by their fruit ye shall know them. Maybe you should be concerned about your own eternal destiny, Chris.
Bruce |
