Rick Warren’s Call for Christians to Unite With Catholics, ‘Holy Father’ Raising Concerns

http://christiannews.net ^ | December 2, 2014 | Heather Clark

[Fantasywriter]

If you want to see the method Jesus used with the lost/sinners to bring about repentance, study His interactions with the woman at the well. He was remarkably kind and gentle with her. He did not say, ‘You fool’ to her, or even call her a sinner. After He had won her heart, he instructed her to go and sin no more. And what did she do? She went into her village and spread the word—that she had found the Messiah.

Jesus’ method worked.

As to the method you are advocating, a careful study of the circumstances in which Jesus spoke harshly is both necessary and revealing. Jesus didn’t use the method you advocate for the purpose you propose. If you can produce a single example of Jesus using your method to produce the results you advocate, please reply with chapter and verse. Otherwise, the claim is moot.

One fact to bear in mind is this. Jesus reserved His harshest language for the Pharisees. Far from coming to repentance & faith in Jesus en masse, they harbored their grudge and eventually acted on it. Of course, their actions only played into God’s hand. But the point is: the method as used by Jesus was not intended to cause the Pharisees to come to their senses [to use your words]. Had it been, it would have been a failure. But it was not a failure because it was used for another purpose entirely, and for the purpose intended, it was a success.

[evangmlw]

My friend, I have read the Word of God perhaps over a hundred times, on top of reading it, I have diligently studied it for some 35 years, have a BA in Biblical Studies, and an MA in Christian Counseling, and have read several entire sets of biblical commentaries, along with numerous spiritual books over the years. Born again at the age of ten (personally knowing Christ for 49 years), I spent several years in the prodigal pig sty, and have filled a 55 gallon bucket of tears on my face before God. I know and have experienced first hand what it is to be a fool for the world, as well as a fool for Christ. The world is overrun with fools, and sometimes they need to be advised of their foolishness, because in their ignorance they are truly unaware that they are fools. I know God the Father, an intimately acquainted with God the Son, and daily enjoy the indwelling presence of God the Holy Spirit. I’m well aware of what the Word of God says.

[Fantasywriter]

Thank you for your testimony. May God bless you abundantly now and always, in your walk with Him and your love for Him and for others.

With such diligence and training in God’s Word, surely you can provide a chapter and verse of Jesus calling people fools and getting the results you have indicated would be your motivation/desire in so doing. Thank you in advance.