Replies

Jeepers, what a conversation has transpired while I was away! Thank you so much for your beautiful posts, betty boop and marron!

And thank you, Religion Mod, for trying to keep the conversation from turning personal. Alas, personal attacks were already posted against me at 919 and 921. I would however like them to stand because they constitute a testimony to the points that betty boop, marron and I have been making here, i.e. that God is love, those who dwell in love dwell in God and God dwells in them (1 John 4:16).

Ephesian210, the thrust of your posts is that you insist I must come and join your group in making various judgments and defending the Scriptures according to a particular interpretation.

Again, I respectfully and lovingly decline. This is not negotiable. Like Mary, I am under Christ’s protection because I have chosen to sit at His feet and listen to His Word. Again, with emphasis:

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. – Luke 10:38-42

Ephesians210, the choice I have made not to judge other beings has evidently infuriated you. Again, I stand firm in my refusal to judge any being, including you; it is a "luxury" I cannot afford (with emphasis):

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:9-15

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. – Luke 6:36-38

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. – Galatians 6:7-8

Christ choose twelve apostles with very different personalities. And they argued amongst themselves. (Acts 15) Jesus could have chosen twelve like John or Paul or Peter, etc. Likewise, Christ accepts very different churches in Revelation 2 and 3. He could have commanded they all be of one type.

It is my choice to be more like the apostle John and the church of Philadelphia. But by all means, Ephesians210, choose your own path, but please quite insisting I follow you. I will not.

Hi AG,

From your post it sounds like you are are somewhat the sisters that devote their life to prayer and reflection. (like Mary at the feet of Jesus.)

But some of us are called to go out to the world, and to preach the gospel in season and out . When one decides to live the gospel call, discernment and judgment are not an addition to our work, they are necessary.

To those that have that particular call it is essential to know the spiritual condition of others (that calls for judgment). It is essential that we listen to the gospels that are preached so we can confront distortion and evil .
Jesus demanded those kinds of judgments of His apostles as He sent them out. They were to shake the dust off their sandals and move on , they were not to give the gospel to those that hated God (do not caste your pearls) .

So even while Christ walked this earth his followers were called on to judge their audience .

The apostles took this very seriously because they wanted to keep the gospel pure and not preverted . We can see that in some of the letters. All gospels are not equal , and only the one delivered to us by Christ through the apostles it to be taught as that is the only one that saves.

To be honest I do not worry about my "protection" I know that I am preserved and protected, I worry about those that are caught in false doctrines and gospels (as I believe we all need be..so some can pray for them and others can go out into the fields ). We must hold all doctrine up to the word of God as the measuring rod .

I take Paul's admonition to the Galatians very seriously

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

If we stand by and do nothing when a false gospel is preached I believe we will stand in judgment for that.

Ephesian210, the thrust of your posts is that you insist I must come and join your group in making various judgments and defending the Scriptures according to a particular interpretation

The wonderful thing about Calvinism we know that God does the work and not us. I do not know the doctrine of EPH 210, but I do know that no one can "force" anyone into their doctrinal position..I do not think ??? he was trying to insist on anything with you...

I think the word of God is very clear, and I think that EPH thinks it is too. We can all disagree on the fine points, but the theme is clear . If we do nothing to present the gospel of Christ or to convict those under a false gospel we will be judged for that too, so we need to listen and understand to what is taught .The world is today overtaken with spiritualism, new age philosophy ,and occult practices and there are perversions of the word of God that are preached as the gospel. It behooves those of us that do feel it is a command to see the gospel presented correctly that we listen and learn and not fear the confrontation .

Re: Ephesians210, the choice I have made not to judge other beings has evidently infuriated you. Again, I stand firm in my refusal to judge any being, including you; it is a "luxury" I cannot afford (with emphasis):

Sorry to inform you, but you did "judge" me, and "judged" me wrongly as well, by "judging" me to be "infuriated", which is as far from the truth as the east is from the west.

You are free not to "judge"(in reality you judge all the time but can't admit it), but don't try and tell me that Christians are not to "judge" when God---not you---has clearly commanded the opposite.

btw, what you misjudged to be "infuriated", is a strong love for God and His Word.

Why did you judge me wrongly?