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To: Search4Truth
I would point out though, that fear of God's divine law and judgment IS what drives people to the saving grace of the Lord. The law of God is perfect, in converting the soul. How is it that one should want the saving grace of the Lord, if they are unaware of their sin and God's judgment and condemnation to come.

Respectfully, I believe that one earns the right to be heard by loving, respecting and caring about those who don't understand God's Word the way we do. We are to point the way, and speak the truth in love, not condemn. The Holy Spirit will work on the heart, and point out the areas that God wants to work on to that person. That is not to say that we are not to ever point out (lovingly) an inconsistency in someone's life, but I believe it is not our primary job.

People cringe and are repelled when they are condemned, but they open their hearts when they are loved. That is how God has an opportunity to work. Not everyone has an Amaeus Road experience, some take years and years to come to a full knowledge of Christ. I believe there is a reason for that. God has lessons and experiences he wants each person to learn from, and grow from, and use to help others. He can even use unsanctified sinners--despite their own shortcomings, and He does just that.

He used Mincaye (the man who killed Nate Saint) in a HUGE way, despite the fact that for years after the slayings, Mincaye rejected Christianity. Now look what has happened! Was it because the wives went in and condemned the tribe? No. It was because they went in and loved them, served them, and taught them. God worked on Mincaye's heart in His time and in His way. There was no need to condemn him, the Holy Spirit did it, and now he is the spiritual leader for his tribe. Thousands if not millions have been inspired by the story over the past 50 years (even when Mincaye wasn't a Christian) and people have been moved into full time missionary work...people have forgiven where forgiveness seemed impossible, marriages have reconciled...God did these things through a sinner who knew nothing of Him, and certainly wasn't sanctified in any way.

Everyone is useful in God's eyes, He will decide whom He will use, and how He will use them. He will also decide which areas of the heart need pruning, and will prune them as He wishes. We are not the Master Gardener...we are only fertilizer.

115 posted on 02/02/2006 3:39:58 PM PST by I'm ALL Right!
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You have made a god to suit yourself, out of your worldly thoughts and feelings, which is idolatry.

What you stated is not Biblical. And I'm really not interested in the gospel of "I'm ALL Right!" comprised of your unrepentant thoughts and tender feelings. Who do you think you are?

"Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool so that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness"" (1 Corinthians 3:18-19).

Since matters of the spirit are foolishness to the world, there is no point in continuing this discussion with you. You appear to want to use it to honor yourself, rather than the Word of God, as well as using this thread to taunt Christians and mock God.

May God have mercy on you.

"To employ soft words and honeyed phrases in discussing questions of everlasting importance; to deal with errors that strike at the foundations of all human hope as if they were harmless and venial mistakes; to bless where God disapproves, and to make apologies where He calls us to stand up like men and assert, though it may be the aptest method of securing popular applause in a sophistical age, is cruelty to man and treachery to Heaven. Those who on such subjects attach more importance to the rules of courtesy than they do to the measures of truth do not defend the citadel, but betray it into the hands of its enemies. Love for Christ, and for the souls for whom He died, will be the exact measure of our zeal in exposing the dangers by which men's souls are ensnared" (quoted in a sermon by George Sayles Bishop, author of The Doctrines of Grace and Kindred Themes, 1910).


116 posted on 02/02/2006 4:45:39 PM PST by Search4Truth (I'm still eating orange sherbet and I don't care who knows.)
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