You are right of course and I think all of us consider it quite often, and I did a post on the same subject a month or so ago, but these are doctrinal differences that have put a wedge between us for years, and I think they are better said then harbored inside.
It's like the old psychology of saving up stamps in a marriage, and then when you have a large pile of them, you turn them in all at once, and there goes the marriage.
I think it is better if we can get all these things out in the open and keep them there as long as we harbor no ill will, and as far as us getting mad at times, of course we do, but that is also good at times that we know we have passion in what we believe.
In John Chapter 21, Verses 15-17 Christ asked Peter 3 times if he (Peter) loved Him and Peter said yes 3 times, in verse 17, it says Peter was grieved because Christ asked him 3 times if he loved him. On the surface if a husband or wife asked the other 3 consecutive times, we would be aggravated, no?
Let's insert the Greek words for love in the verses, to wit:
Agopi= All consuming stemming from Yahweh
Feleo: Love of a friend, parent, etc.
Christ asked Peter if he recognized Him with Agopi love;
Peter replied, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest everything, thou knowest that I feleo thee;
Christ asked him two times about Agopi love and Peter
answered with Friendship love;
The third time, Christ asked him if he loved Him as a friend and Peter walked away grieved because Christ had made him realize that at that point in time, Peter was lacking.
That's my take on it after discussing it with some people. I'm open minded about it, but, it makes sense.
Any comments