SD, I have read your scenario, and put my self in the place of Mr. C, and I did manage to relate to him, except in the conclusions.
I have discovered many truths, which at the time I felt blessed that a commoner like my self could be blessed to find or discover something that men who were giants of faith and much Holier then myself found years ago.
To me, this wasn't a disappointment that others were way ahead of me, but a compliment that I was on the same track as they.
When I was 16, and got my first 1940,-6 cyl Chevy, my step dad showed me how to adjust the overhead valves on it, and of course the engine had to be running and warm to do so.
So there I was, trying to hold a 9/16 box wrench on this moving target, while trying to engage a standard screwdriver into another moving target at the same time.
My inventive mind went to work, and soon I had made a combination wrench/screwdriver, that when you slid the box end of the wrench down over the moving 9/16 lock nut, the screwdriver was mounted on a bracket to the wrench, and it came down over the screwdriver notch at the same time, and easily lined up with the screw, and worked perfectly.
I was so excited with $$$$$ in front of me as I ran to tell Dad what I had, I brought him out to the car, and said watch this, and I gave him a demo of my perfect invention.
Just as I was readying my self to ask him if he wanted in on the ground floor of this amazing discovery, he said.
"Yeh, we used those in the Army"
Well, months later when I decided I had to get out of bed, and make a life again for my self............ Lol,
The point being, I took this as a compliment, because even if it had already been invented by someone else, I felt this connected me to other inventors who were just like me, possibly the first few don't work out, but if you have faith in your gift of inventiveness, it will pay off some day, and for me it was 30 years and 4 patents later when I finally invented a tool that I manufactured and sold nationwide for over 11 years, and was blessed to have my children as a part of the business through their young years.
Now what about Mr.C?....This truth he discovered may have truly been inspirational. but if he had looked outside of his little world, he would have found someone else had came up with the same idea, and from that, he could have told if the world had beat a path to the door of this other person, or if it passed in the night.
If he had loved his Church, he should have held onto his new truth, and worked around it with their present doctrine, and if he wasn't content with that, then if he thought it was that important, he should have done what he was led to do.
The truth he had may have been very important to him, and even to others, so if it made them draw closer to God, and gave them peace of mind to follow this new idea, then so what, does God look to see what building we are in when we pray to him, or does he ask what the name of our orginization is?
I think not, and to God who hears billions of prayers coming to him every day, I doubt seriously if he considers these prayers from these people as confusion or chaotic, they are simply more of his people calling out to him in one voice.
Of course now we'll have to go to the US PTO and search to find out what you've invented. :-)
Now what about Mr.C?....This truth he discovered may have truly been inspirational. but if he had looked outside of his little world, he would have found someone else had came up with the same idea, and from that, he could have told if the world had beat a path to the door of this other person, or if it passed in the night.
Good point. I suppose someone has to have an idea first, but you are right that most people when they have an idea are not alone with it.
If he had loved his Church, he should have held onto his new truth, and worked around it with their present doctrine, and if he wasn't content with that, then if he thought it was that important, he should have done what he was led to do.
I'll buy that.
The truth he had may have been very important to him, and even to others, so if it made them draw closer to God, and gave them peace of mind to follow this new idea, then so what, does God look to see what building we are in when we pray to him, or does he ask what the name of our orginization is?
Nope. Being listed on the roles somewhere doesn't do anything.
SD