If, in gratitude, I dedicated myself to "serving" the pipe, by keeping it in good repair, it seems to me the Protestants would say I was insulting the well and acting like I thought the water was generated by the pipe. If I washed my hands, they'd say (it seems) that I was proud.
After a while, I just don't know how to deal with this persistent claim of knowing my intentions better than I know them.
And We are supposedly to blame for everyone who misunderstands what we say. I'd say, listen, at least they're in church and one day they might hear what is being said. My neighbor saw the hypocrisy at a local Baptist church and resolved never to go again. I've tried to talk him out of it (and NOT into my Church, just into SOME place where Jesus is praised) but to no avail, NOW I see his response a reaction to Misunderstanding the idea that the Church is, as some of you say, the society of the elect. But I'm sure you all (Not you personally FK - You're in the group of Prots I would like to have too many beers with) would give that doctrine a pass, while holding us responsible for the misunderstandings and abuse of what we teach.
I kiss flowers. I kiss trees. I can look at my pathetic attempt at a lawn and watch the life and business going on in a square foot of it and glorify all the works of the Lord and join in their song of praise.
The way my feet are healing, the mind of Lister and whoever thought up antiseptic medicine. The very smell of feet unwashed for two weeks -- and the joy of washing them! Bless ye the Lord, praise Him and Magnify Him forever.
You wanna think I'm an idolater? Because I am blown away by what God does in His creation, much less in His holy and humble men and women of heart?
Oh, Shadrach Meshach and Abednego Bless ye the Lord, Praise Him and magnify Him forever -- and those poor gloomy people over there who think that because we dance between the earth and the sky and now bow to this partner and then curtsy to that one we are committing idolatry, If they think aragula is thistles and good red wine is poison, we should pray for their healing. But under no circumstances should we stop praising the Lord.
What you write here is perfectly agreeable. I don't think many Protestants would have any problems with this at all. In all honesty, I think the disagreement is that many Protestants would "suspect" that in the above, the word "to" is what is operative instead of the word "for". We would see only one source where "to" would be applicable. I personally come to this concern partially through the standardized prayers I have seen to Mary and other saints. I know part of the response is that we are misunderstanding the intent behind those prayers and I am perfectly willing to put that within the realm of possibility. (Aren't I a nice guy? :) But, in the end, you know what you know, and don't have to worry about what anyone else thinks.
If, in gratitude, I dedicated myself to "serving" the pipe, by keeping it in good repair, it seems to me the Protestants would say I was insulting the well and acting like I thought the water was generated by the pipe.
If the well and the pipe were two different entities, then yes, I think we would have a pretty big disagreement. :) We would say that only One was worthy of dedication and service, etc. This makes me think that our respective frustrations are of the same type, but over different objects.
After a while, I just don't know how to deal with this persistent claim of knowing my intentions better than I know them.
Well, whenever I have done that, please accept my apologies. None of us should judge intentions, at least not without being able to back it up.
And We are supposedly to blame for everyone who misunderstands what we say.
I think the issue there is over the words used for doctrine, prayer, and the like. To outsiders, it certainly does "sound" a certain way. :) Right or wrong, I think it is correct to say that, regardless of any fault on anyone. So, the fair thing to conclude might be that they are only intended for internal consumption. But of course, even that opens up a new can of worms. :)
My neighbor saw the hypocrisy at a local Baptist church and resolved never to go again. I've tried to talk him out of it ...
Thank you my friend, I appreciate that. I just pray that it wasn't one of the Baptist churches that IS truly off the mark (i.e., the Clinton-Carter wing). Unfortunately, there are many of them. In any event, I hope is was the Lord who led your neighbor to do what he did. In the same situation, I wouldn't counsel my Catholic friend to stop going to Catholic worship because of some issue he was having at that particular church.
(Not you personally FK - You're in the group of Prots I would like to have too many beers with)
And the same with you, my friend. :)
... The way my feet are healing, the mind of Lister and whoever thought up antiseptic medicine. ...
I'm praying for a swift and sure recovery. Praise the Lord for His love.