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To: ponyespresso

As a non-pentecostal I'd disagree with far more than the point you mention, but that is not my concern in this response.

As a pastor who has preached and taught for a quarter century, I welcome people to come to me in private and ask for clarification. On several occassions they had an insight that I had missed. Even when they disagreed with my comments I appreciated their coming to me to express concern.

Your doing this in private was entirely in order and should have been graciously received. Knowing your posts here on FR I am sure you made the comments graciously.

The senior pastor's response is strange. He may see what he thinks is a pattern of bucking authority. If so, it is dangerous to suggest or insist that questioning the soundness of teaching is wrong. (Acts 17:11 says checking out the teaching of an apostle is NOBLE).

He may have other issues with you and is using this to "send you a message." I find that sometimes when people have personal issues that do not rest on any scriptural basis, they look for another issue that they can make sound spiritual.

In any case, the Lord be with you as you seek to honor Him in this circumstance. Exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit which IMO is the genuine evidence that you are filled with the Spirit!


7 posted on 05/20/2004 4:32:44 PM PDT by drstevej
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To: drstevej
As a non-pentecostal I'd disagree with far more than the point you mention

Well, if you do have a spare moment, I would like to hear you out. Again, at your leisure..

a pastor who has preached and taught for a quarter century, I welcome people to come to me in private and ask for clarification.

See, I used the example in Acts of Priscilla and Aquilla taking Apollos aside after he just preached as an example that it is ok to do this. But they didn't seem to agree with my interpretation of that.

The senior pastor's response is strange. He may see what he thinks is a pattern of bucking authority. If so, it is dangerous to suggest or insist that questioning the soundness of teaching is wrong. (Acts 17:11 says checking out the teaching of an apostle is NOBLE).

I completely forgot to bring that verse up. They wondered why I had somehow set my self up as a doctrinal watchdog. I responsed that we all have a responsibility to weigh what is being taught. I used the verse in 1 John about testing the spirits, but the Acts 17:11 would have been more correct for this instance. Thanks for showing me that.

In any case, the Lord be with you as you seek to honor Him in this circumstance. Exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit which IMO is the genuine evidence that you are filled with the Spirit!

Well, as Will Smith would say, "That's what I'M talking about!"

Many thanks for your insight

pony

20 posted on 05/21/2004 1:03:11 AM PDT by ponyespresso (simul justus et peccator)
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