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To: Mad Dawg; Amityschild; Brad's Gramma; Captain Beyond; Cvengr; DvdMom; firebrand; ...

Not sure what to add.

Certainly your take on it is quite plausible.

I think it’s far from the whole or even 100% accurate picture, however.

Some folks hereon recognize a lack of guile. Others think I’m full of it in more ways than one.

At some point, only God’s opinion matters. Actually, at every point, in most respects.


717 posted on 07/07/2010 7:20:52 AM PDT by Quix (THE PLAN of the Bosses: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2519352/posts?page=2#2)
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To: Quix; Mad Dawg; Dr. Eckleburg; RnMomof7
Thank you both, dear brothers in Christ, for sharing your insights and concerns!

Truly I believe we all paint with too broad a brush.

God is the master artist. He doesn't have just one color on His palette. His is a beautiful, colorful masterpiece as we can see in this glimpse of the new heaven and new earth.

And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. - Revelation 21:19-20

We Christians have different gifts of the Spirit. Some are evangelists, some are pastors, some are teachers, etc. It is an individual thing. We shouldn't expect every Christian of a particular label to be like every other Christian of that same label even if that label has a different administration or operation.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. - I Cor 12:4-11

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. - I Cor 12:28

And some, like Paul, are complex. Paul was a firebrand and he was also crafty and he was also tender-hearted.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. - Acts 15:2

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, [Ye] men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. - Acts 17:22-23

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. - Acts 21:13

That one Christian of a certain label is meek or bold does not mean that all Christians of that label will be meek or bold. Indeed, the label itself does not guarantee that the wearer is actually Christian. Nor does the depth of his testimony.

After all, doubting Thomas was an Apostle, too.

To God be the glory, not man, never man!

759 posted on 07/07/2010 8:48:31 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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