As that battle rages we will need to discern that it isn't just about leading folks to the Lord, as we have known so well in the past, but also of rescuing, and fighting for those who get caught in the thickets, or on their way, as they stray or are enticed away from the foundations of Christianity. I see this happening often now.
It is as if, in the past, barely rooted Christians had the time to wallow in intellectual agnosticism - but no more.
In these battles, the doctrinal differences among us are not at issue - but rather forming a bulwark against the onslaught of the spirit of anti-Christ, protecting the vulnerable "young" Christians. We don't know who they are, but we know that they are. We know there is a final cause for the work to which we have been drawn.
And, as you say, God has equipped all of us with gifts of the Spirit which are up to the task. Indeed, I am humbled by the effectiveness which can only be attributed to His grace.
He has brought together in this great debate philosophers, scientists, attorneys, mathematicians, preachers, writers - bound by a common love of God and Spiritual language.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. - I Corinthians 2:14
Our disunity is telling. The young see it. We have no common message, no coordinated effort. It's killing our testimony with them, and it drains the power & resources that would come from a combined effort.
John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
While I've been offline -- creating graphics and composing discussion text, it looks like I've missed out on some good discussion here. Please pardon me while I play catch-up... ;-)
INDEED. INDEED. INDEED.
And I find myself still, often, grieving over those who—because of time and energy . . . must increasingly be ignored . . . in favor of those more likely to bear fruit for The Kingdom.
Sigh.