LOVE IT.
Posted on 02/22/2011 2:53:04 PM PST by Natural Law
An alarming trend is developing in the Free Republic Religion Forum in which a caucus identifier is being claimed for non-existent or impossibly defined groups. With the caucuses being self defined we see nonsense like the Sola Scriptura Caucus. Of course it doesn’t mean all Scripture, only the thread initiators or Forum Moderators definition of Scripture. Jews who believe in the Scripture of the Old Testament are excluded. Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are excluded even though they believe in the sufficiency of their own versions of Scripture. The not so transparent purpose of these faux caucuses is clearly to exclude a group of FReepers in a modern day repetition of “Whites Only” and “Irish Need Not Apply” prejudice. If this is allowed to stand what will we see next; caucuses so narrowly defined so as to only include one’s bridge club or to exclude an individual FReeper? How about a caucus designation for everyone but citizens from New York? How about a men’s only caucus? How about a caucus for those of us who drive BMWs? And what is being discussed in these faux caucus threads? Critical doctrinal issues such as ruggedized aircraft, home schooling, and civil unrest in Egypt. Give me a break!
"What you mean, 'we,' Kemo Sabe?"
BTW, some have claimed that the Scripture about the richman and Lazarus etc. speaks of an unbreachable gulf etc. etc.
Yeah, there is evidently a routinely unbreachable gulf . . . particularly before Christ’s Crucifixion & Resurrection.
However . . . Many folks were resurrected at that dramatic event . . . and evidently wandered around alive to die again . . . witnessing about God and The Resurrection and Heaven.
Certainly God can do whatever He wants consistent with His word.
A LOT of assumptionis and presumptions about what the Bible says are human inventions—just as the pharisees’ understandings were human inventions.
God does NOT fit in any box, no matter how big we think we’ve constructed it.
These sorts of experiences have been increasing the last 10-20 years. The better ones are all quite congruent. They depict the God of the Bible. They depict the Heaven of the Bible.
Yet, they also seem to be tailored to the individuals involved. What a surprise.
To my mind, Heaven and God are both vast and complex enough to slice and dice such realities and presentations pretty much however He wishes consistent with HIS UNDERSTANDING OF HIS OWN WORD.
He does NOT have to get my OK on it!
The key test to me . . . in addition to whether the experiences are consistent with Scripture’s core priorities or not . . . do they bring God glory—do they lift up God’s priorities—do they strengthen folks RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD.
All the ones I have any interest in, do. AND THEY GREATLY DO SO in many cases.
At some point, those who throw rocks at such are the losers. They clearly lack discernment of the most minimal level and/or their biases are blinding them to some treasures FROM GOD. That’s dumb.
Their loss.
But I do not understand why he says the Holy Spirit was not in heaven. The Holy Spirit is God and is everywhere. This is the God of life and not death
The naysayers on FR have no explanation for that.
One word: Flatulence.
"Suddenly I felt a suction as if I was being pulled up out of the room. . .I heard a sound, Whoosh! And I was pulled up out of the room. . .I didn't know I had left the room and I was zooming along at a phenomenal rate of speed. . .in something like a cable car. . .Then I looked up. There stood another being. I realized that it was the blond-headed angel who had visited me. . . have an appointment with the Lord God Jehovah." (JD)Kinda like the last scene in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. How many others have had a ride in Jesse’s E-Ticket heavenly cable car?
I don’t understand that either.
And there were things he didn’t understand.
I suppose it’s conceivable that HS’s theme of operation on the whole, His focus—is earth at present.
Yet, saying it that way would seem to me, to be at least in some senses inaccurate because I construe HS to hold the fabric of reality together and to permeate all that is.
But what do I know.
That’s one of those things I just put on a shelf and wait and see what God confirms or rephrases or whatever.
I don’t consider Jesse infallible even about his own trip to Heaven.
That is not what the scripture says, we Presbyterians believe in scripture not in any additional discoveries. What you are saying, if I read it correctly is not in scripture. How can people see the face of God and come back to earth and live?
I don’t think he saw the face of God as we think of seeing the face of God.
He may have seen the area or in front of the area where God’s face would be, so to speak.
I forget precisely what he saw in that area . . . but there was no focused clearly discernable facial features of God’s face seen, IIRC.
Out of more than 25 such incidents, I don’t recall any others.
There may have been one or two mentions of some sort of vehicle without any clear description of it’s design or nature but I wouldn’t swear to that.
Folks seem to forget . . . Jesse affirms the basic cardinal doctrines of the faith as well as that Jesus came in the flesh etc.
AND the fruit of his ministry for The Kingdom of God is considerable—including helping the poor etc.
He fills the Scriptural standard of what TRUE RELIGION UNDEFILED is, in terms of the operations of his organization, as far as I can tell.
Certainly the enemy digs up all the rocks he can to throw at such.
LOLOL
Can we all experience this wonderful experience of being carried up to heaven or being filled with the Holy Spirit? Has the Holy Spirit ever filled you inside and used you to conduct His work?
BEAUTIFUL.
Just beautiful!!!
You, sir, are an AR-TEEST!!!!
:D
Hoss
What a strange question for a Christian to ask.
Scripture says . . .
“. . . severally AS HE WILLS . . . “
and
” to seek the best gifts . . . if tongues, then interpretation . . . prophecy . . . “
and
without Love . . . all is a tingling cymbal and a clanging gong.
Last question . . . yes.
I don’t know what God’s criteria are for Heavenly visitations.
His Word does say . . . we have not, because we ask not . . . or ask amiss.
“Billy Graham said we all needed refilled daily
‘cause we all leak.
I agree.
And . . . a lot of folks let the cares of daily life take precedence over Holy Spirit’s leadings and nudgings.
So it could have been Satan for all we know, the “angel of light.”
In fact I think Satan is a blonde, Lucifer.
Sounds like a RUBBERIZED story.
‘cause we all leak.
Hate to break this to you brother, but that is the Roman Catholic formulation.
It is the difference between infusion (RCism) and imputation. That is why they go to confession, play with their prayer beads, make pilgramages to obscure artisian wells, etc. They need to top off the grace that was given to them at Baptism. The grace that leaks out with every little sin they commit.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.