I’m no longer sure at all that words can be of any help in dialogue between the two camps on this issue.
I’m not at all confident that genuine dialogue can occur.
If Holy Spirit is not EFFECTIVELY communicating the same thing to the two camps at the same time to similarly hearing hearts, ears and minds, I don’t think much mutual understanding or agreement can remotely occur.
2 Cor 6:6
New International Version (©1984)
in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
New Living Translation (©2007)
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
Luke 10:21
New International Version (©1984)
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
New Living Translation (©2007)
At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
Yep. We live in a mystery the quality of which is that it remains hidden even while it is disclosed.
And one small part of the mystery is over here we have a persuasive perception of individual volition (over which we seem to have as much control as an infant has over a stallion.)
And over there we have the Lord who says (as our lives testify) “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Still, the humiliation of my bad temper and all the other gifts (koff, hack, wheeze, koff some more) of the Religion Forum, not to mention the new friends (including a snake-drinking, poison-handling psych prof out there in injun country), and the benefit to my own teaching and explaining — all these have been gifts.
Our Father in Heaven turns to Jesus and the Snow-White Dove (who, when you look close appears to be flickering flame) and says, “That Mad Dawg. What is WITH him? He’s certainly got plenty to be humble ABOUT ....”