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I am not speaking of offending poor brethren. I am speaking of offending the Lord by treating members of His body with cruel disregard. diakrino, commonly translated "discernment," is just as well translated "judge rightly," or "recognize." We as believers must recognize each other as having such great worth that Jesus was willing to give His body and blood for each of us without partiality. That is a very high commendation, and to despise and treat that brother poorly, as much as it might offend that brother, is a far greater offense to the King of Heaven of whom that brother is a rightful heir, who was bought with His blood, just as we were. So you see the offense is to the honor of the King, and it is that offense for which Christ died as well. This is very tragic then, because these acts are the very thing that sent Jesus to the cross for us, because we all have failed to love one another as we should.

By that interpretation you must also hold that the majority on FR RF is continually guilty of the body and blood of the LORD Jesus Christ every single day of the day, week, month, and year. Since these are sins unto death, we should expect the deaths of many souls, should that interpretation you propose be true.

It is an interesting speculation, but as I am neither God, nor one of the twelve, my personal opinion about what should be happening in that respect is irrelevant, and I am happy to have it that way. I do note that Ananias and Sapphira were also subject to capital punishment for lying to the Holy Spirit, which also now seems to be something not happening. That it did happen under the apostles but does not happen now is probably significant, but again, it is an unwholesome speculation. We have the Scriptures and within them the examples God wanted us to have, and that's what we should use. Better to avoid the problem altogether by loving each other as we should. But I have no doubt as I view these pages that "the Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. "

Peace,

SR