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To: PFKEY
A fair enough question...

Think about it this way...Being Christian means never having to be alone. We can have our faith strengthened by others, and we can help others strengthen their faith. This is not ``going around God,'' it's accepting His gifts to us. God grants His Grace in many ways, including the cloud of witnesses:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.[Hebrews 12:1]

As Paul explains, the cloud of witnesses helps us to ``persevere in running the race'' and ``keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.''

Paul talks about our connection as the Body of Christ even more in 1 Corinthians 12:

But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. [1 Corinthians 12:24-27]

Being a Christian is not supposed to be a ``solo act.'' As Paul makes clear, Jesus intends for us to work together. We can draw on the strengths of saints and martyrs, to build our own faith. Not only is this not offensive to God, to do otherwise would be to spurn one of His powerful gifts of Grace.

I hope this helped.

10 posted on 02/05/2003 1:31:55 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Thanks for the reply.

It sure did help. I wasn't able to see the connection you made.

11 posted on 02/05/2003 1:39:27 AM PST by PFKEY
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