DAVEH:
I always try to be respectful, Terry. And I appreciate you doing
likewise. I assume you will also allow me my beliefs, as I allow
yours. In that sense, we can both have a pleasant conversation while
still adhering to our respective beliefs.
===========================================
Please
forgive the red print. When I hit reply, this goofy machine answers
in whatever color it received.
DAVEH: So does mine.
But it is easy to change the color to whatever you want....just look up
on your tool bar fro a color sample, click on it and then choose the color
you want. I then have to cut and paste that color where I want it
to be thereafter. I hope that makes some sense.
It is
nice to be able to have a pleasant conversation with an intelligent person,
but it is also frustrating. I am not trying to win a debate.
DAVEH: Nor am I. Like
I said before, I'm trying to figure out why Protestants believe as they
do. I sometimes repetitively ask questions that may seem frustrating
to you because the answers I often times receive don't really tell me 'why'.
I am trying to save you from eternity
in Hell.
DAVEH: I realize that.
I think if you and others in TT would not feel quite so compelled to do
that, you would not get quite so frustrated. IOW......I think your
frustration is self induced.
Not only you, but those that you
influence.
DAVEH: Hmmmmmm......Does
that mean you think I'm confusing other TTers? I thought most TTers
were pretty set in their beliefs. Right off hand, I don't know of
any who have changed the way they think because of anything I've said.
(Though I would hope some have changed the way they treat other folks due
to the respect I afford them.)
Our
Lord says that we will give an account for every idle word we speak (or
write). IF you are wrong in your beliefs, that means every time you
say something to influence another to your way of thinking,
DAVEH: I don't think I've
tried doing that at all. I've certainly expressed my beliefs (often
times when asked), but my questions have been to learn why others believe
as they do, not to change their beliefs.
you are heaping coals on your own
head, and I am causing those coals to add up just by conversing with you.
DAVEH: IMHO, that is a silly
notion. I can't help but think that is not a theory rooted in Protestantism,
let alone based in Christianity.
Unfortunately, I cannot twist your arm or beat you about the head until
you see the truth. God does not work that way. To complicate
the issue, you already consider yourself to have the truth,
DAVEH: Hmmmm......this seems
to be a one way street......you've got it all, and I've got none of it.
I respectfully disagree.
so this is more complicated than
trying to reach someone who is not encumbered with preconceived ideas.
The logical
thing to do would be to write you off and abandon the effort, but I am
not comfortable doing that. Maybe I just need to give the Holy Spirit
time to work. I know the Lord has you in this group for a reason,
and I doubt that it is His plan to have you here so that we have someone
to look down on. He doesn't work that way either. I pray that
it is so that someday the little light will go on and you will be saved.
I know that you are quite comfortable with what you now believe, but I
was once very comfortable in my sin too.
Respectfully,
but ineffectively,
Terry
DAVEH: Thank you for your
honesty, Terry. I think you will rest easier when you realize that
TT is not a forum dedicated to saving stubborn Mormons. I do appreciate
your concern for my salvation, however. I think your efforts may
be a little misplaced though. But I'm not here to try to dissuade
you from what you believe. If you do decide to write me off, I will
understand.
One question for you though.....Do
you think hopeless guys like me should not be admitted to TT? Or,
are you OK with folks who think differently posting regularly?
