Judy wrote: > Tell me, where in all of scripture do you find > love defined as 'warm fuzzies'
That's what they asked you. The implication from some of your writings is that if there are not attendant warm fuzzies, if the message does not sooth and tickle the ears, then something is wrong. Your comment here suggests that we now have some agreement. We apparently agree that love is not defined as "warm fuzzies." Right? Judy wrote: > or where do you find a ministry of 'rebuking?' Both Ruben and Izzy presented evidence of such. I would like to bring up one person who they have not yet brought up. This would be the example of Stephen. Acts 7 records the last sermon of Stephen. We know that he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost, and one who did many miracles among the people. The content of how he preached is recorded for us in Acts 7. While much of it was historical by nature, illustrating some common ground with those who heard him, how did his sermon end? Was it on a positive note such as you might find in a typical church on a Sunday morning with their tickling the ear three point sermons? Not hardly. His sermon concluded in rebuke, a rebuke that was not received. It was a rebuke that caused him to be killed. I imagine that there were Christians in Stephen's day who also thought he was going about his message the wrong way. There were probably some who from a practical standpoint would argue that Stephen distanced himself from others. He should have used honey to attract them. What good did it do Stephen or Christianity for him to speak as he did? All he did was get himself killed, and for what? Do you realize how many people Stephen turned off from Christianity by speaking so belligerently toward the Jews? If he had just toned it down, he would have continued living and been able to attract many more people to Christianity than dying the way he did. This is how many people respond to the idea of a man of God rebuking sin. Read carefully Stephen's conclusion. Imagine yourself being one of those listening to him, who considered the Temple to be the most holy place on earth, the very house where God dwelt, as promised in the Holy Scriptures. Put yourself in their position and imagine how biting and how unbiblical the words of Stephen sounded to them. Yes, it seems clear to me that Stephen had a ministry of rebuking (but he also loved the widows and fed them!). "Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? YE STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART AND EARS, YE DO ALWAYS RESIST THE HOLY GHOST: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; OF WHOM YE HAVE BEEN NOW THE BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and HAVE NOT KEPT IT. When they heard these things, THEY WERE CUT TO THE HEART, AND THEY GNASHED ON HIM WITH THEIR TEETH." (Acts 7:48-54 KJV) Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
