[TruthTalk] just the BIBLE Dave

[Judy Taylor]

From: "David Miller" 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.    jt: The above is an assumption made by some DavidM. Noone ever asked me - I would have explained.  It was assumed that this is what I meant and this is a big problem in what calls itself the Church today, everyone assumes that others think like they do or if they don't then they should.   Your comment here suggests that we now have some agreement.  We apparently agree that love is not defined as "warm fuzzies."  Right?   jt: 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.   jt: Stephen is a good example of confronting ppl with their own failure and sin but once again he illustrates my point which is a point that so far noone on TT seems to get.  Who is Stephen addressing in Acts 7?  God's ppl - right? The children of Abraham - and even this is not their last call, Paul tries to persuade them for another 2-3yrs or more before he washes his hands of their blood and goes on to the Gentiles but he doesn't do this until he has attempted to teach them the whole counsel of God.   DavidM: 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.    jt: Yes he was killed by the religious ppl who believed they were serving God.   DavidM: 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.   jt: I have no problem with Stephen, this was God's timing and God's message. What I have a problem with is spin-off, copycat preachers who go out in the flesh on their own.  Many times I think these kinds of "so called" ministries are an excuse to vent anger that hasn't been dealt with in the person's own life, but then along with Paul I guess I can rejoice that the name of Christ is named and God will deal with the rest.   DavidM: 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!).   jt: Don't know that I would call this one message "A Ministry of Rebuking" but it was directed at the right people and he was supernaturally bold to give it.   DavidM: "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.