Brief response{s} below.
John
In a message dated 7/24/2004 2:06:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
jt: I don't know about the observation John; nor am I convinced that the ministry giftings have always been present when one looks at what is out there.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I really should already be gone but I wanted to add a comment -- my ego constrains me!!
The reason why we include the 400 (or more) in our search for truth is rather obvious to me and Judy knows this scripture before I am able to finish the text:
Eph 4:11ff " And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints [in] their work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ [and will do so] until we attain to the unity of The Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man [or woman], to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ."
As I see it, Bill and others quote whoever for the same reason we have preachers and teachers. There is a progressive logic that presents Bill with his theological conclusions, more so than a Bible thumper such as myself, but, and it is clear to me, in the final analysis, brother Taylor insists that his conclusion measure up to the biblical message as he understands that message. In other words, he is as Bible based as any one. However, the observation still applies that when we think we know something, we do not yet know it as we ought.
The scripture is true, of course, and stands on its own merits. I believe it has much to do
with the discussion at hand and is the reason why we share, write, read, and listen to others.
The historicity of the spititual gifts and appointed ministries is not something I am concerned
with -- only the claims of one who shares the same Father and is excited enough with his (in this case, Bill T) understanding of the scriptures.
Up until the Reformation there was just one corrupt system which began by uniting Church
and State and by Luther's generation had become so bad that he risked everything to take a public stand against it and it was after his breaking free and the Protestant revold that these other systems arose along with all of the isms Calvinism vs Arianism etc. so that today there are many people who profess Christ and who are all speaking different languages and all claim to be headed for the same place which is totally mind boggling. I'm glad it is Jesus who is in the process of building His Church and that He is the one who will direct the sifting of the wheat from the tares.
Jesus is the one who judges. We are not. I believe your last sentence above is saying that very thing.
However, it is my belief that our interpretation of God's Word will be much more important than we think since all judgment in heaven and on earth has been given to Him and we will be judged by the Word He spoke (John 12:48) Not someone else's interpretation of what that Word is saying.
Christ summerizes His "word" when He tells us to (1) love God and (2) love our neighbor.
We can do that. To expand John 12:48 to include correct interpretation of the entire biblical text -- well, I doubt that you are saying that.
