[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
While we are -- actually "while you
are" -- are resting up from the political battles of recent times,
allow me these comments about a much more important subject:
As each of us continue our search for the perfect biblical model, one
that takes into account scriptural commentary, historical presentations
(i.e. the Church Fathers), and our personal and modern day bias, we
should not leave out of the consideration the very reasons why the
biblical model (God's way of saving man) is both necessary and truly
righteous.
The reasons for the model (God's plan of salvation) is, for me, best
illustrated in examples.
We have all sinned and continue to fall short of the glory of God is
one example -- rooted and grounded not only in scripture but in
reality. Finney (with his teaching of holiness perfectionism)
thought this not to be an example, failing to admit that such
apostolic notions (in this case) were addressed to and described the
"faithful." We have the humility of many of the Church Fathers, a
humility centered in their comparison of themselves with their God and
Father -- the unrighteous with the Righteous. When they chose death
as a witness, it was not defiance that emanates from their example --
it is humility and faith and a love of the Company of Companions we
call the Trinity. At least, that is what I see. The decision or
acceptance of death as a witness of faith is the short track to
humility, in my opinion. And then we have those who do not and will
never "know better." They are those stunted by unenlightened
teaching, superstitions, genuine deftness (for whatever reason) to the
gospel message (i.e. the pagan Gentile in Romans, chapter two and the
Buddhist in some unnamed island off the coast of India) , diet
deficiencies, genetics related stupidity, cultural confusion (i.e. the
American Indian and the Crenshaw Ave gang member), emotional
instabilities and the very poor living examples of those who do claim
the name of our Lord (the adulterous Teacher, the perverted youth
counselor, the thief in sheep's clothing, the Christen couch potato
who knows better).
Here is a very real example: a young man named JJ, a black kid, whose
faither leaves him alone with his whoring mother, never to be seen
again. The mom, who may not know better herself, goes from one man to
another. The boy sees one "father" after another until the experience
becomes a numbing way of life. And then, when the boy is 12, his
mother gets into one last fight with "her man," packs up her clothing
and leaves -------- JJ is left behind, alone and with his new
"dad." JJ moves to the streets. He becomes a gang member and
discovers a sense of belonging never before experienced. But his life
is nowhere and he knows it. A youth pastor moves into the area,
preaching the gospel of Christ and the young man falls in love with the
righteousness of the pastor. JJ does not know what it is he likes
about the situation, but "accepts Christ as his personal savior" and
begins to try to make sense of it all. But before he can really get
started, he is molested by this pastor. He goes back to the streets,
buys a gun and at age 21 is dead - an angry, disappointed and
confused young man who never really had a chance.
=====================================================
You were doing pretty good up to this point my brother. The young man
has a sad history, but he turned his back on God and returned to the
filth and mire he had crawled out of. He not only was not willing to
die for Christ; he was not willing to live for Him. If he ever was
saved, he voluntarily rejected that salvation in favor of doing his own
thing, spelled S-e-l-f. I strongly suspect that he was just as lost as
the pervert who tried to molest him in the name of Jesus. Just another
seed that sprouted on poor soil with shallow roots. I know that is not
very touchy/feely, but the path is narrow. Some (most) stray off it.
Terry the heretic.
=====================================================
I believe that if your model cannot save that young man -- it is
heretical at its core and unworkable as the "plan of salvation."
Christ came to seek and save the lost. And wherein that is the claim
we all make as ministers of the gospel, that is not what we do.
Usually and mostly, we just move populations around. One congregation
loses its gifted and highly paid pastor, and -- over time -- many in
the congregation go searching for the next big churched experience.
Lutherans become "spirit filled." Mormons become Baptists. Catholics
are afraid to become anything else -- and none of us make a full
time job of ministering to the truly lost and hurting. If they walk
into the building, ala Charles Shelton's fantasy character, we might
offer them help while preferring to make WWJD wrist bands for the
saved.
We all need a plan that works when we do not. That is why salvation
apart from works is so very necessary.
Just a thought
a brother,
John Smithson
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