Hence my opening comment. Still no reason to leave off the message of love. I am hoping that is not your message, however. I have read of your ministry for nearly two years, now. Awesome, in many respects. Look, I do not think a rebuking ministry is totally out of place. But it is not to be the exclusive presentation. Neither is love. If our rebukes are not tempered by love and obvious concern, we really only have a message of hate. Again, this is not a personal assessment -- not by a long shot. I hope that those to whom you preach see the love and concern you have for them. If that is not present, you (and all of us) are in the wrong business. Correct???
Jd
-----Original Message-----
From: Ruben Israel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sun, 15 May 2005 18:19:59 -0700
Subject: Re: [Bulk] [TruthTalk] Street Preaching
I personally have reason to respect Ruben Israel. My comments are not personal. But --- "different strokes for different folks" is my response to Ruben's defense. What is in evidence, I suppose, is that preaching (including "street preaching") is an acceptable vehicle for spreading the message of hope. Except for the Noah example, what we have is a series of examples of how the message was presented to the children of God ----------- the Jews. We are repeatedly reminded that among these people of God, few would respond. Perhaps Heb 6:4-6 explains why. No doubt, preaching the message of God's love apart from His disappointment (His wrath) gives one something less than the full picture. I incorporate the message of love in my ministry becau
se of the information I find in the letters of the apostles and prophets. The commands that bear repeating in I John are "love God" and "love the brethren." We are reminded that " no one has seen God at any time -- but if we love one another, God abides in us" I J 4:12. In fact, "if God loved us, we should love others" ( I J 4:11)...............
Thank you JD for your response. It has been my experience in over 25 years of public preaching in the US and England
Here is a question regarding love that should be placed on the table to examine. What is love? We love cake, we love movies, we love music, we love for our favorite team to win, but is that love? LOVE IS ACTION. God did not say in Heaven I love the human race, He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus did not walk around earth telling the Father I love you or praising Him, He obeyed even unto death. Jesus even told us, if we love Him to keep His commandments. ACTION. When I preach a hard message does this mean this is unloving? For ex
ample since the Mormons are on the âhot seatâ let us use them. We show up at their conference and preach a very salty message that no one has seem to do. This has been told to me by hundreds of Mormons and ex-Mormons, the media and local police to name a few. Does God love these people, YES, He is trying. Remember the Bible teaches âAs many as I love, I REBUKE AND CHASTENâ (Rev.3:19).
Here is a good example of what love is. We find it in 1John 3:18 âMy little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTHâ. It is our deed to go to Salt Lake City to given them truth regarding the Bible and the book of Mormon, rather than most Christians that simply just believe them to be a cult but never tell them to their face. To me that is nothing but gossip, if you really believe that something is wrong or evil, get out there at preach it to the ears that need to be heard and so what if no one wants to hear you. They (Mormons) have indeed outgrown the Bible and our personal conversations out there are priceless. These personal conversations happen due to the publi
c preaching and get this. Many older Mormons think we are sent to their church as judgment, as locust, because they know their church is beyond lukewarm. These Mormons here try to put on one big smiley face and want everyone to think they are on big happy Osmond family, but donât buy it.
From the watchtower: Ruben Israel loving 1Jn.3:18 style
