David -- why did you send this to me? I am mising something.
-----Original Message-----
From: David Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, 25 May 2005 11:38:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Subject: (no subject)
Subject: Re: [Bulk] Re: [TruthTalk] Fond Farewells- Salvation
Date: Wed, 25 May 2005 11:37:02 -0400
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Lance wrote:
> 1. David: did you just 'plant' a 'church'?
No.
Lance wrote:
> What is your office in that 'church'?
My spiritual office is prophet. I teach Sunday School, oversee the children
education programs, sometimes teach on Wednesday nights, lead prayer,
sometimes share on Sunday mornings regarding home church, host home church
meetings, help oversee nine other home church leaders, lead outreach
ministry to nursing homes, etc. You have heard what I do from time to time.
Lance wrote:
> 2. Can ONLY apostles 'plant' churches?
No, the Lord can plant churches without them, but he will raise up apostles
within that congregation if there were none to start them in the first
place. Without apostles, I don't believe you have anyone you can call the
church planter. The Scriptures teach that the church is built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, so without them, what do you have?
You might have a synagogue or a club or whatever, but the Scriptures teach
that apostles and prophets are part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lance wrote:
> 3. I believe that all should pray God's blessing
> on both enterprises. (forgive that word 'enterprises')
I agree about God's blessings being desired, but I don't think we should
encourage people who are not apostles to view themselves as church planters.
Such encourages pride and arrogance, leading to all manner of sins and
hurts. If John is not an apostle, he may lead a Bible study or fellowship,
but he should not presume to be a church planter, which is a euphemism for
an apostle.
I know a group in Jacksonville that used the word "worker" for "apostle" and
several men there presumed to plant churches. It led to all manner of cult
like behavior and problems, many people getting hurt. I had initially
prayed God's blessings upon their endeavors, but later saw the fruit and
came to realize that I should have warned more at an earlier date.
Lance wrote:
> 4. David: will you say more on the forgiving
> and retaining of sin(s)?
Sure, as opportunity arises, but I'm not sure there is a whole lot more to
say.
Lance wrote:
> 5. David: will you say more on your 'position' as
> to the conclusion of the gospel of Mark?
Sure, as opportunity arises and questions are asked.
Lance wrote:
> 7. I'd like to hear more from both of you on the 'inbreaking
> of the kingdom'. What is the 'Gospel of the Kingdom'?
> (Christ's Gospel is the Gospel of the Kingdom is it not?)
There is much to say about this. John and I started a discussion about this
many months ago, but he did not receive much of what I had to say. I was
pointing out at the time that the gospel preached by Jesus and the 12
originally said nothing about the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
I was trying to help him perceive what was being preached at that time as
the gospel. Repentance was a big part of it. The kingdom of God being at
hand is another part of it. What that kingdom is like is manifested by
Jesus Christ and his apostles, but I fear John might say that we are
included in none of that. :-( Who really has the good news here?
I see a distinction between being born again and pressing into the kingdom
of God. The Israelites were delivered from the bondage of slavery into
Egypt when they crossed the Red Sea. This represents our salvation
experience. They then saw the kingdom of God, after their salvation, but
because of their unbelief, they did not enter in. History repeats itself in
this way with many Christians, believing upon Christ and experiencing
deliverance from the bondage of sin, but being unbelieving regarding our
ability to possess the kingdom of God.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
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"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
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