I won't go into details it's just I see a lot of my younger "babe in Christ" self in some of those emails. Praise God for His long-suffering.
A lot of those people do not understand that I used to be the same way too. I was bitter and mean many years ago, and had no understanding, but you know what the surprising thing about it was; I never had anyone tell me what I was saying and doing was wrong. I read in Scripture for myself and learned it there; the Lord God had to open my understanding.
Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
-Isa 51:1We ought to consider the hole out of which God has saved us, and like you, I think about God's long-suffering with me all the time. They do not understand that by His mercy alone is God long-suffering with them, and He would be ever moreso if they would only come to repentance as the publican did.
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
-Luke 18:9-14Those people in the email section do not understand, and they believe God has not graced us with His discernment to tell the good from the evil (
Heb 5:14); to tell the self-righteous from the publican. There is a very clear difference in conversation between them and you. I mean, that could change in the future, I don't know, but you do seem to exhibit the demeanor of a man who has repentance and faith in Christ, and so that's why you will not see any resistance from us.
However, with those in the emails who scoff, I have to treat many of them as the Bible instructs:
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
-Titus 3:9-11It's amazing to me that I had always handled things that way; I made an almost-rule (in most cases) that if I was rebuking or correcting someone, I wouldn't go past two email responses with them. It was not until years later, I learned about Titus 3, and found out that's what we were instructed to do with people who teach false doctrines, and have a spirit of contention and debate. (And that's why you don't see me endlessly debate with people on those letters.)
Thank you all for being patient with me in my introduction.
Likewise, thank you for being patient with us while we asked you questions. As you can see, few people who register have that patience.
