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Originally Posted by OBW
Stand firm against those really bad sinners, like homosexuals or abortionists...
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This one really gets me. Yes, God doesn't approve of homosexuality. It arguably is abhorrent sin. Likewise with fornication, destroying viable babies while in the womb, etc. But everybody is a sinner! Everyone! This whole planet is constituted with sinners! So to curl the lip at some special "despicable" class of sinners is to fall into the same trap the religionists did in Jesus' day. He went to the ones that nobody else would dare to go to. He brought God to the truly Godless.
And He was able to do it, because His living was proper. He actually "lived God" every moment of every day. Even with the worst, scummiest people imaginable. And they, recognizing their need, and yes, their sin, turned and repented in the face of God (in the face of Jesus Christ - same thing).
WL made a career of judging people. He essentially based his ministry on it. Only the sainted MB and WN were exempt from his scrutiny, and criticism. Everyone else was under the gun. So why should we fall into the same trap? Why judge? Where is the profit?
The whole "The Son is the Father" thing I disagree with. And basically this was the hinge of his ministry, the so-called "economy of God". God got processed, and so forth. It was error after error. I was there for some of it; I saw the saints look glazed and confused as WL trotted out the latest revelation. Then someone would stand up and start screaming the latest buzz-words and the party was on - who could scream loudest and most often?
But back to my point - I also commit error. Maybe scores of them. And so did everyone else, pretty much. So why cut hairs?
Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
And that last one is the toughest because it is clear that we are focusing on things other than the core of our faith when we disagree so strongly that we speak against our brothers. That does not mean that we do not have disagreements, or that we do not engage in discussion, and even debate, to persuade one another. But it should not keep us from displaying our oneness. The only sign of disunity should be with respect to those who do not truly believe. And even there it is difficult to say how open to the world our differences should be. Maybe in some cases it should be open. But only where the Christ (if that name is even used) is truly different. Like putting a Mercedes hood ornament on a home made skateboard and calling it reliable interstate transportation.
Yes, the ultimate kingdom is yet to come. But our real concern, living, and even preaching should be primarily about the one we live in today. It was and still is the main thing that was preached. It was the call for us to bear the image of God — or Christ the visible God — here on earth, not just to seek to be ready for the kingdom in the heavens. .
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Amen.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
Yes, that future kingdom is described as coming back down to earth. But it is also already here. But while we like to call it the hidden kingdom and the future one a visible kingdom, this one should be quite visible. It should be a shining light in a dark world, and a city set on a hill. Neither of those are invisible. Just not the only kingdom to see.
And the truth is that the kingdom of the world is quite visible. How visible is the kingdom of God? Not invisible. But also often not looking much like the kingdom of God. Not looking so bright...
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Amen, brother. Here on the forum we don't see the living. Just some discussion about the living. Hopefully some of the living trickles in, however. Not judging, not condemning. Receiving everyone, quick to hear, slow to speak, etc. I know I am as guilty as any. But on a discussion forum we should be very slow to judge. Because we don't see much. Just some talk about seeing. Not the same thing. The seeing is in the living.