I had several posts wind up on the wrong response. Having trouble figuring out the board system.
Sorry 'bout that!
Thanks for the clarification.
I appreciate that.
Never ever! I do not purposely insult or even want to disagree, but try to find some commonality with which I can agree, so as not to be considered just another "know-it-all," which seems to say "My position is the only correct one." I wouldn't like me either if that were the case.
Thanks for that too. It is not my place to insult anyone either, but when we only have words and no body language, there is great potential for misunderstanding. This is not a Christian site....it is represented by many different faiths, so we have to search for the appropriate forums to post in.
I have two completely different thoughts about that.
CategoryOne)I think every Christian who is doing the will of the Father, will know it. The problem that leaves me with is, those who do not know the Father think their own understanding is correct.
Yes, it is a dilemma for many who desire to serve God as Jesus instructed by taking the message of salvation out to the people as “sheep among wolves”. But the reality is, it cannot be accomplished as a one man band. We needs a brotherhood with whom to meet and worship. (Hebrews 10:24-25) And an organised approach to the work he assigned. (Matthew 10:11-15: Matthew 28:19-20) There must be one message heralded by one body of Christians who are “doing the will of the Father”. The Bible says that they would exist....we just have to find them. (John 13:34-35)
Two) I wonder about some who we think are wrong, but are being true to what they believe with all their soul, are somehow closer than some who fall into category one. Mother Theresa comes to mind; she lived among Lepers, serving them most of her adult life.
God is the judge of a person’s heart. It stands to reason that there were some among the Pharisees who were drawn to Jesus, but there was such pressure to conform to their own teachings that men like Nicodemus would have to have the courage to stand up and be counted. (John 7:45-52; John 19:38-40)
It is not only by their actions, but also the beliefs they hold, that determines who is acceptable to God or not. Mother Teresa was a champion of the poor in her country, and often at odds with her own church for failing to support her. But she was still part of that institution. One that I personally believe is the “mother” of all counterfeit Christianity. Holding beliefs that dishonour God is not the way to “do the will of the Father”.
We see “Babylon the great” in Revelation 18:4-5 as the devil’s world empire of false worship. Christendom is the most reprehensible part of his empire...the “weeds” of Jesus’ parable. (Matthew 13:36-43) these are the ones we believe, who try to defend themselves at the judgment, but unsuccessfully....(Matthew 7:21-23)
There are many great humanitarians in the world who identify as atheists. So it isn’t just good works that are meaningful to God....we can’t earn a place in paradise by good works alone.....we first have to love God with our whole being, as well as loving our neighbor as ourselves. You can’t have one without the other.
For first century Christians, it meant separating from a corrupted religious system. It means the same today because, unless we get out of “Babylon the great” we will go down with her. (Revelation 18:4-5)
But again I fear that may be just that I am judging her, and that is not mine to do. It becomes a complex issue to me.
Thanks for the input and the correction.
That is why it’s good to just get on with the work, and leave the judging to the one who knows the hearts of all of us. We can judge beliefs and practices, because we need to evaluate what is acceptable to God and what isn’t......but we can never judge people’s hearts.
Thanks for your welcome response.