I find the 'main thing' found at Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8 is to give an international witness to earth's nations about God's kingdom of Daniel 2:44 coming to govern over Earth.
When Jesus, as Prince of Peace, will be the one who will usher in global Peace on Earth among persons of goodwill...
Thanks for sharing your experiences savagewind, and especially the part where you say,
because it tells me that despite it's seemingly grievous flaws, it is reaching people for Christ and in that I can't help but rejoice! Philippians1:18
May be latter on is true - as far as one of the principal authors' testimony is concerned :
Romans 3:7 >>
If through my lies Gods truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
Philippians1:18 >>
In every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Jesus is...
Oh I think He'll do a thorough enough job when the time comes. Someone once asked me why He hasn't shown up yet, and I replied that He always waits until the punishment fits the crime. IMHO, we're all about to be subpoenaed.
Could be, but I doubt it. One of the strongest evidences that I know of...
I am not talking about negative publicity, but publicity of the negative.
As Thomas Jefferson put it: "Blest is that nation whose silent course of happiness furnishes nothing for history to say."
Exactly my point: Jesus get more negative publicity than all other persons in history combined.
As Paul put it in Philippians1:18 ---
WHAT THEN? NOTWITHSTANDING, EVERY WAY, WHETHER IN PRETENSE, OR IN TRUTH, CHRIST IS PREACHED; AND I THEREIN DO REJOICE, YEA, AND WILL REJOICE.