Dear “eternally-gratefull”— Referring to previous posts, particularly #258 and #286;
If I may, I would like to help you understand some things, as an older woman who has been around the block a time or two…or three, even. I am not usurping authority over a man by this, simply trying to help a younger person not much older than my children.
Galatians 6:1 (KJV)
[SUP]1 [/SUP]Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
When someone posts on any of the forums and the post catches your eye, be sure to really read the entire post before making your own post. It is evident that you have a burning desire to make your own point without making sure what the person you are addressing is really saying. (There is a thread called “true humility” that would be good for you to read, and I do mean really read it. As of now, it is very short because it is a very unpopular subject.)
Just-me , in posts #258 and #262 is presenting food for thought, not saying any of us should return to being UNDER the law. So, as the scripture above says, if you want to correct just-me, do it in meekness. James says:
James 1:23-26 (KJV)
[SUP]23 [/SUP]For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
[SUP]24 [/SUP]For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion
is vain.
As I said in my earlier post (#286)”… no one is advocating going back to living UNDER the law, or claiming it to justify us - the point is to use it to show us how God expects us to live because man's transgression is the reason the law was given in the first place - to show us our sin. It is so ignorant for people to immediately jump to the conclusion that someone is saying we must return to keeping the whole law as given to Moses just because he/she says we should see it as a guide for our behavior toward each other and God. The law is spiritual, and by gum, it never expires!” You see, without really reading all of what another person says and going off in your own direction, especially showing, anger, disgust, irritation, or an attitude of superiority, does nothing but demean what you say. So, if you have something valid to say it is missed by readers because all they see is a confrontational attitude, with a large shot of arrogance thrown in.
Oh, and one last thing: in your post #287, I can give you names of certain churches I have been in and heard with my own ears the things mentioned, but that would amount to slander, which I prefer to avoid. I can tell you that as the women’s Sunday school teacher I was told in front of the entire class that I could not even read 1 Corinthians 5 because the pastor’s son, who was supposedly an ordained preacher in the Baptist church, was bringing his “girlfriend” to church, hugging on her, and putting his hands where they didn’t belong – in church – while he was still married to another woman. You know what the church body said? “We just have to love them.” I resigned. No one is going to tell me I can’t even read certain parts of God’s Word. Then there was the church that literally said, “Don’t teach us what we don’t already know.” Didn’t hang around there either. There are several more examples I could give you, but this is a long enough post as it is. I just wanted you to know, I am “talking out of school” as the saying goes.
Best wishes in your Christian walk.