Helps to have a reference point upon which to comment so I appreciate your contribution.
The title of the article here is spectacularly true.
Anyone having experienced the astounding workings of the Lord will know this.
Too often, well-meaning church goers will put out blanket statements that might apply to others of that mindset but not to all people.
This seems to be the objection of people that have no interest in Christ, and gives them the appropriate resentment so typical of victims of misguided preaching.
Your rationale takes this into consideration and delves right into the heart of the matter.
Nowhere in the Bible is there a declaration that Christ is for all.
In fact quite the opposite posit is in place when the Lord Himself states that narrow is the path and FEW there be that find it.
Much frustration and wasted energy is sidestepped when respecting the spiritual orientation of the many.
God is greater than the world, our problems, and our heart.
True statement and a comfort necessary to bank on when pressures inevitably arise.
This is a truth that applies to those accessing His greatness and goodness, and a fable to those who aren't.
One wise analyst said that children are not appendages of their parents and thus will not necessarily follow in the parents wake.
According to the Lord, a few will, many won't.
So your comment with your very wise rationale above, is wise counsel that has the potential to help well-meaning churchgoers to sidestep hurting many.
I found BIG differences between the Old and New Testament in the bible, and would like to put
this forward, with some 'rationale' of my own if possible.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, a lot of things changed. The Lord came,
and lived and was 'crucified' 'dying for our sins'. That's part of it.
Another big part of it was it went from a group, the Jews, a society under God, to individuals,
so more 'one on one' (there is great joy in heaven when ONE SINNER turns around').
Because of grace, and the Lord, (other things also), it changes everything, pretty much,
how we are to live.
In this dispensation, having the Lord come, nobody can be BORN a Christian.
In the OT, a child born into a Hebrew family WAS Hebrew, WAS a Jew, and would be
instructed in the ways of God, the Old Testament, to ensure they followed that later.
Not so in the New Testament. Here, we have FREEDOM, no indoctrination from birth, no
'impressing upon the young mind'. We have FREEDOM.
We learn that God CALLS the person, or impresses them Himself, at whatever age this
happens, the young person, (or older person) is drawn, decides.
So, then, if a Christian couple have a baby and it is not to be 'baptized' as a baby
but grow up and respond to God themselves, what do they do?
First, they leave the child be, let them 'find their way', and they will, believe this.
The parent might not like it, but they will. Not to say they wouldn't caution them
about 'bad paths' but ultimately, the young person will go as they feel it is best.
So, what do Christian parents do? THEY are on stage, 24/7. They are watched by
the baby, then the child 24/7.
And if you know children, you know they're pretty stern, pretty 'legalistic' about what's
'right' and 'not right'. The parents have a very tall order to ever 'live up' to their own
child's expectations.
The parents MUST live godly lives, definitely 'watch their words', show forth LOVE to each
other, ESTEEM each other, have the fruit of the spirit, sing, PRAY together, read scripture
OUT LOUD together. The child watches, assesses.
Then, when God calls them, some will remember Mom and Dad, and they will want to
emulate them.
All? No. Some will 'come out of the closet' to be homosexuals...it's their own path, genetics,
and the parents must help them be able to cope before shutting the door. The child
is told the consequences, the belief system long before it's all that evident yet.
It MAY be quite hard on the 'Christian child' who will really want the other family member
there. The straight path isn't the wide path.
If anyone finds other scriptures that counter these teachings, please let me know
so I can realign my views.
Helps to have a reference point upon which to comment so I appreciate your contribution.
The title of the article here is spectacularly true.
Anyone having experienced the astounding workings of the Lord will know this.
Too often, well-meaning church goers will put out blanket statements that might apply to others of that mindset but not to all people.
This seems to be the objection of people that have no interest in Christ, and gives them the appropriate resentment so typical of victims of misguided preaching.
Your rationale takes this into consideration and delves right into the heart of the matter.
Nowhere in the Bible is there a declaration that Christ is for all.
In fact quite the opposite posit is in place when the Lord Himself states that narrow is the path and FEW there be that find it.
Much frustration and wasted energy is sidestepped when respecting the spiritual orientation of the many.
God is greater than the world, our problems, and our heart.
True statement and a comfort necessary to bank on when pressures inevitably arise.
This is a truth that applies to those accessing His greatness and goodness, and a fable to those who aren't.
One wise analyst said that children are not appendages of their parents and thus will not necessarily follow in the parents wake.
According to the Lord, a few will, many won't.
So your comment with your very wise rationale above, is wise counsel that has the potential to help well-meaning churchgoers to sidestep hurting many.
Doing good in the land.
Thank you. We see that God, (ha ha) NOT US knows what He's doing and it's OK. No matter what it looks like. To me, this is profound.
Well said. Can we take away that WE can relax, no matter what it looks like, that God knows what He's doing?