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Original Message
  • Shedding light on my focus...
    • Chris
      Posted Aug 12, 2006 10:29 AM

      Donnie,

      I appreciate your taking the time to address my last post. As always, your comments are very revealing.

      First, to be honest, I am somewhat concerned about your inability to differentiate between what was and what is. In other words, your inability to differentiate between the “before” Chris who was “so focused on exposing error that he saw error in everything” and the “after” Chris who is “seeking to help others avoid the same “always on guard, can’t read anything without dissecting it, critical approach that characterized him for years.”

      It is in “memory” of how I used to be that I now attempt to help others avoid and escape that type of “all-consuming” attitude. The danger in what I am seeking to do is that it puts me within reach of that attitudes clutches. And, I realize that if I am not careful there is always the potential to be pulled back in – to become guilty of what I am seeking to help others avoid. Yet, as you will admit, Donnie, there are times when you must become as the weak, to save the weak and as the critical, to save the critical. According to the apostle Paul, that was his approach.

      I appreciate your reminder.

      Second, I am very concerned about your stating that you are “going to ignore my itemized list because, at the outset, I have already drawn my own conclusion” regarding those items. Donnie, that statement is hilarious. Are you implying that you had not, at the outset of this discussion, already drawn your own conclusions regarding those items? Are you honestly telling us that you did not enter this discussion with the already drawn conclusion that “the discernment in consideration in John Waddey’s article is the nature or history of the congregation that is being adversely affected by this type of display of behavior that had been previously NON-EXISTENT?” Am I mistaken or is that the pot calling the kettle black? Perhaps, Donnie, you didn’t realize your inconsistency and are in need of a kind reminder. J

      But, I am glad you made that statement because it reveals the point I have been trying to make regarding your focus. The issue here is not “the nature or history that is being adversely affected by this type of behavior that had been previously non-existent.” The issue, Donnie, is whether or not “this type of behavior that had been previously non-existent” is sinful or not. Whether or not John Waddey was making that point is not important – because the apostle Paul already had.

      Do you remember the following verses from Galatians chapter two?
      11) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12) For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13) And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.”

      Why did Paul “rebuke” Peter? Wasn’t it because Peter was incorrectly focused on the “nature or history” between the Jews and Gentiles and the fact that eating with Gentiles was “a type of behavior that had been previously non-existent?” Remember, the Jewish “nature or history” was that they viewed the Gentiles as worthless dogs; therefore, eating with Gentiles was considered sinful. However, Paul’s rebuke of Peter informs us that the sinful action in this passage was not eating with the Gentile Christians (“the type of behavior that had been previously non-existent”) but rather Peter’s inability to differentiate between what was and was not an issue. Because of Peter’s inability on this occasion to discern what was and was not an issue, he made the choice he made and stood in danger of being condemned? Peter’s hypocritical, sinful action not only affected him, it affected other Jewish Christians, as well as Barnabas, who were also eating with the Gentile Christians.

      Now, before you go and jump to conclusions that are not implied in my argument, let me offer the following.

      Donnie, I am not advocating that we “abandon the old paths.” I am simply stating that in the church today we are in desperate need of wisdom so that we may properly discern what is and is not an issue – between what is and is not sinful. Whether the issue is the “lifting of hands” or having “a kitchen in the building,” wisdom to discern is a must.

      Not only do we need that type of discerning wisdom, we also need to be people characterized by self-less love. By that, I mean that we are to be the type of Christians that do not impose our freedoms on other or press our freedoms to the point of dividing the church – because, as I have already stated in previous posts in this discussion, doing such would be sinful.

      What troubles me, in regards to your comments about the “lifting of hands” is that you admit there is a difference in the way it is seen and affects people. You basically state that those who lift hands would not likely be offended by those who don’t, but that those who don’t lift hands might be offended by those who do. I am glad that you quickly informed us that this is not a double standard; otherwise I might have drawn that conclusion. Either that, or I would have reached the conclusion that those who don’t “lift hands” are the ones being divisive and controversial.

      You then proceed to wonder why it is that those who want to lift hands don’t simply do it at home, alone, rather than wait for the congregation to gather for worship. I believe the answer to your pondering is contained in the very question you ask – you see, those who want to lift hands desire to do so in their worship to God. Isn’t worshipping God the reason the congregation gathers on the first day of the week?

      Donnie, I honestly do not care if you ever “lift hands” during worship. As I have said before, I don’t lift my hands when I worship. However, I do care about the attitude you possess toward those who do.

      May God grant all of us the wisdom to discern, the heart to love and the desire to grow.

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