Billy Graham

[Aquila]

CONTINUED...

REALLY? Wait, please forgive me in advance. Seriously no offense. There was an old sister 97 who was in my Bible studies years ago in the city of Fort Lauderdale. She knew her Bible, she understood the scripture, and had some awesome revelations. There was a Baptist preacher who wanted to interrupt the Bible study and started to present his easy believism. Again, no offense, but he made the statement close to the one you posted in the above quote. The old sister always let me handle the Trinitarian troublemakers. But this time she surprised me. She looked him dead in the eyes and told him, "son, If you have a simple, and imperfect understanding of the Bible, then shut up, and sit down and learn something. Because if your brain moved as fast as your mouth you be getting somewhere!" Brother, telling a group that you don't know what you are talking about after you argue with them with 15 or more posts, really doesn't help the argument. All it does, is raise eyebrows, and send eyes rolling.

LOL! She sounds like an awesome lady! I'm sure you guys got a chuckle out of her tenacity and zeal for the truth. There is no room for trouble makers in a Bible study, Trinitarian or Oneness. I tip my hat to her.

I'm reminded of Cornelius and Apollos.

Cornelius was a devout Jewish convert whose prayers and charity had appeared as a memorial before God. Praise God, an angel was sent to him in a vision, admonishing that he seek out Peter that he might learn greater truth.

Apollos was a Jew who was mighty in the Scriptures. And he spoke and taught about Jesus diligently. However, he only understood repentance. In fact, he was even baptized by John. This man put his life in danger, bolding proclaiming the truth of Jesus in the synagogue! What a guy! And when Aquila and Priscilla heard this man that took him in and expounded the way of God more perfectly.

In both cases, these two individuals needing greater truth were humble enough to receive it. When one demonstrates no interest in receiving greater truth, I don't see any reason to waste time with them. The only thing that will help them is prayer and God's prevenient grace which will open their eyes to their need for greater truth. In in full agreement with shutting down the Baptist troublemaker in the Bible study you described. He certainly didn't have a hunger for more truth. At least, based on this part of the story, it doesn't seem like he did. Whoever that older woman is, she's precious. Her zeal and tenacity should be applauded.

No, in plain English you are being wishy washy, and dealing with the fear factor of your own emotions.

Maybe I am. I'm not perfect and I won't assume that you're automatically wrong. Please pray for me, so that if this is true, perhaps God might help me grow into the place he desires me to be in.

I don't see it as wishy washy. I see it like this. I was born again at an Apostolic altar at 13 years old. Prior to that, my home was primarily Baptist/Quaker. It wasn't until my mom received the Holy Ghost when I was 12 that I was exposed the Apostolic Pentecostal truth. But I remember being 7 and 8, reading my children's Bible. Going to Sunday school (Linden Ave. Baptist Church, Dayton Ohio). I remember praying and feeling the love of Jesus. I remember how I was told that God was a father to the fatherless (I was being raised in a single parent home). I remember Jesus speaking to me as clear as day as a child. In fact, several times I was asked to share what Jesus told me. And I remember what it was like to hunger for more... but not knowing what it was that I was hungry for. And it wasn't until I was 13 that I experienced the fullness of that Apostolic salvation, just like the Bible says. And Jesus became even more alive to me. Before, my relationship with Him was beautiful, but it was black and white. After being filled with the Spirt and baptized in His name, that relationship took on living color. Some are still in that black and white phase with Jesus... and they think that is all there is. Let's face it... Apostolics have kept a low profile and no one really knows what we have to offer unless they here distortions of it through our critics.

I'm 42 now. Life has been quite a ride for me. I'm in no position to judge anyone. I'm in desperate need of God's grace and forgiveness, as much, if not more than anyone else. I've done things in my life, terrible things. Things that haunt me. Things I'd not dare share to a human soul, because most that I've opened up to can't understand. I've discovered that many struggle with understanding unless they've been there. I have so much that I owe God. I've screwed up so badly, I don't know how my faith remains as intact as it is. If I were God, I would have written me off long ago. And for that... I want to be merciful. I need His mercy. I'd rather stand before Him and be judged for being too loving, too merciful, too "wishy washy"... than risk being judged as not loving, merciful, or kind enough. I'm the sap that wants to think as many as possible are going to Heaven, even though deep in my heart I know the numbers will be fewer than I'd like.

Yes, my emotions are a part of who I am. And yes, they even shape many of the things I do, believe, and say. I don't deny that. However, I know men who say that their emotions don't effect their faith... but they are just as emotionally driven in their hardness and pride as I am my "wishy washy-ness". The biggest difference is that I'm honest about my emotions playing a part in my perspective. To me, faith without emotion is a faith without a heart.

Perhaps you might not understand this... seeing that your emotions clearly never play a part in your faith, approach to topics, or individuals.

Nicer than Jesus, Better than Paul, all because of unrepented sin in one's life? Worried if you don't allow the dead to get a second roll at the dice may cause you to lose a turn when God invites you to play some celestial Monopoly? You want that get out of Hell free card? This is where the First Church of NPR become the church where everything is nice. Come a sinner, stay a sinner, and leave a sinner. God loves you just the way you are and wants you to stay just the way you are. sad.

God does love us just the way we are. He loved us all while we were yet sinners. The question of God's love is often misconstrued. Many feel that God doesn't or cannot love them based on their current condition, sin, struggle, etc. We can assure them that isn't true. God does LOVE them as they are. God will always love them, no matter what they've done. For God so loved the entire world... every sinner that ever lived... that He gave His only begotten Son. His love and His mercy endures forever. However, when that love and mercy is experienced... it changes you. Now, I don't mean it motivates you to engage in some carnal effort of behavior modification in accordance to some religious legalism. It changes you in that it transforms the soul. One will grow in Christlikeness. They will grow in grace and mercy themselves. Perfection will be attained as part of the process of sanctification as they surrender to the Spirit of God abiding in the core of their being. Eh, I can tell them to dress right... and they do it... but at that point they've only done it for me, not for Jesus... not because modesty itself is an inherent reality of their identity. I believe that God's everlasting love and grace is transformative. He'll never leave you as you are. If you keep prayerful, keep seeking to follow the Spirit, keep seeking to reflect Jesus in all you are... because of His grace and mercy... you'll be transformed into His likeness. And... you can know that while you might not be everything you desire to be at the moment... you are not the person you were before Jesus. And you can also know that God loves you not predicated on exactly who you are right now... but based on what you will be... in Him.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.