Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Something to think about. Message-ID: Date: 8 Aug 90 07:26:07 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC Lines: 87 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu It was bound to happen sooner or later--I'd meet myself coming and going. ;-) And here I am, responding to one of my own posts. Talk about self-referential acts. Actually, I wanted to respond to OFM. He said: > [Particularly in this group, eh? I am frankly upset that our > discussions all turn into the issues that separate various > denominations. I don't object to this in principle. I've learned a > lot about Catholics, LDS, etc. But I'd like to see room for other > things. However so far the concensus seems to be that I should not > attempt to guide things away from those discussions. --clh] CLH: Brother, I really wasn't trying to lower the boom on anyone in particular. It is often hard to give a complete picture of one's faith and beliefs via the net. I suffer, as do many, from work-imposed time constraints. Also, I am of the belief that I owe my employer the same level of effort that I'd give to the Lord, for He is my real employer and not DG. However, if the Lord permits, I'd like to go a little further herein. I'm not all that fond of the debates and discussions over theology and doctrine. The thing that burdens my soul and heart is the lost. Our Lord's command at Matthew 28:19, 20, rings loudly in my ears all the time. And I have to admit that it bothers me that we, the Body of Christ, His Bride, spend so much effort and energy in the debating and discussing of theology and doctrine and not in the doing of the command. It is my belief that there is no other way to God but Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus did say that He was the only way, and I believe Him. Given that, it seems most imperative that the Gospel is preached and taught throughout the world. But it is more than preaching and teaching. It is also feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and infirm, visiting the imprisoned, etc. For me, these are then the things of faith in action. I have my differences with others over interpretation and doctrine. Some of these are probably due to denominational differences. While I'm not crazy about denominations, I praise God for them because through them people have found Christ as Lord and Saviour. I've heard some say that the worst thing that ever happened to the Faith was denominations. Maybe, but for me the worst thing that ever happened to the Faith was the development and rise of the professional clergy class. This has taken the heat off the "pew warmers." It has given folks the chance to say, "Let the pastor/priest do that. After all that is what we pay them for." It enables folks to forget that we are all called as a nation of priests, holy unto God. The command in Matthew was not to a professional clergy class; it was to all followers of the way. The experience I wrote about came not because of a professional clergy class. It came because followers, Christians, became obedient to the Word of the living God. They met the requirements set forth by God in 2 Chronicles 7:14, 15. We determined to know nothing among us but Christ and Him crucified. It is most amazing what happens when Christians come to the foot of the Cross and dwell there a while. We determined to search the text of Scriptures (OT and NT) to determine what was God's will for His people. It is even more amazing what happens when Christians come to sit at the feet of the Master in meekness and humility to learn of and from Him. And we determined to pray for one another and all the saints as the Scripture tells us to pray. It is astonishing what happens when we come boldly before the Throne and place ourselves at the base of the Mercy Seat of Christ. Revival is a poor word for what happens. This is what I still yearn for. I yearn for a fellowship of believers drawn together not by man's doing into a denomination or group. But a fellowship of believers drawn together by the LORD God Almighty. Therein is where the Spirit moves in ways that we sometimes only read about. I believe that such fellowships exist today. They come about when God's children become obedient to the Word and seek His face. When the King's children determine to do as He has commanded us to do, we find ourselves drawn together by His Spirit for it is the Spirit which binds us and unites us and not a denomination or similar human agency. So, while I cannot, and would not even if I could, impose anything on anybody, I would remind all that we are called to something more excellent. The debating and discussions are sometimes informative and "fun," but there is a much more serious side to our Faith. For His glory and honor, Gene Gross