Ok....at the risk of being misunderstood.....here I go....
*closes eyes and jumps in....*
Why are things being discussed as in "we vs them"? (bearing in mind that I am a "they"....) Isn't it US?? The Body of Christ? The Bride of Christ?
I know that there are people who think Catholics are not saved...but I also know that some Catholics belive that only Catholics are truly saved...(my aunt, bless her heart, is one of those people)...but I am here to tell you that I have been involved with or a member of:
the Catholic Church
the Methodist church
a Fundamental church
3 different pentacostal charismatic churches....
and I am now attending an episcopal church.
There are saved people in all of these churches and there are unsaved people in all of these churches. You and I are always gonna meet people who have open mouths and closed minds....doesn't Jesus tell us to love them anyway?
Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
I don't believe that faith is about who is right and who is wrong. Only God can judge our hearts. Faith is believing without seeing.....and in Corinthians, it says we look thru a mirror dimly....we don't know all the particulars. But the Word is clear.....LOVE covers all. LOVE is the basis for the Fruit of the Spirit....it is what held Christ to the cross. And if we, as believers cannot discuss our differences with love, then to paraphrase Paul, we are all just a bunch of noise. Jesus' last prayer before His crucifixion was that we would be united in unity and purpose....that the world would know us by Christ in us.
John 17:6-26
"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. [7] Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. [8] For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. [9] I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. [10] All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. [11] I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. [12] While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
[13] "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. [14] I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. [15] My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. [17] Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. [18] As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. [19] For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
[20] "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: [23] I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
[24] "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
[25] "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. [26] I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."
Christianity is relational. It is a relationship faith. Our first relationship is of course with Christ. And through Christ, it is then with each other. Should we not try and focus on the common ground we all hold, and that is Christ crucified, dead, buried and on the 3rd day risen??
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
We're gonna have a long time in eternity to spend together....may as well get a good start on it here!
I hope that this makes sense. I am not pointing fingers at anybody....just think that we all need to be reminded that we are all in this together....and that our fight should not be against each other......
Ephes. 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
and last but not least....
Ephes. 4:25-27
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. [26] "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephes. 4:29-32
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Something *I* need to be reminded of periodically!
(thus ends this unsolicited public service announcement...we return you to your regularly scheduled programming)
In His Love......
Tammy
Hope
