tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post8514487804071708368..comments2023-10-07T18:37:45.321+11:00Comments on The Truth Will Set You Free: Challenges facing Christadelphians (2)Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519210859079598351noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-2667374866602675502008-04-15T04:32:00.000+10:002008-04-15T04:32:00.000+10:00Gerry hit the nail on the head. Until such time a...Gerry hit the nail on the head. Until such time as CDia begins to humble itself and recognise the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to transform us, we will continue to try to do it by our own efforts, and generally fail miserably.<BR/><BR/>I find it very ironic that CDs constantly talk about the flesh and how the "heart is deceitful above all things". And yet it is that same flesh and heart and mind that we then turn around and rely on to be transformed and be holy. Under the influence of Scripture to be sure, but even that is not enough. Scripture can tell us what we should be, but it cannot empower us to accomplish it.<BR/><BR/>My website has a number of resources on the indwelling spirit and other topics:<BR/><BR/>http://www.WeLiveByTheSpirit.orgUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10710485687450756896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-77898150006556342052008-04-12T09:47:00.000+10:002008-04-12T09:47:00.000+10:00Hi GerryVery interesting comments above.I have jus...Hi Gerry<BR/><BR/>Very interesting comments above.<BR/><BR/>I have just finished viewing a <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgg2tpUVbXQ&feature=related " REL="nofollow"> video on YouTube</A> about the universe and one of the comments I read as I was searching for this video was that from our Creator/Father's perspective, earth is one big church... not thousands of different religions.<BR/><BR/>Let the Sonshine in<BR/>CliffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-72913487147400299312008-04-11T13:53:00.000+10:002008-04-11T13:53:00.000+10:00Hi Steve,I am not surprised that this discussion i...Hi Steve,<BR/><BR/>I am not surprised that this discussion is taking place as my life experience has taught me that this has its roots in history.<BR/><BR/>I believe that it will be an ongoing debate until such time that CDs acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and the indwelling of the Spirit at conversion (when we are saved). <BR/><BR/>For a group who in the most part denigh the Holy Spirit in their lives, it is not surprising that they should carry on in such an un-Christian manner to those who call themselves by the same name.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunate as it is, there is a much bigger task for us all to concentrate our energies on, perhaps unification with main stream christians is too much to expect but I do live in hope.<BR/><BR/>In love and under Grace<BR/>GerryGerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12487287445515827035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-63520078907802122582008-04-11T06:27:00.000+10:002008-04-11T06:27:00.000+10:00Hi Steve,Another great post! In our meeting we ins...Hi Steve,<BR/><BR/>Another great post! <BR/><BR/>In our meeting we insist that anybody who has a problem with another, first go privately to the other and talk the issue over. <BR/><BR/>This tends to stop gossip... stone cold dead!<BR/><BR/>Your call for Kingdom Justice is a very timely one.<BR/><BR/>A while back, a member of our community (of the fairer sex) shared how they had been compelled to drive quite a distance at night to attend a special meeting (on the other side of town) that had been called to discuss certain "issues."<BR/><BR/>Alone, in a room occupied by "men in suits," questions were fired at our friend. Each time this person opened their mouth to speak, they were cut short and interrupted and then informed that what they really meant to say was.... !<BR/><BR/>After a short time, our friend got up and walked out and drove home (a long way) in the dark.<BR/><BR/>Our friend has since received further requests for another meeting of the same kind, being told that 'the questioning has not finished yet and the "issues" have not been satisfactorily resolved.'<BR/><BR/>This is fairly typical behaviour. By keeping up this kind of Spiritual Abuse, power is kept in the hands of a few, for it is they who determine when the "issues" have been satisfactorily resolved... and in my experience, they never are!<BR/><BR/>In sharing the story with us, our friend recounted that the reply given to this unbiblical request was... "You come to my house if you have an issue with me, and I request that my dad and my brothers be also present with me. And this time I want you to listen to what I have to say."<BR/><BR/>What a great Biblical response.<BR/><BR/>If you have an issue with another, first go alone to their house to talk the problem over. (Don't first gather a multitude to accompany you.) And make sure that The Father and His Son (our Elder Brother) are also present at that house, and included in the discussion. And listen to the other person... don't tell them what it is that you want them to say.<BR/><BR/>Matthew 24:40-51 describe two ways to deal with "issues". One way is the way a functional family unit will do it... caring, loving, healing, restoring.<BR/><BR/>The other way, is the way a dysfunctional "church" deals with it. With a "big stick"... wounding, smiting, bruising.... and driving people away.<BR/><BR/>God's way brings people "home" and admits them into His Great Hospital of Healing.<BR/><BR/>Man's way is to demonise, critisise, ostrasize then excise the problem (they hope) out of existance.<BR/><BR/>Let the Sonshine in<BR/>CliffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com