Quote:
Originally Posted by Steadfast
If I were utilize the wholesale 'anything that pulls away isn't submissive' reasoning then I would venture to say that Paul wouldn't have made that break from Christian killer to New Testament writer. He broke away from the religous system he no longer could walk in agreement with.
What about others who have walked away from religious systems they could no longer agree with? Was Martin Luther lacking 'submission' to the Roman Catholic Church a bad thing?
While NOBODY believes in spiritual submission than I do I also realize that there are times that the Bible actually CONDONES certain parting of ways. Remember that whole "can two walk together except they agree" and the "house divided against itself" stuff?
I'm sorry... I'm submitted to the extreme to the spiritual authroities in my world. However, my submission is to a REAL Pastor and Elders who aren't afraid to tell me the truth. While I may respect them to the uttermost... I've never feigned a lot of deep spiritual submission to a system of elected officials who don't even know my name. To do so would eliminate the 'autonomy' of the local Church.
The United Pentecostal Church is a great organization. The greatest on the face of the Earth when it comes to promoting this precious truth. I guess that is what confuses me the most... if some of you weren't ripping on the Tulsa crew you would be ripping on the UPC. How is it now that we have so many fierce 'protectors'?
The clear conscience that I have today is a result of the fact that I'm not against EITHER group. In fact, while some of you are seeing me as a 'protector' of the Tulsa crowd, the truth is that I'm protectecting the right of both to do what they feel is right!
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Bro. Steadfast,
I am convinced that you are sincere and that your heart is pure in this regard.
But, it never ceases to amaze me how it is that men justify what they do. It seems that men are able to justify almost anything.
I might point out that while Paul was a Pharisee that he had not received the heavenly vision nor had he been obdient to call on the house of Simon the Tanner who instructed him to arise and be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord.
Had there been an issue so great as this among the Tulsaites, certainly I would not only commend them but I would also be among them too.
The great strides toward the light that the reformers took which caused them to be cast out of their ranks as in the case of John Wesley and others. They were not willing to be rebellious.
It is impossible for me to see the need of so great devastation brought on by their actions over such a small, almost insignificant thing, none of which needed to affect them in the least way.
But, I remember the scriptures when they speak of every man's ways are justified in their own eyes. Yet, none of their ways are justified from my point of view since this will have the needless effect of inflicting great damage on the cause of God, world-wide.