Quote:
Originally Posted by Pressing-On
This point was so wrong, I was shocked he said it. I think his exact wording was that "Paul was full of the devil." I see Paul as he described himself in Philippians 3:5-6. That is a man trained up strong in the Law of Moses. He was very confident in what he believed.
How interesting, the very moment that Jesus revealed Himself, Paul asks Him what He would have Him do? IOW, whatever you want from me, I will do it. No questions asked. Man, that is just so awesome!
This is what was on my mind when he said Paul was full of the devil. I was trying to point out what the scripture shows to be Paul's mind or at least his actions, but another person was agreeing with him and I didn't respond any further. |
I believe I see it exactly as you do. Paul was an educated and dedicated man. He believed he was doing God's will the good, old fashioned way...and reasonably so since it was not the first time the Hebrews had gone after their "godless enemies".
But Paul realized he was dealing with the true authority when he was knocked off his high horse... and was VERY quick to repent of his wrongdoing. A man full of the devil is not like that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pressing-On
This was pretty much the conversation. So, my point of view was and is that you can feel incredibly wrong and bad about what you did. You can even feel embarrassed and sick at your stomach, yet, God doesn't give the impression of anger about it. At least, He has never made me feel that way. So, really, it's hard for me to imagine it.
When my father would correct us, He never made you feel like he didn't love you. Now, my mother is another story. LOL! My mother's discipline is what the young man was trying to convey to me about God. Just can't see it. I told him I think his feelings about his wrong is what made him feel that God had dealt with him so harshly. He said, "Maybe so."
|
God has never corrected me in a way that came across as mean to me. He's be straight-forward, even a bit strong, but never mean. Even when he corrected Jonah he was merciful. Of course, I honestly expect God to be a bit harder on his prophets than on those that are not... because the things He shows them.