Quote:
Originally Posted by Sherri
Steadfast, I'm glad you brought this up, even though it could have easily turned into an ugly shout-fest. I think, having been on both sides of the fence at some point in my life, that both sides are misunderstood. When I was very young, and had just gotten the Holy Ghost, I tended to pick up EVERYTHING that anyone preached, no matter how far out and take it upon myself as a new "standard". I thought all men of God were really men of God and trusted them explicitly. I nearly drove my family and myself crazy! I would not even walk in a room where a TV was playing, and we had five in our house!
After having worked through all that and learning to understand the Word for myself, I now have deep convictions that are from God alone and I will not change them for anyone. Now to you, I may seem like a liberal, but to most of our friends, I am a die-hard conservative. So the titles are confusing once you get outside of the OP realm.
It saddens me that I can call you brother, but you probably would not call me sister. It saddens me that my real brother, who is one of the best speakers in the world, probably could never preach in our church. (I don't blame him for that; it's just the law of the land). It saddens me that all of us cannot fellowship over the 90% that we do agree on and forget the 10% that we disagree on. It saddens me that some people on here obviously do not think that I'm saved when I know the relationship I have with Jesus.
It is discouraging to post threads on here about people getting the Holy Ghost or getting healed and only a certain few people will respond, because the more conservative ones wouldn't want to acknowledge that it could actually happen or be the real thing. Just being honest here.....
That's why I love Sis. Alvear. She can absolutely see Jesus in everyone. She has come to visit me and we are as far apart in beliefs as anyone on here, but we love each other dearly. To me, she reaches out to every end of the spectrum and knows that God is working in all of us.
Hope this doesn't sound like "woe is me". I do love and appreciate everyone on here and highly respect your beliefs. I hope that I can prove myself to you as well.
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Sherri,
You really hit the whole crux of the matter here. The libs can accept the cons as brothers, usually because of their "one step" theology and view of grace. The cons can't accept the libs the same way due to their staunch views which, in their view, cannot be compromised. To many, a compromise of "their" staunch con stand is "anathema, intolerable, and almost devilish. They cannot and will not accept the stance of a lib, because deep down inside they don't even think he or she is still saved.
So it is NOT just a matter of differences....at least not to most of the cons, it is a matter of salvation. Decades ago, that was not the case. Sadly, it is today. Having been on both sides myself, I have a much more clear understanding than someone who has not.
The bottom line issue is not insignificant things. The bottom line issue is salvation itself. That's why there are so many fireworks here on this forum.
And I can tell you who will "win." It will be the cons, because the libs have far more important things to do than to continually fuss about it.
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