I've been wondering about the "makes me sick" moniker that the core of the "Three Stepper Agenda" throw around. I'm trying to understand the depth of feeling behind that.
I know (at least I
think) Jon Alfaro (Jon "the lightbulb?") intended to have some fun here - and he's welcome to it. But most of these drive-by "fun" threads die an early and merciful death so I thought I'd just post some thoughts here.
Why do the "ultra-cons" "get sick" when they view the open and free wheeling types of discussion that go here? I've tried to put myself in their shoes and applied the viewpoints and feelings that I held when I was a pretty ardent "
Acts 2:38 kind of guy."
I think that the problem is that they are confronted with the idea that what they have been building isn't really eternal. They desperately want their efforts in this life to have meaning that extends beyond just themselves and beyond the mere moments that constitute the human life span - we all do!
This is why we have the invention of "Apostolic history" - a blatant attempt to rewrite history to insert "Acts 2:38 believers" into the church age prior to 1900. The idea of "the eternal" compels them to think beyond just the fact that great-grandma and granny were the pioneers of this faith. They need more - so they invent "more."
Also, the types of views that are expressed here represent the vast majority of people who have gone through the doors of a Oneness Apostolic church. Truth of the matter is - the vast majority of people who have been presented this message have rejected it. Even more alarming - the vast majority of people who actually did receive and accept this message - have, in time, rejected it as well.
The "Three Stepper" way of life is one of constant rejection. Almost all of the converts within their field of labor wind up at some "charismatic church" and eventually, almost all of their saints do as well. Looking back in history for support and examples of "revival" - they find no "
Acts 2:38" revivals at all. They are beset from all sides with the prospect that their lives and their strident angry stands have no real meaning.
And this makes them "sick."
Meanwhile - the true Gospel of Jesus perseveres. The cure for the "sickness" I felt was Jesus Christ Himself. He is eternal. He is alive forever more. He endures. He lives. His life brings me healing from the "sickness" of nihilism and the emptiness that I feel when I look at a world that is "designed" to die.
So, if you read AFF and "feel nauseated" or like you're about to "blow chunks" - don't be angry with AFF or the people who post here. Instead, look to Jesus for the health and healing that your soul longs for.
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