Shalom John and All:

Please accept my apology right up front here if what I write offends.  John, I pray you will still post this.

Just what WORD/TRUTH is being taught to the world?  And what JESUS is being taught?

The gathering of Doves and Lurkers here covers the entire spectrum of religious faiths/beliefs that claim origin from the man born in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago.  Many translations of The Word, and even more interpretations of It, are represented in this gathering.

Consider CAREFULLY:
Patriotism does not equate to salvation.
Sentimentality does not equate to salvation.
Socialism does not equate to salvation.
Knowledge of GOD,  WITHOUT  ACTING  ON  IT, does not equate to salvation.

Quoting from Frank's post:
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/sep2004/frankm927.htm
"However, brother Yun stated that we in the west sometime spoil what God has planned when we prematurely try to get someone released from prison in China.  What a thought, God is in charge of all things, even our suffering."

I would add:
When WE prematurely (and in our own power/resources/understanding) try to get someone released from _______ (you fill in the blank!) poverty; sickeness; flood, fire, wind damage - what do we do to GOD's plans?

How are GOD's plans advanced when Christians are known only as "do-gooders" ... not GOD-FEARERS!  It's been my experience that those "outside" of Christianity judge the Chrisitian by what they have been the taught the Christian is ... a "do-gooder".

Outsiders say, "You must give me what I ask because you are a Christian.  You must not lie or cheat me because you are a Christian.  You must be a door-mat and "turn-the-other-cheek" because you are a Christian.  You cannot have because you are a Christian and poverty/suffering are your lot."

What a horrible confusion and twisting of The Truth!  I know who picks from The Word the one-sided commitments that will fit his plan to keep the Believer from the victory of Yeshua!!

Yes - The Word (and ALL The Word!!) should be the Christians' witness but - as Christians lack GOD-fearing, the outsiders, while wanting the blessings from this GOD, certainly don't see a need to fear this GOD and His Son.

Dianne
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