Paul, there is no such thing as a perfect church
Leland Milton Goldblatt Ph.D.
c/o Aquila the Tentmaker
Corinth, Greece
Dear Paul:
We recently received a copy of your letter to the Galatians. The committee
has directed me to inform you of a number of things which deeply concern us.
First, we find your language to be somewhat intemperate. In your letter,
after a brief greeting to the Galatians, you immediately attack your
opponents by claiming they want to "pervert the gospel of Christ." You then
say that such men should be regarded as "accursed;" and in another place,
you make reference to "false brethren." Wouldn't it be more charitable to
give them the benefit of the doubt -- at least until the General Assembly
has investigated and adjudicated the matter? To make the situation worse,
you later say, "I would that they were even cut off which trouble you." Is
such a statement really fitting for a Christian minister? The remark seems
quite harsh and unloving.
Paul, we really feel the need to caution you about the tone of your
epistles. You come across in an abrasive manner to many people. In some of
your letters you've even mentioned names; and this practice has, no doubt,
upset the friends of Hymenaeus, Alexander, and others. After all, many
persons were first introduced to the Christian faith under the ministries of
these men. Although some of our missionaries have manifested regrettable
shortcomings, nevertheless, it can only stir up bad feelings when you speak
of these men in a derogatory manner.
In other words, Paul, I believe you should strive for a more moderate
posture in your ministry. Shouldn't you try to win those who are in error by
displaying a sweeter spirit? By now, you've probably alienated the Judaizers
to the point that they will no longer listen to you.
By your outspokenness, you have also diminished your opportunities for
future influence throughout the church as a whole. Rather, if you had worked
more quietly, you might have been asked to serve on a presbytery committee
appointed to study the issue. You could then have contributed your insights
by helping to draft a good committee paper on the theological position of
the Judaizers, without having to drag personalities into the dispute.
Besides, Paul, we need to maintain unity among those who profess a belief in
Christ. The Judaizers at least stand with us as we confront the surrounding
paganism and humanism which prevail within the culture of the contemporary
Roman Empire. The Judaizers are our allies in our struggles against
abortion, homosexuality, government tyranny, etc. We cannot afford to allow
differences over doctrinal minutia to obscure this important fact.
I also must mention that questions have been raised about the contents of
your letter, as well as your style. The committee questions the propriety of
the doctrinaire structure of your letter. Is it wise to plague young
Christians, like the Galatians, with such heavy theological issues? For
example, in a couple of places, you allude to the doctrine of election. You
also enter into a lengthy discussion of the law. Perhaps you could have
proved your case in some other ways, without mentioning these complex and
controverted points of Christianity. Your letter is so doctrinaire, it will
probably serve only to polarize the differing factions within the churches.
Again, we need to stress unity, instead of broaching issues which will
accent divisions among us.
In one place, you wrote, "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Paul, you have a tendency to
describe things strictly in black and white terms, as if there are no gray
areas. You need to temper your expressions, lest you become too exclusive.
Otherwise, your outlook will drive away many people, and make visitors feel
unwelcome. Church growth is not promoted by taking such a hard line and
remaining inflexible.
Remember, Paul, there is no such thing as a perfect church. We have to
tolerate many imperfections in the church, since we cannot expect to have
everything at once. If you will simply think back over your own experience,
you will recall how you formerly harassed the church in your times of
ignorance. By reflecting on your own past, you might acquire a more
sympathetic attitude toward the Judaizers. Be patient, and give them some
time to come around to a better understanding. In the meantime, rejoice that
we all share a common profession of faith in Christ, since we have all been
baptized in his name.
Sincerely,
The Reverend Doctor Leland Milton Goldblatt
Shalom,
Leland Milton Goldblatt Ph.D
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt's **NEW~~email address,
solade...@hotmail.com
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt's biography,
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/5244/index.html
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt says:
I will go as far as Martin Luther, where he says, "If any man ascribes
anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of
man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ
rightly." Sermons, Vol. 1, p.395
The DataRat
Janie and the PoMo Patrol will be on your
case for criminal violations of the Gospel of Nice !
Folks, Janie is right: Enough of this harsh and
unloving language by people like the Apostle Paul
and The DataRat !
Christ died so we'd be nice to each other.
So, here are some Post Modern guidelines on
being politically correct from Janie, Newsgroup
Commandant of the Tolerance Police:
1.) Never utilize the word "hell" except in the
context of a place where people go for
respite from God's annoying holiness.
2.) Never speak bad about anyone's religion
because all religions are of equal value
and worth.
3.) Never call anybody a "heretic" because
who are we to use the Bible as a standard
by which to judge doctrine ?
4.) Never condemn anyone's theology -no
matter how unBiblical- unless they're
teaching the theology of the Bible.
5.) And -above all- be nice ! You'll assure
more unbelievers that I'm-Ok / You're-Ok
by being nice, than by telling them they're
on the Express Bus to Hell.
As that great theologian, Rodney King, once said:
"Can't we all just get along ?".
The DataRat
Don
Why don't you just go stick it up...
WAIT, that's not what I meant to say. I meant to say,
"Yes, it's a good idea. "
I have a close friend who was always telling me how much her
overbearing, condescending, arrogant husband knew about the Bible.
I always rememded her that he never read the verse which read, "Be ye
kind, one to another!"
D*
Recently described as:
"piano-bar-church music director-conductor-funeral pianist."
------------------------------------------------------------
www.calldon.com/shadow.htm
Remembering Shadow
July 1984 - November 13, 1997
A Tribute To The Sweetest, Most Perfect Dog In Heaven
Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to continue....
Hare35
Where's the heart knowledge?
Doing these things without Love is Vainity.
The true church isn't at a particular church!
IT'S IN YOU!!!!!!!
Judith
Hare35,
You are absolutely right.
There are those in all the newsgroups whose religion appears to be one
of head knowledge, a religion of the intellect where the heart is
absent. Hard, cold orthodoxy, that is loveless, compassionless and
joyless. A spirit of religion dominates that keeps people quarreling
among themselves. Some are wise in their own conceits, arrogant are
they with no fear of God before their eyes. There is more venting than
sharing, more spleen than heart. Where is the whole counsel of God?
The juvenile mocking and childish ridicule are not evidence of
regeneration. There are things that accompany salvation and mocking is
not one of them.
Eph. 4:29,31-Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister
GRACE unto the hearers. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and
clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. 5:4-
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather the giving of thanks.
Ofentimes here, it APPEARS that Calvin is exalted above Christ and self
above both. More ego than exegesis, more the cult of Calvin than the
Church of Christ. (not the denomination.) No one can seriously contend
that doctrine is unimportant to God. Paul alone often spoke about
right doctrine. Thankfully there are times when the teachings appear to
be done with the intention of bringing glory to God.
How we love II Tim. 3:16-All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: 17-That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works. Should we love Eph. 4:32 less?
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as GOD FOR CHRIST'S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.
We are told to speak the truth in love, no not that ooey, gooey fluff,
but not with arrogant mockings either. Isa. 5:21-Woe unto them that
are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.
No one was born into this world knowing the perfect, impeccable
doctrines of Christ, but God willing we will learn what we must know
before we leave it.
Judith
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Leland Milton Goldblatt Ph.D.
--
c/o Aquila the Tentmaker
Corinth, Greece
Dear Paul:
Sincerely,
Shalom,
Judith <joyfu...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:7lm05r$e8f$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
Robert T Childers
larger problems that are facing the church today. In other words people that are
willing to subvert the Word of God just for the sake of being nice. I will admit
that at times some of Pauls epistles can be a bit harsh, but they were always
given in the thought that to not point out these errors was the worst thing that
you could do. Should we stand around and let hungry wolves come into the fold
and rip the church to shreds. In Galations Paul was addressing a very serious
problem that was developing. It was necessary to be blunt to stop this before it
destroyed the church at Galatia. A lot of Gods law is very black and white. And
to pretend otherwise is to substitute mans folly for Gods truths.
solade...@my-deja.com
> I have a close friend who was always telling me how much her
> overbearing, condescending, arrogant husband knew about the Bible.
> I always rememded her that he never read the verse which read, "Be ye
> kind, one to another!"
The Reverend Doctor Leland Milton Goldblatt writes:
Dumbass,
Did you read the "Paul, there is no such thing as a perfect church"?
Shalom,
Leland Milton Goldblatt Ph.D
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt's email address:
solade...@hotmail.com
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt's biography,
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/5244/index.html
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt says:
I will go as far as Martin Luther, where he says, "If any man ascribes
anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of
man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ
rightly." Sermons, Vol. 1, p.395
Grace alone
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel
against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to
love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
Scripture alone
The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals
His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole
rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
Faith alone
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all
time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them.
Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that
it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness
through Him
Shalom,
Leland Milton Goldblatt Ph.D
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt's email address:
solade...@hotmail.com
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt's biography,
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/5244/index.html
The Reverend Doctor Goldblatt says:
I will go as far as Martin Luther, where he says, "If any man ascribes
anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of
man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ
rightly." Sermons, Vol. 1, p.395
Grace alone
God loves the people of the world, even though they are sinful, rebel
against Him and do not deserve His love. He sent Jesus, His Son, to
love the unlovable and save the ungodly.
Scripture alone
The Bible is God's inerrant and infallible Word, in which He reveals
His Law and His Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. It is the sole
rule and norm for Christian doctrine.
Faith alone
By His suffering and death as the substitute for all people of all
time, Jesus purchased and won forgiveness and eternal life for them.
Those who hear this Good News and believe it have the eternal life that
it offers. God creates faith in Christ and gives people forgiveness
through Him
--
In article
<7D051771F2FBEEEE.0439AAEB...@lp.airnews.net>,
jim...@my-deja.com
It amazes me that people will take the time to
voice so many acrimonious ideas against the Lord
Jesus, who knows your thoughts before you think
them,and who will hold you accountable for every
word that comes out of your mouth.
I know this includes me.
"Believe in God, Believe also in Me," Jesus said.
Those are commands, present imperatives that we
do not have the option to ignore.
I pray God's mercy for those who do not take
Him at his word.
Sincerely,
Jim