Organization: Virginia Department of Health
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Fri, 9 Oct 1992 20:37:22 EDT
From:         "Michael A. Kline" <MKLINE@VDH.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Comments on the Apostles and Jesus' Teachings

A couple of related topics come to mind here. Please take them with a
grain of salt. I'll speak freely without a whole lot of "Now please
don't get mad" on any of this that might make any one feel bad.

Okay, that said, (un)related point one.

I was reminded of a sermon on the sheep in the goats at the end of the
age during judgement. The speaker when on to define the sheep and the
goats.

   The sheep hear the Word of God and say "Yeaaaaasssss." (Like baaaaa.)

   The goats hear the Word of God and say "Yeaaassss, * BUT *!!!!" Yes,
BUT how can we know it's true. Yes, BUT not now. Yes BUT, later, I'm
busy. Yes, BUT we can't tell people they are in sin.

   In this day and age "Woe to you scribes, pharisees, hypocrites!" may
have been similar to "Listen Pope(Sorry. Every knows this as an example
of an authority figure, and ONLY an example for my part), what you are
teaching is wrong, and you are in danger of Hell Fire! You lay burdens
on the people that are hard to bear. Come unto me, ALL ye who labor and
are heavy laden. Take MY Yoke upon you and learn of Me for My burden is
light...." Bringing this example today would have had Christ on every
front page as blasting the Pope. How dare He talk to the Pope that way.
Where is the love? Where is the compassion? Jesus wouldn't talk that
way!

Another (un)related point. No one seems impressed with those studies that
take and assign numbers to the various letters of the old Hebrew and
Greek transcripts. You know, things like "There are 7 x 7 of this, there
are 7 x 3 of this, there are 7 x 4 of this." They also say that they have
tried to duplicate this on a computer and it is almost impossible to get
any thing intelligible out of it. Even it not quite try, from what I gather,
there is this type of similarity through all the books of canon scripture.
Here we have a "pattern" if not anything else, and it spans YEARS of work
and many authors. It is a pattern hard to duplicate. God HAD to have His
hand in it, or am I missing something all together?

   If this is the case, then how can we say it can't be true? No, not just
that, but doesn't the Holy Spirit witness to your Spirit when you read
HIS Word? Don't you read "For God so loved..." and your spirit leaps
inside of you and says, "Yes, Father!!!! Thank You!!!!"

   When we start to pick and choose, how do we know we won't hear our
Precious Jesus say, "Why do you call Me, Lord, and don't do what I say?"
"Well, sorry Lord, but I didn't think that part was accurate."

I believe it all to be true. Any time there is a tough part that makes me
wonder "What in the heck????" I have great confidence that when I see
Christ face to face, my reaction is going to be "Why, of course! Why didn't
I see that? It's sooo obvious!" I remember one example talked about the
locust or what ever that had the power to sting with their tails and had
hair. I should go look it up...., but anyhow, it is an almost perfect
description using old terms to describe the camouflaged helicopters that
flew in Viet Nam. Anyhow.

Well, this sure is chopped up, but I did say it was some (un)related
thoughts, and misc. at that. Sorry for using the Pope in the example,
but I couldn't think of a single person who is a leader of another
denomination. In Christ's time the scribes, etc were the ruling body
and I felt it was as close as I could get. Again, Sorry.

Maks
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