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Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Theological Q&A > (No Subject)
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Empiress
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2002
Total Posts : 363
| Posted 2/27/2003 7:30 AM (GMT -6) |   | Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Sometimes that which should be said goes unsaid and so I would like make the implicit explicit here and now because it weighs heavily on my heart.
First, I want all of you to know, no matter what you believe or how different your opinions are from mine on any topic, I still consider you a beloved child of God who I will stand by as a brother and sister in Christ because what unifies us beyond our personal experiences and beliefs is the Lord Jesus Christ. We are all children of God despite what we believe. I may not agree with what you say but I still believe in your right to hold to it.
I cannot know the hearts or motives of anyone on this list and I hope none will presume to know the hearts or motives of anyone on this list either. God alone is the judge of our hearts and motives and each of us must stand before God and be held accountable for everything we have done and thought.
With this in mind I want to say something that I see as unifying all of us who speak so passionately on this discussion board. Most recently the topic of homosexuality has (again) erupted and as I feared, I am hurt, desparing, and pained by some of what has taken place.
It is my earnest belief that what unifies all of us arguing from both sides of this issue is our earnest desire that:
1. All people be brought into healthy loving relationships with God
2. None should live or participate in destructive patterns of evil and sin
Friends, while we disagree on what that may look like, we are all striving for the same goal. That is my motivation and nothing else and I believe in goodwill that this is the motivation of everyone else who has participated in this discussion. Since I believe we agree on these basic concepts which are by far more important than our divergent beliefs, we can join in unity to pray for these hopes corporately as unified members of the Body of Christ.
In our human weakness and failings any and all of us are likely "wrong" on some point, but we can rest in the knowledge that God transcends our failings. Several years ago I stopped praying specific prayers for people according to what I thought was best for them and started lifting people up by name and saying, "God, your will be done in this person's life" because I knew I could not always know what God's will was for them and I didn't want to be praying against God's will. When we pray for God's will to be done together as brothers and sisters, it is no longer a matter of who is right and who is wrong, because God will sort it out and ultimately establish God's will...and that is something we ALL want and hope for.
Our Father in heaven
Hallowed by Your Name.
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours,
now and forever. AMEN.
Blessings to you all,
~E
Edited by - Empiress on 02/27/2003 2:54:24 PM | | Back to Top | | |
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selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 2/27/2003 10:36 AM (GMT -6) | | Thank you Empiress,
My heart has been so very heavy with this desire
for unity too.
I love you sister,
selah
I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one.
Then the world will know that you sent me and will
understand that you love them as much as you love me.
John 17:23
Edited by - Selah on 02/28/2003 05:31:22 AM | | Back to Top | | |
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Modes of Thought
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 817
| Posted 2/28/2003 7:34 AM (GMT -6) | | Thanks for that. Much appreciated.
"Christianly understood, truth is obviously not to know the truth but to be the truth. Despite all modern philosophy, there is an infinite difference here..." SK | | Back to Top | | |
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Springs
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 636
| Posted 2/28/2003 7:46 AM (GMT -6) | | Another optimist!
Friends, while we disagree on what that may look like, we are all striving for the same goal. That is my motivation and nothing else and I believe in goodwill that this is the motivation of everyone else who has participated in this discussion.
I appreciate your heart Empiress
thanks for expressing what many of us were feeling
-S
Thy love did read by rote and could not spell. - Friar Laurence. - Shakespeare | | Back to Top | | |
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BJS
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2001
Total Posts : 587
| Posted 2/28/2003 8:18 AM (GMT -6) | | Thanks, E. You truly have a special heart.
Brett
"Siste viator et memento mori." | | Back to Top | | |
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