| Judson McClendon 2008-02-06, 3:58 am |
| "William M. Klein" <wmklein@nospam.netcom.com> wrote:
> "Judson McClendon" <judmc@sunvaley0.com> wrote:
> <snip>
> Judson,
> Do you accept the fact that there are those who CLAIM they are "Christians" who do not view this the same as you do? This doesn't
> mean that YOU would call them Christians, but they call themselves such.
Bill, it's not my business to say who is or who is not a real Christian,
that is entirely between them and God. However, it is clear that there
are many people who say they are Christians, but whose conduct is
so in conflict with the Bible that it is difficult to believe they really
do have faith in Jesus as their savior. Even then, only God can say.
At times, God may give spiritual discernment to someone that a
particular person is false. But the Bible makes it clear that there will
be many false Christians (e.g. Matthew 7:15).
I have known very well for many years a woman who claims to be
a Christian. Yet she is a malicious pathological liar (lies for no reason)
who probably couldn't tell you how many men she has slept with,
and has many other severe problems. Is she a Christian? I'm afraid
she isn't, but I honestly don't know. God knows, but He hasn't
told me. Her dad is a Christian, because years ago while I was
praying for him to be saved, the Holy Spirit gave me understanding
(don't know another way to say it) that he had been saved. The next
day I heard from his wife that he had been saved the day before.
> (The same point is true for the general approach to the Bible - and in fact this difference in understanding of theBible explains
> the difference in their understanding of the "laws" in effect then (pre Jesus), then (post Jesud), and now.)
Even true Christians are not in perfect agreement on every point of
Scripture. None of us is perfect, and only God has perfect understanding.
But it is my experience that, among really sincere Christians, who diligently
study the Bible, have done so long enough to be mature and knowledgeable,
and are willing, even eager, to have their opinions corrected by God, these
disagreements are usually small and unimportant, relative to the vast areas
of complete agreement.
For example, my pastor, for whom I have great respect, and I do not agree
on the precise meaning of Revelation 20:11. I believe that the language
means the Earth will be utterly obliterated and cease to exist, then be
recreated. But my pastor (who reads Gr ) believes the Earth will only be
"cleansed" and renovated. But this is a truly trivial issue, only of academic
interest. Of the vast number of Biblical doctrines he and I have discussed,
there are only a few small differences of interpretation, none of which is
really important.
The real problem comes when Christians decide their thinking is better
than God's, and discount some or a lot of the Bible. All bets are off at
that point, and they are going to be all over the place with strange and
indefensible interpretations based on human judgment, not Scripture.
It doesn't mean they aren't Christians, it just means they aren't very
knowledgeable, or wise. In many respects, they are "baby Christians."
--
Judson McClendon judmc@sunvaley0.com (remove zero)
Sun Valley Systems http://sunvaley.com
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
|