1. You have yet again exercised what you apparently think is your role of judge, this time with me. Even though you don't know me at all. Clearly, in your world, you are the authority on things of God, and any who disagree with you are bound for hell. In that regard then, you would be right about me - I think your accusations and recriminations of others spiritual standing is pharasitical...at best.
2. I have been a Christian since 1978. Not some new age, touchy feely, politically correct form of Christianity. Just your straight ahead protestant, believe in the Bible as the word of God form of Christianity. I have been in ministry, I have served as worship leader, small group leader, deacon, youth leader, and hope to eventually work in ministry through my later years.
(I say none of this to IMPRESS, I simply want to make myself clear on what my particular TAKE on MY christianity has been like.)
3. You seem to be intent upon telling Amy (and I'm presuming others) that she has not yet atoned for her sins regarding her marital relationship. Are we reading the same bible my friend? Jesus called those who preach as you do, hypocrites.
Check this one out...
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! ... you have neglected the more important matters of the law - justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Matt 23:23,24
You can't cast aside my comments by accusing me of being politically correct.
You are right - the body of Christ is called to encourage, teach, and rebuke each other. But it is the apostle Paul who reminds us that we do not all understand the same.
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgement on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him ." Romans 14:1-3
The Bible does not directly speak to every life mess that we face. In the end we are left to, through prayer and guidance, make our way through things we never expected to encounter.
The Bible does not speak about MLC. And nowhere does it say that if you had a three year MLC, you better come back and devote three years of your life and soul to being a servant to your spouse. YOU might feel that way, but this certainly falls in to the disputable matters column that Paul talks about.
Christ brought grace. The apostle Paul makes it clear through his letters that living in this grace is the key to living a life that would please our Father. The Pharisees were scorned and criticized by Christ because they sought to leave the people of God under bondage, and Christ would have none of that.
On a more specific note, I've not yet heard Amy talk of divorcing her husband. If you've followed along with her story (and you've made it clear that such knowledge is not important to you) you would realize that her recent breakthrough has come in the area of no longer allowing herself to be in bondage to the mistakes that she has made. In the end, these are HER decisions, and her work on this board, both in words to others and in sharing her tale, provides her with more than enough credibility to suggest that we can confidently allow her to make her way, knowing that she will always be seeking God's will for her and her family.
Your words bring bondage. Color them as you like.
Blessings,
Bill
"Don't tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon."
