But then, you knew that I would know that he would refuse your considered judgment, didn’t you?

Have a cookie. Before you know it, you’ll feel as right as rain.

-the oracle

“…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Eph 5:26-27)

Paul actually believed this about himself, despite his own past, because in Ephesus he declared – with no one disputing him: “I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.” (Acts 20:26)

There was something in the gospel of the Christ Paul proclaimed, that is missing in the gospel of Christ proclaimed by anyone who would make the argument you’ve written.

In that speech, Quayle said: “. . . you take the United Negro College Fund model that what a waste it is to lose one’s mind or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.”

Good comments.  And you got exactly my point.  I can’t imagine anyone in this day and age that is willing to surrender EVERYTHING (mind, money and other materials) just because someone in authority says you have to.  The more they try and press to gain control, the more I would want to push back.

They always will have a ready excuse why something is not working in your life (well you didn’t do A, B or C).  There has got to be another way…

How exhausting it must be for SGM leadership to continually pound these precepts into their people and then “hear” from God how to best use OUR time, resources and talents.  No wonder they get a little testy at times when we don’t follow their direction.  One sure way to “shake up the coke bottle to see what’s inside” among SGM leadership is to challenge the manner in which they exercise their “unique gifting” to look out for our souls.  After all, they stand in the very stead of God.  Yikes. 

Just the right mix of truth and error to be dangerous.

-Neo

Interesting reading this morning. John, I like your writing style because it makes you work your brain! Wow. Dan’s comment is right where I was when I left SGM and I stayed there for years. I got so used to being spoon fed by SGM. Every Sunday they told me how totally depraved I was, every problem I went to them for counsel instead of God. I was well trained. And, I can’t understand why they wanted it that way. Here is a strange thing. I like to think they wouldn’t do this to people on purpose but in my last hours there they knew that I was not trusting God’s word over theirs. They knew they had me at a place that I could no longer see my justification was from God and not them or myself. They knew I was in the exact place of Dan’s words. I am all bad. There is absolutely no hope for me. They knew I was suicidal and they offered no hope. I am still here by God’s grace. In all honesty, they knew the dark place they put me in, and they wanted it that way – but why I don’t know. What do they gain from that kind of control? They wanted to be sure I felt bad enough about myself and would believe they were the only way out of that feeling because then I would obey – or so they thought! I could not submit to that. Jesus is the only way to God; Jesus’s words are The truth, and it is Jesus that gives me life and life to the full. Their plan backfired. They must have forgot that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentence, it is His character that makes me fear Him, it is His love that would make me run to the cross and give up everything for more of Him. Your plan would have worked with me before John – but never again – because now I know who I am in Christ and that no scheme of man can pluck me from His hand. I am His and how wonderful is that! But good luck with the others!