Posted on 08/10/2013 3:50:16 AM PDT by BCW
I was getting ready to dig in loaded for bear here.
Our God is not a God that stands on ceremony. Neither is Jesus an Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant Jesus. Jesus is just Jesus. Some day on this mortal coil He will also be a Jewish Jesus. It’s we humans who have gotten into silly camps, sometimes glorifying ourselves and sometimes casting the “cynic’s ban” and yet a very patient God keeps working around all this stuff. The secret of God is that God is trying to bless us in any way we permit.
Ok - well - yes - Christ set the foundation and Peter was the Rock - I think we all know what I was conveying...not trying to re-write history like Barry Obama...
If people were a little less uptight, they’d see how God is blessing through the thick of all this stuff.
The evangelical “sects” (denominations) have a connection to the early church through its witness, the bible. God has no problem transcending time and space that way. I guess one could say Peter is their pope too if they had to have a pope... but as a crazy evangelical I say no it is a popeless segment of Christianity, but not hopeless because Christ is their hope.
Friend, I’m not disputing his physical appearance and never did. I accept that people saw a priest, or what they thought was a priest, and that he acted as a priest. That’s not at all the issue or my point.
I can’t even imagine what you think that passage means? Surely you don’t think Paul was saying Satan disguises himself as an angel of light with wings and a halo?
I say give it a bit of patience and see what comes from it. Satan will always do things that detract from God’s glory and it will be unavoidably obvious before long even if the initial appearance was misleading.
I don’t know if Protestant ministers are known to show up in this manner. In the Protestant community it’s usually Jesus that shows up directly in apparitions of this kind. It could just be God using whatever form His audience is expecting, so as not to totally weird them out. The results of the appearance are what should be examined. If God gets glorified... it wasn’t the devil.
You wrote:
“Friend, I’m not disputing his physical appearance and never did. I accept that people saw a priest, or what they thought was a priest, and that he acted as a priest. That’s not at all the issue or my point.”
But it has to be the issue when you imply it possibly was something very different.
“I can’t even imagine what you think that passage means?”
Your imagination is not my concern. You implied something that logically makes no sense.
“Surely you don’t think Paul was saying Satan disguises himself as an angel of light with wings and a halo?”
No. But what you are implying is far more fanciful.
Forget it. You don’t understand my point whatsoever. I never disputed he appeared as a priest.
Amen,I also think this was a real Priest who came because he heard it on his scanner and then left.
Yes, but faith in God is the source of eternal salvation...I believe this is a sign of faith...that’s all. It isn’t Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Congregationalist or Presbyterian...that was all I was saying....
“Forget it. You don’t understand my point whatsoever. I never disputed he appeared as a priest.”
I understand your point - according to your own words: “Why are you sure this is Christian? I have no idea what happened here so I won’t even speculate, but in all things we must be discerning. ... The Bible tells us Satan disguises himself and masquerades as an angel of light. Abject evil won’t fool many people but untold billions will follow an angel of light to their eternal doom.”
And, as you have already admitted, the person in question appeared as a priest AND NOT AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.
Appearing as a priest, or anyone else that might impress a group of men, is precisely how an angel of light might appear. Paul was warning of false apostles and teachers who appear righteous and good when in reality they are anything but. Don’t you see that? Read that verse in context.
12And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
” Paul was warning of false apostles and teachers who appear righteous and good when in reality they are anything but. Don’t you see that?”
The verse clearly says Satan “disguises himself as an angel of light”. There was no disguise as an angel here. Also, no evil was attempted or accomplished here.
You point is right on the money - it is Christ, the Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end — which is why I have no issues standing against Islam - and take care to share stories of hope, especially when angels are involved. If you try, you will not find stories like this among Moslems - I’ve shared such stories - they either laugh or tell stories of genies (demons) wrecking havoc in their lives...another tell-tale sign that they are following a curses religion...
Well, I am kind of a category-spanner when it comes to God’s ministry (the way God ministers Himself). I am a Cathangelical or a Protestolic (and also a Calminian).
I look for where the blessing is. That gives a whole ‘nother perspective than a world (even a world of believers who are not yet perfected) that is still engrossed with shadows.
The results of something that is being questioned as a blessing will prove it out. The devil can’t bless, and curses will result. I don’t see men getting impressed here, though. I see a young girl being comforted. Interviewing her as to her reaction and how this inspires her, might get better information. Does she want to give her life to the Lord?
One very interesting statistic I heard from an evangelical professor is that... Jews who grow up in Roman Catholic neighborhoods tend to become Protestants. This to me points to a very category-blind God who ministers in ways that are NOT calculated to please men... but to give Him pleasure in blessing men.
Another key thing... and the bible actually proves this out... is that if we as believers DO sin or fail it isn’t the end of the line for us. Yes there will be consequences. No, we will not be snatched out of God’s hand.
A blessing oriented world view will have its own pains... but those are the pains of bumping against the ceiling, rather than against the floor.
The way to fight any spiritual darkness is with the sunshine. Sometimes God may bring it home to us that the only way to deal with a particular darkness situation is to deny its proponents resources... but that’s not a first choice. The first choice is to try to bless.
You must read the entire passage in context with spiritual eyes. There is a spiritual principal being taught beyond the bare literal meaning of the words.
“You must read the entire passage in context with spiritual eyes.”
I did.
“There is a spiritual principal being taught beyond the bare literal meaning of the words.”
Yes, and you apparently fail to grasp it if what you’re posting is any indication.
All it means is that a guy showed up, had some of the bystanders and responders pray. Then another department showed up, and they had fresh equipment. Probably got in his car and left.
I wouldn’t call this a miracle, divine intervention perhaps....maybe but i think that’s a stretch. Most of the people were focused on saving lives, not focused on a priest and where he went.
Of course God hasn’t abandoned us, He never will.
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