Sometimes the greater respect is to tell folks the truth sufficiently vividly that they MIGHT ponder the issues more thoughtfully.
I don’t consider it very respectful to walk on by on the other side of the road merely shaking my head at folks drowning in GREAT DECEPTION . . . particularly what appears to be part of the Biblically warned about GREAT DECEPTION OF THE END TIMES.
And, quite frankly, I don’t know how to state it more accurately than to describe what I see hereon in response to such issues and evidence as robotized and lobotomized. If you can suggest terms which carry that emphasis but in a more respectful way, I’d certainly consider using them.
My objective is not per se to be insulting but to alert with a loud siren.
However, I will certainly more prayerfully take your protest more under advisement given Mad Dawg’s and I’s prayer project still running.
I think the greater insult . . . is to the IQ’s and sensibilities of thoughtful people everywhere to have any organization or group or individual suggest that the phenomena of Fatima were truly as since labeled and more or less dogmatized.
I consider that not only groslly insulting but eternally hazardous.
I suppose one could comment about the respect I’ve been shown from the beginning by some of the more “RABIDLY BIASED” but I’m not that interested in a water fight.
Amen!
I doubt we will have much luck with the RC's that devote so much energy and enthusiasm towards Mary.
particularly what appears to be part of the Biblically warned about GREAT DECEPTION OF THE END TIMES.
Man this is so spot on. I know of no Biblical examples where God has sent dead humans to give mysterious messages to a select few, or to perform miracles. God sends his messenger the Archangel Gabriel. It's the devil that lures people by beguiling them.
My objective is not per se to be insulting but to alert with a loud siren.
I know it can be hard when the "bigot brigade", or the "dispensationalists are evil" crowd shows up but I think we go a lot farther when we try to calmly focus on what Scripture says. I especially enjoy the eschatological discussions when we get a chance to present different ideas, but I think the loud siren turns off more than it turns on.
I went to Portugal in 1997 for a temporary work assignment. Gorgeous country! My Mom flew over and met me for a week during that time and we went to Fatima. My Mom really wanted to see it. I came away with these observations (my personal observations):
1. Very commercialized. Huge ornate church, gigantic grounds, people selling everything from relics, to various sized candles to books, tapes, videos.
2. Many, many beggars (gypsies, mainly I was told), quite a few who were (or appeared) pregnant. Lots of small children also begging, not very many men at all among them. Guess hitting up the guilt factor of tourists is a good living.
3. So many people, crawling, walking on crutches, on their knees, bleeding, limping, crying, praying for miracles along the very long and wide concrete entryway to the church. Saddest part to me.
4. Not much attention at all paid to Jesus.
I really wonder about what purpose God would have had in causing this to happen. What has it accomplished except divert attention away from the true one we should be worshipping and praying to? The so-called prophecies were not very specific in nature, not at all like the OT prophets. I can easily see how satan could use deception like this to cause confusion and false hope.