My dear Lon I doesn't WANT your rationale, it is your rationale which gets right up my nose.
I want the word of the living God, you do not have the right to decide [for we know that you are wiser than God in these matters] what are the primary and what are the secondary considerations. "that ye may know that the Son of man hath power to forgive sins He saith to the sick of the palsy arise take up thy bed and walk"
Which is easier to say? that is your true position, all the rest is high falutin flummery, it EASY for you to stand up there and waffle on about the forgiveness of sins, we can all do that and we do.
But no proof is required, no demonstration, people may strain their necks but they will be none the wiser as to whether any forgiveness has taken place, we who work and walk with the Lord do recognise the signs but there is no outward demonstration.
But Paul did not come with high sounding words [pretty sermons] he came in the POWER and DEMONSTRATION of the Holy Ghost....if you talk about healing and with miraculous help from the Lord for any who are in need and deliverance, that requires more than words, that requires power.
The people did not follow Jesus because He was a very ice chap, they followed Him because they saw the signs that He did on those who were sick.
Grrr when you say "oh yes we in Europe and the US are already prosperous so that it is really a moot subject
not worthy of consideration
Where the blue Dickens do you think all that prosperity came from. THAT is exactly why I said Americans who have so much but who seems to know so little, it wasn't an anti American statement. It is the same in Europe.
That wealth and prosperity comes on account of the gospel
You think it is politicians and entrepreneurship yes your own hard work and brains etc etc listen let the foolish think that, let the worldlings think that but between you and me we ought to know that that wealth and prosperity came from the Lord on account of the gospel.
Don't you think the Indians can be just as smart? just as hard working? or the Africans? you ought to take a good look at the map of modern Africa and SEE which are the nations of Africa which are beginning to prosper and which are still crawling in the dust, you'll get a surprise, it is the nations who have embraced the gospel, where the church is strong.
Ah me when I read Hosea I see how displeased God was that the people prospered but gave no thanks for that prosperity to God, God said "I'm gunna take it away"
