GM,,you may have struck their nerve,,,they already had a loaded question for me to post(but they are patient),,,I'll say it anyway,,,
"who in all the new testament writings spoke about love 77 times,loveth 10 times,,and forms of the word love?",,,the answer is Paul...
This is an odd portion of Paul's writings often missed,but in truth if we take the Gospels(and divide them by four) Christ himself did not stress the meaning/importance of love as often as Paul.
I also do agree we should harken to and adhere to the teachings of Paul. There,as with any beginning point is also an ending,and if we begin with certain gifts as Paul explains love is the last we might master.
I myself would have left of from hearing you long before,but at the request of the members of the youth group I will not. They as you have defended yourself in your post do see that on a good day you do have the heart to preach a good sermon,but the deliverance is lacking in the affection of love(they chuckled to see you go straight to it in your post,they saw it as if you already knew this),,,
Not as if I intend any disrespect,but don't convert one to the Gospel and drive nine away,,,yes in this you will need to tip-e-toe where milk is being drank,,,as fast as two are converted twenty will come to the lord and even though you may feel as though you've explained it over and over,,,,,,,you will always have to begin at the beginning and explain it again(which is frustrating I know),,,but never the less,,,
Lets pretend it's the beginning( beginning of what?),,,"first day GM became christian",,ok you didn't understand everything on day one of your conversion agreed,,,so I will refer to you as "an idiot",ok thats not fair because you just began to try to accept Christ,,,so I'll call you the dummy,,still not quite fair is it?
Now you see the just,so there are a very many people here and you know they are at different levels of understanding. and you know if they think far left,why they do,,or if far right why they do. You know that in the beginning(day you converted),,you didn't know everything.,,,,
Love I think is the most difficult part my friend,it's because I am saying to you to not swoop in when you know it is fair to do so. well I would sure hate to see your talents at preaching go to waste. My reaction was from the beginning to cast you aside with the other files. The members of the youth group were dissecting the scriptural proofs you were posting,lol,and told me I should do as you say but not as you do,lol,,,,lol,,don't waste your gift my friend,,,"add love to your sermon",,,
Actually, I find your posts, interesting. I've posted on other forums
in the past and found them to be, "overly policed" by Moderators
who are, 'ever-ready' to pull the plug on anyone who shows a
flare for controversy. TOL has some very good Moderators who
are willing to allow a greater freedom to express yourself. TOL
attracts a myriad of different types of posters. You'll find, Atheists,
Agnostics, New-Age spiritualists, Cults, Catholics, assorted Protestants,
Seekers, Clowns, Morons, Calvinists, Pentecostals/Charismatics, Jews, etc.
Some are here, just to cause disruption, others are here to learn,
and seek truth, while some (very few) are serious about the truth
of the Scriptures and preaching Paul's Gospel, given to him by the
"Risen Christ." It's a Spiritual battlefield and there's a copious amount
of passion involved trying to teach/preach the truths of Scripture.
This isn't a Church, a Bible study get together, or a picnic where
friends are gathered together for fellowship. This is a forum, made
up of different types of personalities, attitudes, behaviors, and
belief systems. At times, things get heated, tempers flair up, and
it's rare that you find a, "meeting of the minds" in such a "mixed
bag" of different types of personalities.
I'm close with a small number of like-minded, Bible believing,
followers of "Paul's Gospel" which was given to him by Christ
Himself. We understand one another, believe the same way,
use similar words and phrases, and give encouragement to
one another. Romans 12:18 states; "
If it be possible,
as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."
If you'll notice the verse says; "If it be possible?" Sometimes,
it's NOT possible. Some are here to destroy the Grace Message
by using accusations, exaggerations, and accusatory language.
Some are here to argue for the sake of arguing. Everyone has
a separate agenda, and it's not always a 'positive' agenda.
Anyone can be indoctrinated by their Church, commentaries,
religious books and supposed Biblical Scholars. That's why
it's so important to read and study the Scriptures by our self
or with one or more like-minded "True Believers." And, it's
best to pray before opening the Bible that, God will give you
wisdom, knowledge, and the ability to understand what you're
about to read! We're living in what Paul calls, the Dispensation
of Grace. Paul states in Romans 2:16--"In the day when God shall
judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ
according to my gospel."
It's extremely important to read and study what Paul has to
say to US today. Those writings can be found in Romans to Philemon.