apologizing, accepting...

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To Brother Chris's statements I say, "Amen"

One thing Jesus never did was compromise.  Though he sat and ate 
with sinners, he never became one or condoned their actions.  He 
sat with them as a Physician sits with a sick patient.  Just because 
a Doctor associates with sick people doesn't mean he takes on 
their sickness or even approves of it.

"These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in 
Capernaum.  Many therefore of his disciples, when they 
had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can 
hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples 
murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?"    
John 6:59-61

Jesus was never afraid to be radical, even at the cost of having 
some turn away from Him.

"But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus 
knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, 
and who should betray him."    John 6:64

"From that time many of his disciples went back, and 
walked no more with him.  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, 
Will ye also go away?  Then Simon Peter answered him, 
Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal 
life."    John 6:66-68

Nor was Jesus afraid to speak the truth at peril of His own life.

"But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you 
the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham."
John 8:40

"And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.  
Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, 
why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's 
words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of 
God."    John 8:45-47

Plainly speaking (though not directed at anyone in particular) there 
are those who simply will not hear the truth because of the 
hardness of their hearts.

We are commanded not to conform to this world.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed 
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is 
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."    
Romans 12:2

conformed = 4964. suschematizo, soos-khay-mat-id'-zo; from 
G4862 and a der. of G4976; to fashion alike, i.e. conform to the 
same pattern (fig.):--conform to, fashion self according to.

We derive our modern word 'schematic' from this word.  A 
schematic is a blue-print or a plan for the design of something. 
We are commanded not to be a blue-print of worldliness but 
rather to be 'conformed to the image of his Son' (ie Jesus),  
Romans 8:29.  We are to be a blue-print of Jesus, an epistle 
seen and read of all men (2 Cor 3:2,3). 

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of 
the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto 
you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for 
the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For 
there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before 
of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning 
the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the 
only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."    Jude 1:3,4

In these last days we need to be ever watchful and diligent 
against the encroachment of error into the church.  

We need never apologize for the Truth, but maybe sometimes 
for the delivery of it.

Kathy Dimick
Falkville, Alabama
kdimick@colsa.com
kedimick@hotmail.com

"For to me to live is Christ"