debate with an AOG member (ROTFL)

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>It is a unmoderated discussion group made up of mostly pastors
>and laymen.  Right now they are having fits with I and a few others 
>on there.

AND

>Kenneth and all:
>        I will keep in mind you if I have questions but for now
>        I am on hold.  You see, the discussion was getting out of
>        hand and I was getting tired of their breaking down every
>        single little thing I said and then translating it 20 times
>        to get what they wanted.  I have been only using the Bible
>        ,strong's Bible word Dictionary, and Strong's Concordance
>        while those replying to me have used a lot of theological
>        books written by doctor so and so, or some new translated
>        waterdowned, politically correct, liberal Bible.  With
>        this in mind and the thoughts that you cannot change
>        a mind of a person who does not want to be changed,
>        I have turned to God.  My last reply to the A/G discussion
>        list was for *everyone* on the list to pray and ask God
>        if I am speaking about something true(oneness) for God
>        to show them.  I have faith that God *will* show them
>        but only if they seriously pray that he will.
>

I'm sorry, I was going to keep my mouth shut, but this has gone far enough.
I have sat on the AOG list and kept my mouth closed while Bro. Sterrett
went and explained to the AOG'ers how to look at GOD. IMHO his attitude was
condescending, defensive, and in some cases antagonistic. This type of
discussion would not be tolerated on H-F amongst saints who are expected to
have understanding, so why treat the lost that way. (yes I know **I** am
"brisk" at times, I'll work on it.)

The most constructive exchange so far has been when Bro Bunch (hope I'm not
embarrassing you here) asked forgiveness if anything in him (not his
message) had offended. This was a beast they did not recognize. A sensitive
Apostolic. After this some of them had settled down and were open to
listening.

At times it has been bad enough that AOG'ers have drawn parallels to Steve
Winter. A proposed addition to the netiquette document:

"When Steve Winter comes up in a discussion thread, there is too much
carnality in that thread"  (This just came to mind as a side thought :-)

I went on first of all, to see what they were doing. They are struggling
through some issues and it is interesting to watch. Secondly, I thought
that after some observation I might talk to them and present truth to them.
All this present encounter has done is fuel sales of Greg Boyd's book
"Oneness Pentecostals and Trinity" which contains some very weak trintarian
arguments designed to shoot down some of our weak Oneness arguments. (Yes
some of the reasons we give are weak) Besides that all that I have seen is
that a number of the AOG'ers have asked forgiveness for causing offense,
thus taking the moral high ground.

We are the called out and redeemed. Yet we are getting hit out of the park.
It is time to bring in some fresh material. (Do we really think that these
people have not been confronted at least once before with Bernard and
Magee's arguments?) Let's try harder to learn what type of people we are
dealing with and then speak to them. 

If Bro. Sterrett had tried the same techniques in a physical missions
encounter he might of ended up with a spear stuck where it really might
hurt!

Maybe I'm being too harsh, I just don't think we should rejoice because I
don't think we have done anything to rejoice about.

PS does anyone know anything about a fellow named Matthew Shaw? He has done
a fair job of presenting some points in favor of Oneness and I'm just
wondering about him.


>C.Sterrett
>______________________
>One God, Apostolic
>Tongue Talking, Amen 
>Shoutin, driver of a
>red ford escort pony
>______________________

Just one last thought, but I think this One God...etc, etc cliche has
gotten overused and should be put to bed. It focuses too much on us and not
the one we are to focus on.

Frank Vandenburg