The Apostolic Dialogue With Catholics 3
Dunemus@aol.com (Dunemus@aol.com)
Sat, 24 Oct 1998 22:32:13 EDT
In a message dated 10/22/98 4:29:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
stevstar@prodigy.net writes:
<< Apostolics normally assign all other
Christians to hell or offer some sort of future dispensation of God's
grace which could account for their salvation. These are very
simplistic answers to a very important questions and they just don't
resonate with me or with a lot of other Apostolics I am in conversation
with. >>
I am one of those that is in accord with you on this issue bro. We
Apostolics like to stay safely nestled in our comfort zones. That's because
it is easier to win the souls of those who have no religious affiliations. We
like to have it the easy way. So we refuse to deal with the religious minded
person. That person that has grown up and been faithful in their own
religious denomination is the one we don't like to deal with.
But this is so different from the ways of the Apostles. The first place
that Paul would go was to the religious people in his day. He always went to
the synagogue where all those religious minded people were. And the bible
says that he disputed with them there. And that's before he took the message
to the streets. He actually took the time to try to persuade them of the
truth. He even used their own understanding of the bible to try and show them
the Apostolic truth.
I believe in this saying, which I stole from Elder Johnny James (the
Walking Bible). "How can you dig a rat out of a hole, unless you know which
hole he went into." That is to say, If you are aware of another groups
beliefs, you are able to tell where you agree and where you disagree. From
that point you have several strategies. You can use your points of agreement
to help substantiate your truth. And you can also show them the fallacy and
the error of those things which are not correct.
The bible says to go into all the world. And that includes the religious
world.
God Bless you all in Jesus name,
Marlon