Well, shades of the past. I received some comments that I will just make a quick observation about. I chose not to post them b/c the person that did is not interested in dialogue, but nonsense. Solomon tells us that there are times to answer a fool according to his folly and there are times not to. Equally, Jesus instructs us to be wise as serpents and harmless and doves. So, I first want to invite this person to church or any church for that matter and hear the Gospel, because it is the power of God unto salvation–I believe that. I believe that the Holy Spirit will give faith to people by the preaching of the Gospel, because that is indeed what the Bible teaches.
Now on two counts, to the author of my mediated comments, the only reason I or anyone believes the Christian religion to be the Truth is precisely because God who is Truth itself convinces us; to reason otherwise is to reason like Eve and attempt to determine truth for ourselves, when the Bible instructs us to trust in the Lord and not our own understanding (Prov. 3.3ff). To follow the cultural mantra that says, “Whatever I believe is true for me” is nonsense; I may passionately believe the earth to be flat but I am wrong; Truth be its very nature is exclusive and intolerant.
Secondly, I believe Presbyterianism to be synonymous with the system of doctrine taught in the Bible with it’s understanding of human salvation, Biblical authority, God’s absolute sovereignty, human evil, church government, the sacraments, etc. Indeed, I would not have become a presbyterian minister if I did not believe these things to be the truth and the author of my comments believes I am off my rocker. I can’t convince them of my beliefs any more than I can put the sun in a jar. I have to trust the agency of the Holy Spirit.
Now before our author gets off the hook, the comment was made regarding me believing myself to be superior to others. I don’t deny the idolatry in my own heart; but rest assured, anyone who commits to a particular belief as noted above necessarily assumes a stance of superiority to others, even if that stance is philosophical skepticism or nihilism. Whoever holds those beliefs indeed believes others, like myself to be WRONG. Hence the reason for my author’s sarcasm in the comments and the tone of the rhetoric.
I am under orders to pray for this person and I trust them into the care of Almighty God, but I again implore them to repent and believe the Gospel that Jesus died to save sinners from the penalty of their sins, which is the sure wrath of God–see Romans 1:18-32.
