hawker (03/26/83)
I started this letter based on the article supplied by Geo Swan, and I direct my first paragraph especialy to him: Geo: I must admit, unfortunately, in many respects we Christians are on the intolerant side. Part of the reason I am replying (and addressing this to you directly) is to alleviate, if I may, your anxiety and apparent disgust. The apostle Paul told us in his letters to become imitators of him just as he was an imitator of Christ Jesus. This is not a very easy thing to do, and I apologize (at least for myself) if overzealousness gets under your skin. The problem is basically as follows: Do we take the Bible literally or not? For the most part, we have to, otherwise we are inserting private interpretations concerning God's Word, which both Peter and Paul warned us against. If we insist upon our own meanings rather than diligently searching the Scrip- tures, examining the context, and cross checking one passage with others (this is a lengthy process), then we will very easy take something out of context and mislead others. Now, not everything has a "literal" interpretation. Some of the text and illustrations, particularly those of the parables and prophecies, were deliberately difficult-to-understand illus- trations: this was to hide the details until the correct time. But with study, usually by someone who has made many years of effort, most of these have been deciphered and we can watch and have watched their fulfillment (for example, Matthew 24-25, Luke 21, and Mark 13 are happening right now). As for us "overzealous" Christians (I use the word advisedly), we really do not have a cause to be unduly proud. If we read Romans 11 *very* carefully, Paul makes it extraordi- narily clear that *we* are saved by accident. The only reason Gentiles are converted to serving the one and true God is because the House of Israel (not Judah: it currently resides in the Middle East) had to be made jealous over their loss of favor from the Almighty (see Hosea, Isaiah 54 and 62, Ezekiel 37, and take short jaunts through Ezra and Nehemiah). So you see, Christians are simply *another* calling by the Father: the first was the Chosen People who will -never- be forsaken, then the Christians, then others that are identified in Revelation. The problems the Chosen People have to deal with, however, is that at the end of the Church age (the "rap- ture", 1 Thes 4:16-18), the Christians leave but the Chosen Peo- ple are still here during the Great Tribulation. (FLAME ON). Please, Ladies and Gentlemen, I did not provide this information to give any of us extra ammunition against the other side: I would hope our principles of discussion are above such nonsense. If you subscribe to the faith of Abraham, then the Almighty will look out for you; if you subscribe to the Christian faith, then the Almighty will also look out for you; if you subscribe to neither, then you still fit in the Almighty's scheme somewhere, whether you'll like the conse- quences or not. I remind all it *is* necessary to preach, most especially to the House of Israel among us: see Matthew 28:19- 20. We should, however, make such practices in accord with Paul's advice, "to become all things to all people, that some of them might get saved". Being even slightly hostile won't cut it. (FLAME OFF). Please direct anti-flames to: U.S. Mail (will be answered): Thomas S. (Tom) Hawker P.O. Box 3709 Gardena, CA 90247 Electronic Mail: ...!{decvax,ucbvax}!trw-unix!trwspp!hawker