Fighting back tears while I try to understand how certain theological doctrines become such divisive issues between people who’ve been friends…
How is it that the “iron that sharpens iron” often does not sharpen, but cuts to the quick?
How I wish I’d never responded to an invitation to comment on a friend’s blog! I thought I formulated my comments with care and with love. The discussion began regarding the doctrine of election … that some are chosen to spend eternity with God and others have no hope.
Frankly, when I read John 3:16 in my Bible, it plainly says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
WHOSOEVER … not “those over there, but not these over here” … it is a scripture FULL of hope for all who believe in Him. For this same reason, I do not believe that one denomination has a corner market on eternity. I believe that there are Christ-followers in every denomination – people who have been convicted of their need for a savior and have trusted God with their confession and desire to follow Him.
I know that there are scriptures that seem to contradict each other. I know that there are scriptures that refer to God’s chosen. I can’t help but interpret that to mean those who come to God are chosen by Him because they are obedient in their repentance.
Maybe I am wrong and someday God will tell me that I didn’t quite understand that the way He meant it. But I don’t think it’s a “deal breaker” for my salvation. I said as much in my comments, that it would be wonderful to some day sit together at the foot of His throne and learn the intricacies of the Word with a renewed mind that can grasp Truth without the mind fog that we’re saddled with here on this earth.
Sadly, my friend sternly rebuked me with such harshness that I do not feel the freedom to offer my thoughts any longer. I mourn the loss of a friendship without ties that bind the exchange of honest, heartfelt though.
My heart aches.
A Scribbler & A Shutterbug 
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
I am so sorry that your friend has decided to treat you this way. Praying for your spirit.
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Thank you, Tim. I am seeing more and more of this kind of dissension between believers over theological issues that I do not believe, in my limited understanding, affect the gift of salvation. Not to minimize the importance of the scriptures that teach us how to worship God and how to live our lives, but when the rubber meets the road, the ultimate importance is Christ’s sacrifice for us, and our decision to follow Him with repentant hearts, or not follow Him in our hard-headed determination to rebel. Seems to me, these issues are a distraction from the important commission, which is to share the Gospel. And yet, so many of us are busy trying to prove the other wrong (or ourselves right) with regard to these issues.
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my husband and I have been talking a lot lately about issues like these. only God knows all. why in our pride would we treat each other badly over differences in interpretation? it is so hurtful. i truly don’t believe it is what God hopes for us. and i am sorry your friend was, in technical terms, a poo poo head. 😦 chin up.
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Thanks, Pamela – I appreciate that and have to confess your technical term made me chuckle. 😉 I truly do believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and there is no way to the Father but through Him … but I just can’t wrap my brain (or heart) around this theological thought that God doesn’t somehow present an opportunity to each and every person through some means, and that each person has to make a choice. I mean, Paul had his Damascus Road experience, right? No one knocked on his door with a tract proclaiming “The end is near!”
Anyway, I’m discovering that many of the people I’ve met recently who do believe as this gal does tend to intellectualize their experience with God – they MUST have an explanation for each and every verse in the Bible. Not discounting study of the Bible, because it IS important, but don’t you think that some things are just beyond our puny human brains to comprehend and must be taken on that incredibly difficult to grasp process called FAITH? That’s what I believe, anyway.
Thanks for stopping by and making me laugh – it was greatly needed – I appreciate it! 🙂
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