The Visitor wrote:
“Sure there wasn't. The entire bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Every verse is a peice of His life, How His Spirit lived out through people down through the ages and how God reacted and dealt with the people. It was all for our example played out on the canvass of time... in types and shadows which as we get closer to the source, comes more into focus.”
I have no doubt in my mind but that you are sincere. So, let me start with that.
THE VISITOR:
"If it were a religion or some creed organized by men I would agree, one should not. This is an event that's talking place, not someone's ideas. What I have been saying should be the most important event in history, which the entire christian church world has been looking forward to, for the last 2000 years. The trouble is they are missing it just as the scriptures said they would. I have been talking about the second coming of Christ, and even if I had only been joking someone should have had some kind of responce to it. But there is nothing, no interest left in the people of any kind, either they don't believe in God and wern't looking, or they believe some church sponcered idea of what 'should' happen."
There are many thoughts mixed in the above paragraph, and some frustration is evident. It is difficult when one is convinced that he has a good message, and presents it with good intentions, only to have it seemingly disrespected. But we realize—do we not, that how people react to us says more about them than it does about us.
To give some proof of this, just consider someone who has just fallen in love. That one now loves everybody, and will tolerate almost anything, even parents! But, let that love go sour, and look out world! This is really a good thing to remember, but even so, this does not leave you out of the picture, does it?
I can tell you, my dear friend, your approach seems overdone and pushy. I really do not want to be insulting, or discourage you in any way, I really mess up sometimes, I am not a know-it-all, nor have I ended my search for truth! Nonetheless, do you have any idea how insulting you might be?
Unlike Christ, we cannot read people’s hearts, and then those people use words to defend themselves just as you use words to try to get your message across. Now, if I were not already familiar with the bible, and with the beliefs of various denominations, I would
not have
any more idea than a goose what you are trying to say. The first few words would probably put me on guard. Therefore, in my mind, I would be hearing you say,
“You are not okay, buddy, but I am going to fix you.”
If you actually said such a thing to someone, he might respond,
“The hell you are!” So, would this mean that he has just rejected God Almighty? Not necessarily, but it could mean that he is rejecting the attitude he is reading into -what appears to be- a lashing with words.
(This is just the way most people feel about being approached in such a manner.)
You indicate that the Church has failed. In many respects, I would completely agree. And yet, I may not agree with you in how she has failed. If I were a betting person, I would make a good wager that you and I see things quite differently, but this is okay with me, truly. Notwithstanding, I know this: whether it is Bible School or some secular college, we seem to come out of them feeling like we know what to do with the world, that is, until the world bites us in the butt a few times. Even more shattering is finding out how little the world cares about how smart we are.
As you seem to quote scriptures freely, one would assume that you are familiar with how to find things in the bible, but it does seem that you have a tendency to kind of run it all together. If someone is familiar and friendly with the scriptures, they can probably keep up with you, insofar as your general point, but to one who is not, it could be a real turn off. Man, do you not realize how some of that might sound to one who is unfamiliar with the scriptures, and especially if he -or she- has animosity toward Christianity and/or religion in general.
A tip:
You might as well give up trying to convince anyone that you are not propagating a religion. The Buddhists also say theirs is not a religion. Although words are important, if they become too important you are going to experience a lot of sticky doors, with all that ‘religious jargon’ that you say is not religion. It sounds like it is, okay? You use terms peculiar to biblical notions, especially King James. Nothing wrong with that if you are talking to people like minded, but obviously you are not, and made the present audience your choice to expound you faith and feelings, which, no matter what you call it sounds like you are pushing religion.
It is always discouraging to be misunderstood, but you are not alone in this. I am convinced that being misunderstood is one thing that makes us think before we speak. What say you?
All this does not necessarily mean that I am right, of course. Did cha’ get that?
Joy and peace. PMT