Scott Bushey
Puritanboard Commissioner
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Amo 9:9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
In light of the last few days, I am submitting the short post in response to the obvious reactions:
The PB's goal is to glorify Christ. There are different opinions on how this is to be accomplished. It is not to be argued that Pastor Ways critique is close to accurate.
He writes:
Not everyone will be edified here. It is the plain fact. We are not ecumentical, we are biblical. There are disciples whom will reject even Gods word. I have been a member of many a discussion list. If the list is not edifying, I depart. It is not a matter of the owners catering to everyone's needs. It will not happen this side of Heaven; unfortunate, but true!
This is a matter of opinion. I can elbow up to Phillips concern however. This is important. None of us are intentionally doing this. The fact that more will be harmed than blessed, I disagree.
Certain realities have come to light, i.e. "This is not a church" & "The discussions are terribly heated". The obvious division that has taken place in the paedo/credo camps are unfortunate. It is true, God has saw fit to leave it this way. Are the divisions of this sort needful or relevant; I believe so. What is the believer to do, die on the specific hill? Surely not. There are more important things that need improving upon. There are widows and orphans whom need our time, hungry peole whom need food and clothing. The sickly need balm. The earthquake in Pakistan is climbing toward 50K; have any of you prayed for them?
As Dr. McMahon has clearly annunciated, the PB is not a church. This has been one of my major gripes and pet peeves over the last year. I have had to deal painfully with some of our dear members because of their lack of physical relationship w/ Christs local body. Their memberships were revoked. The last thing we wanted the responsibility in was replacing the need for a local church. Having said this, the board is a place to come for discussion. Dialoging has always been controversial. It is not the same level of communication that transpires at a traffic light crossing the street. Those conversations are superfiscial at best.
The PB is more of a virtual calculator or lie detector if you will. There are tons of equations to be addressed and the sum total of those equations are many times painful. The devil is a liar, he has been such since the beginning of time and this board is a tool to expose him. This board helps bring truth to our souls.
The other day, Matt mentioned 'growing pains'. Not the show, but the literal physiology that occurs as you grow into your body. Pains in the limbs you get as a kid from growing. I do not recall them! He did; "They were painful!". In the same way, this board can be painful. It provokes growing pains. Some of the members are like me, we don't feel them, others are like Matt. Whatever the case, the stretching is needful.
Could you imaging a chess game where the participants said absolutely nothing to each other? Imagine it being a rule; no talking at all. No emotions. Like poker. Put on your best chess face. It would ruin the game. The game is a communicative tool. It brings people together. Does it ever get heated? Absolutely.
Like this board, dialoging will always bring heat. Some will get upset. Some may even leave. Our responsibility as believers is to love each other, forgive, forget, and to pray one for the other. How many of you pray for this board?
The term "Keyboard Theologians" have been tossed to and fro. I guess that would include me as I have no formal training less the Holy Spirit of promise. I thank God for all those young disciples whom love the Lord to the degree they are obsessed with the word of God. Do not be offended that you have been labeled as such. I exhort you as the apostle; be quick to listen, slow to speak. Don't let anyone find a reason to look down on you and use your age as an excuse! Acknowledge that you have much to learn and be humble in it. It does not weaken your armour! Remember David and Goliath.
It is obvious God is sifting us. How shall we respond? We will consider the obvious reactions. I guess some will cry in pain, others will be much like myself, neutral. It is more of mental anguish on my end. Yet, I am confident God is and will be glorified; and this is ultimately our goal, is it not?
The PB is the minutia; never forget that. Life is but a vapor, here one minute, gone the next. In no time at all, we will all be dead and with our King. No one will ever remember that the PB ever even existed or Cage Fighting for that matter.
For His glory,
SPB
[Edited on 10-17-2005 by Scott Bushey]
Amo 9:9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
Isa 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
In light of the last few days, I am submitting the short post in response to the obvious reactions:
The PB's goal is to glorify Christ. There are different opinions on how this is to be accomplished. It is not to be argued that Pastor Ways critique is close to accurate.
He writes:
Not everyone will be edified here. It is the plain fact. We are not ecumentical, we are biblical. There are disciples whom will reject even Gods word. I have been a member of many a discussion list. If the list is not edifying, I depart. It is not a matter of the owners catering to everyone's needs. It will not happen this side of Heaven; unfortunate, but true!
This is a matter of opinion. I can elbow up to Phillips concern however. This is important. None of us are intentionally doing this. The fact that more will be harmed than blessed, I disagree.
Certain realities have come to light, i.e. "This is not a church" & "The discussions are terribly heated". The obvious division that has taken place in the paedo/credo camps are unfortunate. It is true, God has saw fit to leave it this way. Are the divisions of this sort needful or relevant; I believe so. What is the believer to do, die on the specific hill? Surely not. There are more important things that need improving upon. There are widows and orphans whom need our time, hungry peole whom need food and clothing. The sickly need balm. The earthquake in Pakistan is climbing toward 50K; have any of you prayed for them?
As Dr. McMahon has clearly annunciated, the PB is not a church. This has been one of my major gripes and pet peeves over the last year. I have had to deal painfully with some of our dear members because of their lack of physical relationship w/ Christs local body. Their memberships were revoked. The last thing we wanted the responsibility in was replacing the need for a local church. Having said this, the board is a place to come for discussion. Dialoging has always been controversial. It is not the same level of communication that transpires at a traffic light crossing the street. Those conversations are superfiscial at best.
The PB is more of a virtual calculator or lie detector if you will. There are tons of equations to be addressed and the sum total of those equations are many times painful. The devil is a liar, he has been such since the beginning of time and this board is a tool to expose him. This board helps bring truth to our souls.
The other day, Matt mentioned 'growing pains'. Not the show, but the literal physiology that occurs as you grow into your body. Pains in the limbs you get as a kid from growing. I do not recall them! He did; "They were painful!". In the same way, this board can be painful. It provokes growing pains. Some of the members are like me, we don't feel them, others are like Matt. Whatever the case, the stretching is needful.
Could you imaging a chess game where the participants said absolutely nothing to each other? Imagine it being a rule; no talking at all. No emotions. Like poker. Put on your best chess face. It would ruin the game. The game is a communicative tool. It brings people together. Does it ever get heated? Absolutely.
Like this board, dialoging will always bring heat. Some will get upset. Some may even leave. Our responsibility as believers is to love each other, forgive, forget, and to pray one for the other. How many of you pray for this board?
The term "Keyboard Theologians" have been tossed to and fro. I guess that would include me as I have no formal training less the Holy Spirit of promise. I thank God for all those young disciples whom love the Lord to the degree they are obsessed with the word of God. Do not be offended that you have been labeled as such. I exhort you as the apostle; be quick to listen, slow to speak. Don't let anyone find a reason to look down on you and use your age as an excuse! Acknowledge that you have much to learn and be humble in it. It does not weaken your armour! Remember David and Goliath.
It is obvious God is sifting us. How shall we respond? We will consider the obvious reactions. I guess some will cry in pain, others will be much like myself, neutral. It is more of mental anguish on my end. Yet, I am confident God is and will be glorified; and this is ultimately our goal, is it not?
The PB is the minutia; never forget that. Life is but a vapor, here one minute, gone the next. In no time at all, we will all be dead and with our King. No one will ever remember that the PB ever even existed or Cage Fighting for that matter.
For His glory,
SPB
[Edited on 10-17-2005 by Scott Bushey]
