Family

[Paige]

Well, what I have known was coming, came this weekend. Please pray for us as we attempt to get through a difficult time in our extended family. The Hell card has been played, and the threat of ending up there for eternity unless we return to the foundational beliefs (their foundations, mind you) has been put before us.

Paige

[Me Again]

Paige, just trying to lighten the load, but next time they come over, make sure that "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC is playing. The Bose Stereo makes it so that everyone in the neighborhood can hear it.

Sorry for not being serious, but I was part of the Church of Christ for a year or so, and told everyone of my Christian relatives that they were going to hell for not being CofC. Obviously, due to my self-righteousness, I was the one living in hell already.

[Amie]

Obviously, due to my self-righteousness, I was the one living in hell already.

I can relate to that!!

Paige,

When I confronted a "Christian Scientist" friend of mine (not to be confused with "Scientology") with my concern about his going to hell, he asked me to show him in the bible where it says that he was going. That opened the doors for some great discussion -- actually, the deeper the questions took me, the more frustrated with my own stuff I became. He told me that "IF" I could show him this stuff was true biblically, that he would worry then. I never could.

Am praying for all that God wills for this,

Amie

[Barry]

One possible approach:


So I can appreciate your concern for us. I know just where you are coming from, "been there done that". A few years ago I might have at least been thinking the same thing to you if the roles were reversed.

Sample points and questions:

Points:
I'm really not trying to change your mind or convert you to this "fulfilled" way of seeing the scriptures, but if you have not looked at this in detail then of course it is going to look strange or different from your perspective.

Questions:
Why is it so important to others that I believe that some are eternally lost?
Is that a Heresy?

Church of Christ Questions:
Since each "Church" is to remain autonomous:
How can we duplicate first century Christianity without living apostles?
"Evangelists" such as Timothy and Titus appointed the "elders" "in every church" and the evangelists worked under the direct control of the living Apostles.

In short there is not scriptural organizational precedent for the way in which the "church of Christ" functions, organizationally.
It is therefore a "denomination". It simply uses "pier pressure" instead of a central organization to maintain doctrine.

Just a few points, some are of course a bit "direct" but could be useful in some instances. Give me a shout Paige if ya want.

Barry

[Paige]

Thanks all.

One thing that happened was that the parties involved began to study "preterism" by reading the arguments against it, in order to battle it. This is tantamount to learning about Luther's 95 Thesis by reading Pope Leo X's 41 arguments against it, and leaving it at that.

A letter of response was sent. No debate was entertained in that letter. There is no wish on our part to convert them or prove anything, just a desire to maintain relationship in love.

Praying that this will settle the matter...

Paige

[davo]

Hmm… "family" it's always a touchy one. Keep doing as do well Paige – talk up the grace of God.

[David Timm]

Paige, I just want to let you know that I'll say a prayer for you and your family. Having been in similar situations before, I know communication is difficult because almost everyone has their defenses up. I think you are doing the right thing by just focusing on love and the relationships.

David