In Reply to: Answer to Ray's 3 Questions posted by Kathy on June 30, 2003 at 19:42:51:
well, i certainly don't have to wonder how you feel about the fam.! ha! but that wasn't the question. it had to do w/ motives for joining and the question of God's sovereignity in the matter... ask for bread and get a stone.. that sort of thing. i have thought long and hard about it , discussed it w/ theologians, etc. , and still find it somewhat mysterious. i do trust that HE knows.. and someday we will too. but various perspectives can shed new light sometimes. since you touched on it, i asked. tx for your answer, (tho it wasn't the question.)
glad you have found fellowship. we have to some extent. don't think i am hanging on to "cultish beliefs"..( tho i may like beatles music a tad too much)...i do see the problem of people connecting to be somewhat more complex than that. like u2 says .."still haven't found what i'm looking for.." (actually, i'm meeting a fair number of believers w/o cult baggage who feel the same way!)
on the prayer and authority issue, i read a great little book some time ago (that i loaned out and never got back) called "the pinnacle of the temple" i think. it was written by an assembly of God pastor who had at onetime held to the sort of "command thou me" type thing. thru years of ministry he saw many healings, but many more tragic deaths, children, etc.after heartwrenching prayers of deeply Godly people. he began to see the terrible guilt and condemnation that parents and loved ones struggled w/ , despite incredible love and faith, when the theology they were fed taught that it always God's will to heal, and that it was a failure of their faith if God did not heal. this is the downside of not considering the losses. the bible also speaks of weeping w/ those who weep" and "blessed are those that mourn." i believe in miracles, tho haven't witnessed too many major miracles of healing, i do believe that God can and does heal. but not always. or even usually. but i have witnessed his comfort to the mourning. and it is powerful, and miraculous as well.but still, i believe in praying for the sick.i figure praying is up to us.. healing is up to God.
anyway, tx for trying. peace.