Posted by Skep on April 12, 2011 at 21:00:22
In Reply to: Re: freedom posted by long time exer on April 12, 2011 at 12:18:27:
"We trusted them, we made a mistake, but we were not sinning against the Holy Spirit. They were."
LTE explained it better than my meager answer to CB. LTE understands that I am talking not about being clean and absolutely sinless. I see us as having part protecting TF and even guilt of promoting its beliefs. But it is a different type of sin and of guilt. According to the Scriptures, it is of the type that can be forgiven.
But there is the other type of sin, the one against the Holy Spirit, which cannot be forgiven and for which "they" will be judged by God himself. Jesus already set a standard in Math 18, Luke 17, Mark 9.
CB asks who are these "they"? LTE explains it well. "They" are those who knowingly caused pain, maimed and hurt others, abusing their power for gain of gold, silver, power, or just pleasure. The key words in "knowingly".
And the evidence spills over from that past into the present, even as "they" claim and publish around the world their false innocence, repentance and change. The evidence is their inability of seeing, or recognizing the truth, of "having love for the truth", as the verse says. Their words condemn them. Those are the "they".
Obviously, by definition, many of us, ex members are not "they". Not because we are superior but because are deeds were different, it turned out that our heart was different. Our Father had mercy on us. May He have mercy on them.