Rethinking and Repentence
I was just reading back over many of my posts. It has been a long time since I have visited this blog. I am retired from pastoring now and not involved in any active ministry.
I came across a post I made about being saved by Christ and not our theology. One comment by a young man named Kelly Powers caught my eye. In his comment he called me out for hypocrisy in the way I treated him in our conversations in an online chat area where we would debate theology. In earlier times, I would have brushed his comments off. But I am older and not much of a warrior for Calvinism anymore. I have new battles now. But Mr. Powers is right. I can only hope someday this blog post will reach him and he can see me say "I am sorry."
I still think Calvinism is the highest theological position. And if it is true that right belief leads to right living, then a Calvinist should come closest to doing it right. In my dealings with Kelly Powers, I did not do it right and for that I do owe him an apology.
Kelly, I am sorry. I have mistreated you and when you would say things in certain ways I could find ways to use the way you said them to make you sound as though you were going beyond what you were saying. Yes, I did that. I am sorry for that too. Mostly though, I am sorry about this... while I saw you as an opponent and (certainly) not a Calvinist or Reformed, I never doubted you were a Christian. And I did not treat you like one. And for that, I am most sorry.
I pray sir, that somehow, by God's grace, you will see this and that, if we should cross paths again, we might meet each other in a more Christian demeanor. Until that day, be well.
John
I came across a post I made about being saved by Christ and not our theology. One comment by a young man named Kelly Powers caught my eye. In his comment he called me out for hypocrisy in the way I treated him in our conversations in an online chat area where we would debate theology. In earlier times, I would have brushed his comments off. But I am older and not much of a warrior for Calvinism anymore. I have new battles now. But Mr. Powers is right. I can only hope someday this blog post will reach him and he can see me say "I am sorry."
I still think Calvinism is the highest theological position. And if it is true that right belief leads to right living, then a Calvinist should come closest to doing it right. In my dealings with Kelly Powers, I did not do it right and for that I do owe him an apology.
Kelly, I am sorry. I have mistreated you and when you would say things in certain ways I could find ways to use the way you said them to make you sound as though you were going beyond what you were saying. Yes, I did that. I am sorry for that too. Mostly though, I am sorry about this... while I saw you as an opponent and (certainly) not a Calvinist or Reformed, I never doubted you were a Christian. And I did not treat you like one. And for that, I am most sorry.
I pray sir, that somehow, by God's grace, you will see this and that, if we should cross paths again, we might meet each other in a more Christian demeanor. Until that day, be well.
John
posted by John | Wednesday, November 25, 2015
2 Comments:
I am glad to see you back, Dr. Sneed and look forward to reading more of your posts. You and I also had our share of tussles in the old Beseen Theology Chat and like you, I apologize for any time I may have crossed the lines of Christian civility. In spite of our disagreements, I learned much from you. I have actually begun reading a number of Reformed authors and have gleaned many important insights from them. I especially thank you for introducing me to the writings of Spurgeon, which have given me a whole knew set of "glasses" through which I read the Bible.
Thank you for your service to the Kingdom, and i pray you enjoy your retirement. I will subscribe to your feed, and I very much look forward to reading your future posts.
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