The Church of Jesus Christ

How big is the church? Where is the church? How do you leave the church? What constitutes a church? When did you leave the church? If I'm "pastor" of the household, as you say, isn't that a church?

I didn't say anything to Dave or Brit, nor did they say anything to me. I don't know whether they're having sex or not. Do you know if Dave Birimcombe doesn't care whether God is real or not? Did you ask him? Do you know if they're having sex? What are Brittany's views of Jesus?

As for love being "fleeting" I would be interested in your definition. When you say Brit loves him and he loves her I don't see anyway that you could not be trivializing it. Love is all that is not fleeting. God is love. Of course if you mean their love is some kind of carnal whim I would get your context. Perhaps biblical references would be useful. Your discussion of marriage never references any scripture. (and frankly, not much else either) This only serves to confirm my previous statements that it's typically used by the church to screw people over.

I don't tell homosexuals they're going to hell. Never have. They are, but I wouldn't tell them that. Not much record of Jesus doing that either. He testified of his kingdom and what it's made up of. If you wanted to take part he welcomes you with open arms, if you don't he waves goodbye with a smile and a wave. He ain't heavy, unless you're a Pharisee or Sadducee and in his face. Then he has a few things to say.

If you think telling people they're going to hell is the way to deepen their spiritual walk and "bring them back to Christ" then you're mistaken. For starters, you don't know they're going to hell and seconders, tell it to people on street corners for a few years before you take the wide and easy road of your family. I've done it, but I don't see any evidence that you have.

The hard and narrow way is to live a life that others want to have. Not the same life, just the same spirit. Pull people to you by Jesus being raised up in your soul and others seeing him shine through. That's what I learned in my early walk with Christ and through my spiritual mentor.

As for how unique my gospel is or isn't, you haven't said anything that would bring me to question it. Fundamentally it's based on an interpretation of Romans Chapter 7 that is no longer prevalent. From that comes a relighting of all of the Bible and all of the world. Hugh White (Wycliffe Principal) said that revivals always coincide with a reiteration of freedom from the law. I think Dave said it best, "no external criteria for lifestyle". From what you're saying, we don't agree on that interpretation. Not a problem, but it permeates all of my theology and is the key reality upon which my gospel and therefore my lifestyle is based. And it's not just a bunch of words, it a way of looking at reality, not my way, God's way.

The "whole Bible" is about individuals and they're redemption through Christ. When they're in a group of TWO or more, he is their in their midst. And if you don't think it's about individuals, then I suggest you're making it into something it's not. Adam, Enoch, Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Peter, John, Stephen ... you know the list. God killed off the entire Israelite Community having become tired of their relentless idolatry. Their constant disobedience and killing of prophets caused him to allow the temple to be destroyed and their land taken from them. The Christian community stayed spiritual while the disciples were around, but that lasted a few decades. The book of Revelations describes how weak many of them were, their lights about to be extinguished.

That's not to say the true body of Christ isn't where it's at. It was/is my life. My life is focussed on bringing that to fruition and me playing my part in God's body on earth. That's where every Christian's life should be focussed. Is there anything else?

How that comes to be, each Christian has to work out. You're admission of talking "under the veil of youthful idealism" and never knowing the purpose God has for me is not convincing. I don't think you think you're idealistic and I think you think you know quite well what God has for me, at least in a general sense. As in all things, time and experience will tell, unless he returns and that's all she wrote.