No worries! I like to give these things some thought, I find the forum great for that.I said the verse, Mark, not the passage, LoL. We disagree. Let it go.
In this case, I was exploring the context more, and parallel passages, and posting what I see. I know we disagree, and I think you may be right, that it's more personal matters that point us differently. But I don't think it's about being "charismatic" or not. That just turns into a distraction.
Like what, I don't think God works through His Spirit, in all sorts of ways, and with power? Yeah, other people throw that at me, but it's got nothing to do with this. Just because I don't broadcast my stories, well, I'm not into self-display.
Whenever you want to drop out, feel free!
But meanwhile, I've come to be very interested in continuing to explore this topic, about the "fires of God", and about "How He empowers us and purifies us". I think that sometimes two different ideas in the Bible become improperly blended together, which I feel can fail to do justice to either.
Fiery and fire are compared to our Christian experience, and I've become interested in looking through those passages. I just don't happen to think that this baptism by fire is a second baptism Christians receive, or not. I don't see that in the Bible, I see the most tenuous offerings of evidence from those who do. I've gotten interested in exploring this again.
You don't need to feel you have to respond to my posts, like I've said, this is firstly a good way for me to think things through.
I don't suppose that line of questioning will get a positive reaction, and at this point I sometimes get remarks about how "arrogant" or "prideful" I am to say such a thing (not that it's the end of the world. I've gotten used to it).
And why assume a negative reaction? I'm doing the same . . . following the conversation out. This doesn't have to become personal, or about some critique of views not being discussed.
The fire of God needs to be welcomed and sought after by the church through prayer and fasting, not explained away through interpretations that obscure its importance.
This is primarily for effect:
I think that we need to have a correct understanding of what God does, and participate in it, and not expain away the true Christian practice in favor of our love of drama and pageantry.
What I'm saying is we can make those sorts of comments either way, but why bother?
So I get it . . . you feel I'm trying to "explain away" something you feel important, and I don't understand. That's your opinion of my goal, OK, you've shared it, can we move on from that stuff?
You say the fire of God needs to be welcomed, I'm saying we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I think that's what the Bible says.
Is it because I don't call it "fire" that this seems somehow "less than" to you? The transformation by the Holy Spirit through the renewing of our minds? Because that's how the Bible talks about our changing for the better.
But like I said, I'm interested in looking at those fire passages . . . I'm looking forward to it. And that's the topic, or so I thought.
Much love!