GOD'S Voice, Word, Sovereignty, and The Chosen?

This whole Christian dialogue thing on X is messy.  Who knew? ​

Christian News gleaned on X today... (maybe)

1. Mary is the Catholic golden calf (actual post on X)
2. The Chosen is HERESY (ongoing debate... see below)
3. Jonathan Roumie is not the real Jesus... HE IS AN ACTOR! and even worse... a CATHOLIC
4. The Dead Sea Scrolls authenticity are doubted as they were not recorded in KJV
5. Mankind is PREDESTINED to have FREE WILL
6. Adam and Eve supported Climate change Concerns

These and other equally 'important' topics will be decided today on X.

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We 'Christians' are too often insulting, indignant, and... wielding a few other fruits of the spirit when engaging in 'Christian X dialogue.'  A 280-character limit will not hold our deeply spiritual digs... I mean points.

For example, The Chosen is a 'drama' depicting Jesus as the story unfolds in the Gospels.  It is truly a lightning rod among the Christian X brethren. Note: The Chosen is a dramatic depiction of Jesus's life containing conversations that may have occurred in and around the Gospel verses. This is problematic for some who believe the presentation of the true Gospel message is compromised. 

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Hmmm, different believers believe differently when interpreting God's Word?  I am AGAHST, but then realize we (the church) Christians have soooo many differences in interpreting most ANY scripture like... ALL THE TIME. Why else are there many blessed Protestant Denominations?

I always am amused by us 'good' protestants judging those 'bad' Catholics so harshly when we are divided into one bazillion (I counted) denominations, calling each out for our protestant differences as heresy. 

We can't just disagree; it seems imperative that someone is declared a heretic.  That's how we WIN... I guess? But at least in the end we do all then unite and declare Catholicism a cult.  <insert head slap here>

​LOL, we are lucky God does not strike us down with lightning on the spot.

​Also, regarding The Chosen, there is a scene in the upcoming season where Jesus counsels Judas to guard his heart lest he fall into temptation. This is not in the Gospels, but maybe it could have been one of those many conversations with Jesus in between the scripture verses.  Maybe, maybe not. Well, this stirred the anti-Chosen mob again saying it was not scriptural and that Judas was a devil chosen by God to betray Jesus, and was the vessel formed by God from the beginning for destruction (see Romans 9) as the potter (God) can do what He wants with the clay (Judas). STINKS TO BE JUDAS.

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These points would have to first take into account if I am a Calvinist believing in predestination.  Well, I am not, and do not. I respect and appreciate my Calvinist friends, but disagree strongly.

I believe God knows every decision that any of us will make at every moment, but He does not predestine any of us to Hell.  I do not believe the above Romans 9 passage stands alone, especially when you consider John 3:16 where whoever believes will not perish.  THIS topic is more complex than man can comprehend the will of God. 

​I believe He knows all that will happen, and all the decisions we make to obey Him or not, yet His Spirit speaks to us no matter our ultimate decision. We should obey, but that is our free will choice. That we deny His Spirit's promptings does not mean He stops speaking to us.

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I believe the same is true with Judas. Jesus foreknew Judas would betray Him, and I believe it broke His heart, but that does not mean His spirit was thinking... well, Judas is lost anyway, so there's no sense wasting my words on him anymore. The Gospels obviously do not include every conversation Jesus had with His disciples, so it is unfair to judge a drama like The Chosen for doing an admirable job of considering what these conversations might have been. IMO

​So, back to the big picture of 'Christian X Wrestlemania, ' our God, His truth, word, grace, and love are bigger than any Protestant (remember one billion denominations) or Catholic box. We are to seek His truth in prayer, in His word, and in His church but know that even with the Holy Spirit, we are water-wing theologians dog-paddling in God's ocean.

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And... I believe the Gospels and the rest of the Bible are more than a rote script of God's blueprint from the beginning to Jesus's Return. I see God's Words as the living script of God's perfect plan, considering every possible event and wild-haired scheme of man. I see that there is NOTHING we can do to compromise His sovereignty. His Rules, Grace, Love, and even Wrath are all perfectly blended in this life, and this is truly amazing.

So peace be still. Remember to use your delete key as the Spirit prompts you.  Some of our golden nuggets of truth are better left in our heads.

Blessings to everyone today. Our differences are not often a bad thing.  We are one body of many parts, but I pray we do a little less mean spirited judgements of each other under the guise of being insightful and direct.

​Jeff (right some of the time) Larson

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