Hello Mosgood,
Originally posted by mosgood
Seagoon, I'm the poster for this thread that you mention above. While you may think that you are choosen to speak for a God, I do not choose you to speak for me and if you can, so quickly and without facts, come to a conclusion about MY intentions that is so far from the truth then...... well I guess what I'd like to say would be even more judemental as your statement... so I'll pass.
For what its worth Mosgood, by "the Poster" I meant the person who compiled this list of quotes, most of which have been circulated extensively via politically and theologically liberal blogs ("The Daily Kos" for instance)
not the poster of the link on the BB, which I knew was you, and regarding your intentions I assumed that you posted the link because you were "shocked at some of the stuff you read" but believed "that not everything quoted is actually what was said."
I'll stand by my statement regarding the obvious intention of the Compiler of the "quotes" on the webpage.
As far as thinking I was "chosen to speak for God" is concerned, let me address that, because assertions along those lines seem to come up a lot here.
A minister only speaks for God when as part of his ministry he accurately fulfills the commission of God, to whit: "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20) So he is acting as an ambassador when he does in fact, teach that which Christ has commanded in His Word (rather than teaching his opinions, preferences, the traditions and inventions of men, and the like).
The majority of my posts here are not done as part of my ministry (you are manifestly not the flock I am responsible for shepherding and serving) and do not rise to the level of pulpit speech. In many if not most of my posts, I am expressing my opinions as a private citizen, rather than pronouncing "Thus sayeth the Lord." Often, because of the nature of the topic or the questions that I am asked, I do end up commenting on what the bible teaches on a particular subject.
As it so happens, I did not choose to become a minister entirely by myself neither did I ordain myself. Even the process of training for ministry which began with 4 years of post graduate training at Seminary followed by a year long internship, was something I entered into only after much discussion (especially with my wife, who never intended to become a Pastor's wife) consideration, prayer, and being encouraged by other Christians and Pastors to do so. Evangelical Presbyterians believe that a legitimate calling to the Pastorate requires a concurrence of 3 factors:
"The calling of God by the Spirit, through the inward testimony of a good conscience, the manifest approbation of God’s people, and the concurring judgment of a lawful court of the Church." The concurring judgment is rendered only after one has passed a series of ordination trials, which occur after successfully completing seminary. These include written ordination exams, a supervised ministerial internship, a series of interviews and a final oral exam.
Of course, this method is not foolproof, and inevitably some men not actually called or gifted for ministry do end up getting ordained, and I would be foolish to say that couldn't possibly be the case with myself. From an outside perspective only the test of time will prove whether or not that is the case.
But all of that just to say, I did not simply decide one day "I'm Gonna Speak for God" and hang a shingle out front, nor is it something that I do without a great deal of fear and trembling even today, remembering the warning "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." (James 3:1)
- SEAGOON
