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NASB | Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. |
Bible Question:
Dear Forum participants….I seek your help. An old friend of mine has been taken in by the Fulun Gong (Fulan Dafa, Falan Gong) movement here in the U.S. and I must find Christian critiques of this movement. (Why are Americans so intrigued by Eastern thought?) For the past few months I have searched the web and have come up empty. I chiefly find articles on Chinese repression of the sect. I should add that I have been to the FG web site and followed its’ links so I pretty much understand what they believe and, like other cults, that they are/will be gods some day. I have read their official guide to an introduction as well as the “masters” pronouncements. They are a crafty bunch!! There is much more of course and perhaps I will have to arrange my own doctrine by doctrine, point by point, response but any help you can provide will be much appreciated. I have only made headway from the Creation perspective. I have tried all the Christian resources I know of and have come up empty. The Americans who join the sect deny Jesus in the main, I suspect, as a refutation of their parents beliefs. Help nip this thing in the bud if you can. God Bless….Jensen |
Bible Answer: Jensen: In my experience, a characteristic of friends (peers over age 50) and of younger people (my children's ages, late teens) who have been enamored of cults (et alia) is a general resistance to INTELLECTUAL responses to their precious discovery of something that SEEMS to validate them as persons. I quite agree with Emmaus that it's the same old temptation OF THE CRAFTY AND WILEY SERPENT. What also comes to mind is Matthew 28:19-20 -- 19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." In my journey, it has been given to me to understand more fully what Yeshua meant when he said that He came to fulfill the Law. remember in the "Shema" (The "Hear, Oh Israel" prayer from Deuteronomy 6, Love God with all your heart...and your neighbor...) is the summary of what God's people have been asked to do. Sometimes, in our fervor to evangelize, to set others straight, to "save," etc., we forget that before anyone can learn from anyone else they first have to give the teacher attention. To whom do we give our attention? More to people who are loving that to those who are correct, I'd wager. And that takes time because it is a process (after all God could have given the Israelites a tidy argument...but didn't...just let them wander around for 40 years). Readiness is all in teaching. Find the teachable moment. It takes a lot of loving to get there. Also, another passage that comes to mind is Psalm 25, particularly... 5 "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, THY TENDER MERCIES AND THY LOVING KINDNESSES; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies...." Blessings and patience. Once, when Mother Teresa was asked about the futility of her work, she replied something to the effect that success was not what we are called to, just the work. It's hard work to love, and we may never see the results. But it's all that we've been really asked to do. (Yes, I know, someone is going to ask, "Well, just what is love, anyway?") |