Subject: Seeing things? |
Bible Note: Hello, Val :: Yes, in my homespun attempt at humor, I was indeed saying the substance of this woman's "vision" or whatever it was is not to be taken seriously. This is not to say, however, that your friendship with her should be cast aside. There come times when the role of a true friend is to disagree agreeably and if necessary to make every effort to steer that friend to a third party, as it were, for additional counsel. In this case it could well be a minister who is not only full of wisdom and experience but who himself holds fast to sound doctrine which clearly includes and embraces the sufficiency of Scripture. Val, you come across on the Forum as a gracious and tactful person. By all means use your gifts of grace and tact in dealing with your friend, but at the same time be diligent not to compromise the whole truth out of fear of offending, even though it may be painful for both the herald and the hearer. But I would suggest that you do symbolically what I would do literally, and that is to turn your hearing aids off when she starts to recount her "visionary experience." ...... You have received some fine responses (mine excluded) to your concern. Doc gave an especially excellent example right out of God's word. You might try using it. It would be a telling test of whether this person favors objective, scripturally sound doctrine over her own private dream-world of experiential "reality." I pray that God will make a way for you to deal wisely and within His will with your friend and that she in turn will not turn a deaf ear to the truth. --Hank |