PDA

View Full Version : The Great Divide


Pray4Isrel
21st December 2002, 03:27 PM
I wrote this today in hopes to see an outpouring of unity:

The greatest divide in history has been between the Jew and the Gentile.  Books of the Bible have been written to help draw these two peoples together.  Yet there is so much misunderstanding, so much seperation, years of unresolved issues.  This, my friends, is a brilliant scheme of the Enemy Satan.  He grasps as ways to cause a rift, a gap, a divide so huge that neither parties attempt to cross it.  They stare at one another across the chasm and they only see their differences.  They only see years of pain, unforgiveness, cultural unfamiliarities as though the two were indeed enemies.  Occasionally one dares to build a bridge to meet the other halfway.  This does not work because this one is looked upon as an outcast or a weakling or a newfound enemy.  So he gives up and falls down the abyss.  Occasionally a small faction will come together from one side with their solution:  we will change the other side by showing them how wrong they are.  They start hurling scriptural references and shooting arrows of dissention only to see the other side doing the same thing.  The divide grows larger and they find themselves bickering over things for the rest of their lives.  So along comes one who says the only way to bring them together is to get each and evry person's attention.  This man decides that if there was a way for him to build an actual bridge, he would do whatever it would take.  So he realizes that the only way these masses of people on both sides could come together is if he did something so selfless that both sides would be urged to take the first step to make ammends.  So, this man plunges into the depths of the chasm willingly.  The masses stare in to the abyss as the stranger dies.  All is quiet.  All begin to realize how futile their arguments are.  They look across at one another and desire for the first time ever to be with one another in unity, in peace.  Then all of the sudden their eyes are opened and they see before them a bridge!  A massive bridge!  When they look closer, they see the bridge is in the form of a cross and people have already started to cross it!  When they look below they see red blood flowing through the chasm, the blood of a man who died so that all could come together.  So that all could have common salvation, common freedom, common repentance and forgiveness.  And at once all have understood that there is but one important thing in this life, one important event that could draw every man of every race of every walk of life together - the Blood of Yeshua.  So men and women have walked across that bridge in the form of a cross.  They have chosen to put aside all of the past concerns, past pain, past unforgiveness because the one man who took it all upon his shoulders.  

So where are you today?  Have you chosen to build your own bridge apart form the cross?  Have you decided to win the other side over by shooting scriptural arrows?  or have you taken the bridge that was created for you through the death of Yeshua?

Let's start crossing the great divide today by forgiving one another and learning to see the commonality:  Yeshua as our Messiah.

I pray blessings upon each of you as I have come to know you all as friends.

 

TankGirl
21st December 2002, 03:45 PM
Pray - that is beautiful.

I stand in agreement with you.

Peace.

Charles YTK
21st December 2002, 04:02 PM
Good words from the heart of a man who knows Messiah Yeshua.

Thank you Pray4

Charles

Buggyman
21st December 2002, 09:35 PM
I stand in agreement Pray4Isrel!
Amen Sister... Amen!



Buggy ;angel:

Blindfaith
21st December 2002, 09:49 PM
You rock girlfriend!!  I'm so happy I can call you a sister in Christ!!

Way to go :)

dignitized
21st December 2002, 10:11 PM
St francis of Assisi once said: It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. Theology does not save us. the Law does not save us. Christ ALONE saves us by grace alone through faith unto good works :) when we can agree on this, which I hope we can all agree on this, everything else can be worked out through understanding and education. :) I have no issue with people worshiping how they best feel God is worshiped.

I do HOWEVER, take issue with those who condemn others and make the fasle accusation that paganism has corrupted beliefs when there is ample evidence to the contrary.

Pray4Isrel
22nd December 2002, 11:26 PM
Thank you all for your support and agreement on this need for unity!

Higher Truth
23rd December 2002, 12:52 PM
Pray4Israel,

Just picture me standing and applauding you after your expression of your opinion. Job well done.

dignitized
23rd December 2002, 03:57 PM
pray4: theer can only be unity when people stop condemning the otherside. So long as there are people supporting the false claims that the Christian faith is rooted in paganism there will always be a divide.

Pray4Isrel
24th December 2002, 12:10 PM
If no one minds, I'd like to toss this back up to the top as there may be others who could benefit from reading this.

Pray4Isrel
2nd January 2003, 11:00 PM
I wanted to say thank you to everyone... the mood around here has gotten much friendlier.
Thank you for all speaking the truth in love.
The divide will become smaller...

dignitized
3rd January 2003, 07:29 PM
Pray 4 :) so long as there is no condemnation from one side against the other - we'll all be fine :)

Pray4Isrel
3rd January 2003, 11:42 PM
Originally posted by Br. Max
Pray 4 :) so long as there is no condemnation from one side against the other - we'll all be fine :)

This is true. :)

Pray4Isrel
9th January 2003, 05:13 PM
moving this up again in case any new members are interested :)

alcovey
9th January 2003, 07:53 PM
Originally posted by Pray4Isrel
I wrote this today in hopes to see an outpouring of unity:

The greatest divide in history has been between the Jew and the Gentile.  Books of the Bible have been written to help draw these two peoples together.  Yet there is so much misunderstanding, so much seperation, years of unresolved issues. 


Thanks for the inspiration P4I!

Br. Max said:

pray4: there can only be unity when people stop condemning the otherside. So long as there are people supporting the false claims that the Christian faith is rooted in paganism there will always be a divide.

I need to familiarize myself with the interpersonal dynamics on this board before I say too much, but I heartily agree with Br. Max here.

I used to be more involved in the Messianic Movement, but I grew dissatisfied with the constant reinforcement that 'gentile' Christians were 'paganizing Christianity' - especially the Catholics. After investigation, I have come to believe these are false claims and while I thoroughly appreciate the Hebrew perspective, it has often promoted a form of godliness that condemns other Christians.

So, I intend to be a part of that bridge that spans the chasm between Jew and Gentile and Catholic and Protestant.

God Bless,

Allen

NOTso angry-amy
10th January 2003, 06:09 PM
thank you. this thread has really hit home with me today.

i know it seems petty, but i really felt the need to bag the forums here. i havent felt like a part of "the group." it feels like people talk over my head in a rush to show that they know so much. they use big words that i am not familiar with, as if that is going to make them look knowledgeable. not only did i not understand what they were talking about, but i felt like it was a holier-than-thou attitude.... and it is a put off to me.

i am not even sure why i came back to look at the forums today, but this thread is making me re-evaluate. i feel that i could learn somthing from you all, but i am having a hard time paying attention in general, forget about paying attention to ****uff that goes over my head.

i am not even sure if this post is going to make sense to anyone, but oh well..... whatever.

Pray4Isrel
10th January 2003, 07:59 PM
I completely understand. It can be overwhelming. I hope that you see how valuable you are to this message board. I personally enjoy reading about what you have to say. Your opinions are important and so is your friendship.
God Bless and stand strong!

Pray4Isrel
21st January 2003, 02:37 PM
Keeping this moved up for any new members... hope you all don't mind!

Pray4Isrel
1st February 2003, 12:14 AM
To infinity and beyond! ;) back to the top it goes!

NOTso angry-amy
9th February 2003, 01:42 AM
buzz lightyear to the rescue!

Brain Damage
9th February 2003, 08:38 AM
Yes I also believe Satan is having the last laugh while dividing christians from christians and christians from jews .

 

Revelation 12
<SUP>16</SUP>But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.<SUP> 17</SUP>And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.<SUP>[1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=REV+12:16-18&amp;language=english&amp;version=NKJV&amp;showfn=on&amp;showxref=on#footnote_198882287_1)]</SUP>


Sometimes I wonder about statements like this .

Pray4Isrel
10th February 2003, 12:50 PM
NOTso angry-amy said this in Post #20 (http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?postid=641782#post641782)

buzz lightyear to the rescue!


LOL&nbsp; :D

Pray4Isrel
10th February 2003, 12:51 PM
Brain Damage said this in Post #21 (http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?postid=642139#post642139)

Yes I also believe Satan is having the last laugh while dividing christians from christians and christians from jews&nbsp;.

&nbsp;

Revelation 12
<SUP>16</SUP>But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.<SUP> 17</SUP>And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.<SUP>[1 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=REV+12:16-18&amp;language=english&amp;version=NKJV&amp;showfn=on&amp;showxref=on#footnote_198882287_1)]</SUP>


Sometimes I wonder about statements like this .

Amen, Brain Damage...

Pray4Isrel
27th February 2003, 03:36 PM
Just for old time's sake ;)