Page 951 … Excusing Repentance
“Excuses render repentance impossible, for excuses are justifications, and who does not know that justification is the very opposite of confession and repentance?”
My dear Lucy, when I see you repeatedly quoting such things – when I see you repeatedly championing a theology that excludes and criticizes and cajoles and condemns, it really does inspire me to stop and wonder …
*It inspires me to wonder how it is that you still do not see the patent Truth that, first and foremost, there is never a need to give an excuse for a sin when – as in the case at hand with Oliver Clyde Allen – there is no sin to excuse!
*And it inspires me to wonder what excuse do you have for condemning homosexuals to Hell in a manner that is arrogant (see Proverbs 16:5 + Matthew 18:3-4), that is violent (see Proverbs 3:31-32), that is hypocritical (see Matthew 23:25-26 + John 8:7), that is disrespectful of fellow Christians (see Proverbs 6:19 + Matthew 5:22), and that is directly disobedient of the commandments of Christ (see John 13:34-35 + Luke 6:46 + 1 John 2:4-6)!
*And it inspires me to wonder when are you ever going to finally open your Heart enough to learn what Jesus meant by “repentance” – for while Paul’s (and thus the modern-day Christian church’s) definition of that term is indeed mostly a self-critical admission of personal sin, Jesus’ “repentance” (the Greek word metanoia in the Scriptures – see Strong’ # 3341) was & remains an active 180 degree alteration of one’s entire life; a full behavioral shift of living – from taking to giving, from judging to accepting, from longing to attain personal salvation to longing to bring others Peace … Obviously, these two theologies – Paul’s & Jesus’ – do not mix at all, meaning that you & yours must ultimately choose between them. And I am starting to become truly curious as to why you seem so Hell-bent deteremined (pun-intended) to keep rejecting the latter Way of Christ in favor of the former “unway” of Paul.
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is even now at hand … The time has been fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; so repent, and believe in the Good News … I tell you; unless you repent, you will all perish as [the Galileans who were executed by Pilate] did.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:17 + Mark 1:15 + Luke 13:3)
;