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But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. - James 3:14
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. - 1 John 1:5-7
The area of Southwest Virginia was a Methodist area in the 1800's, and to explain all of that please refer to the following thread (http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/18564-the-life-of-george-clark-rankin/) written by George Clark Rankin, who served the position of editor of the Texas Christian Advocate, after an eventful ministry. The old Methodist Episcopal Church, South, use to have what they called a Mourners bench in which souls would tarry and pray until they got religion in a good way. In the 1900's this was referred to as an alter by the Pentecostal Holiness Church and people would pray until the received the Holy Spirit. The Methodist called this blessing Sanctification and would not let you claim it if you had not a sweet spirit.
It seems like our area has forsaken these blessed ways. At work I have run up on people of countless denominations who will look at me with an arrogant scowl while referring to people who have not 'the truth.' Then I have Mormons and Jehovah's Witness knock at the door trying to convert me to 'the truth.'
'The Truth' .... Almost enough to turn a guy away from the word.
Unless 'The Truth' is accompanied with some kind of grace, love, and warmth, I am not interested in it.
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you... - Galatians 4:18-20
I tell you when Christ is born in someone people will be able to sense it. I remember in High School whenever someone would get saved you would see the change. You could tell Christ was in the guy without him even opening his mouth. When Christ is born in someone there is a spiritual transformation, which will lead people to 'the truth.' I worry, in this day in time, that people are trying to educate the head before the Holy Spirit has done the work in the heart.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. - 1 John 1:5-7
The area of Southwest Virginia was a Methodist area in the 1800's, and to explain all of that please refer to the following thread (http://www.christianityboard.com/topic/18564-the-life-of-george-clark-rankin/) written by George Clark Rankin, who served the position of editor of the Texas Christian Advocate, after an eventful ministry. The old Methodist Episcopal Church, South, use to have what they called a Mourners bench in which souls would tarry and pray until they got religion in a good way. In the 1900's this was referred to as an alter by the Pentecostal Holiness Church and people would pray until the received the Holy Spirit. The Methodist called this blessing Sanctification and would not let you claim it if you had not a sweet spirit.
It seems like our area has forsaken these blessed ways. At work I have run up on people of countless denominations who will look at me with an arrogant scowl while referring to people who have not 'the truth.' Then I have Mormons and Jehovah's Witness knock at the door trying to convert me to 'the truth.'
'The Truth' .... Almost enough to turn a guy away from the word.
Unless 'The Truth' is accompanied with some kind of grace, love, and warmth, I am not interested in it.
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you... - Galatians 4:18-20
I tell you when Christ is born in someone people will be able to sense it. I remember in High School whenever someone would get saved you would see the change. You could tell Christ was in the guy without him even opening his mouth. When Christ is born in someone there is a spiritual transformation, which will lead people to 'the truth.' I worry, in this day in time, that people are trying to educate the head before the Holy Spirit has done the work in the heart.
