Greetings, dear Glad... and peace to you! I hadn't seen this thread previously, so I apologize for the late response (I only came across it while looking for something referenced in another thread). Since it apparently is with some reference to me, I would like to respond, if you will indulge me - thank you!
There are many reasons that those who call themselves "christians" are no longer "sure" of what they believe. The primary one, however, is that they don't REALLY possess the promised holy spirit, by means of which they are led by the Holy Spirit... so they don't know what it is, how it works, or who it comes FROM. Sure, a whole lot of folks believe that just CALLING oneself a "christian" makes it so. If such ones would only look to the very things they themselves teach... and tell others to look to... they would KNOW that this is not the case. That is cannot BE the case. They would also know that it is the voice of the Fine Shepherd that they're supposed to listen to... and follow... not that of "strangers."
Another reason is that rather than following ONLY the Lamb, and having no other "leader" or "teacher" than him... they follow those who "seat themselves in the seat of Moses"... blind guides who don't know that they are naked, blind, miserable, and pitiable THEMSELVES. They put their faith and trust in these... rather than in the Spirit of the TRUTH... and so, as prophesied, they are not only being misled... but LOVING it.
Another reason? They lack faith. They BELIEVE they have faith... but faith as men describe it; not faith as is granted from Christ. They don't really know what faith... as GOD gives it, through Christ... IS. Thus, as Christ said, "When the Son of Man arrives, will he REALLY find faith in the earth?"
Yet another reason? Many "christians" love the glory of MEN... as well as FEAR men... and what men think of them... more than they love the glory of God... or fear God (and I mean, in the sense of disappointing)... or care what the Most Holy One of Israel thinks of them. So, they are MORE than ready and able to say what is agreeable to MEN... rather than what is TRUE. It is easier... and more desirable... for them to say, "Well, Rabbi So-and-So said," or "The Reverend Doctor Such-and-So said," or "Professor So-and-Such of the Such-and-So University of This-and-That said,"... RATHER than "My LORD said..." or "the Holy Spirit said to ME...".
This is because of the HUGE amount of ridicule that can result... when one DOES openly profess that it is Christ, the Holy Spirit, who spoke to them. It's "controversial" and, well... we can't be controversial, can we? No, we need the world to ACCEPT us. Don't we??
What makes me different? Why do I hear? The truth is that I am no different from anyone else here, with one exception: faith... and love as a result of that faith. I KNOW who it is that is speaking to me... and I don't really care what the atheists, agnostics, non-believers... or even other so-called believers... believe. It doesn't MATTER. I am NOT afraid to tell the TRUTH... even if it ticks others off, even makes them speak abusively of and to me. They have the problem, not me. And their problem is rooted in a kind of jealousy... which says, "Why is Christ speaking to YOU, and not ME? What makes YOU so special? Surely, if God/Christ were going to speak to ANYONE... it would be to ME."
Unfortunately, few recognize the utter haughtiness and arrogance in such thinking. They don't get the FOLLY in asking that of ME... of even THINKING it: the Most Holy One of Israel shows mercy to whomever HE wishes to show it. Some here make statements regarding ones having not really left the WTBTS. Well, this issue is CERTAINLY indicative of it, because I almost meet with as much chagrin, anger, and hatred HERE... as I did THERE ("Who are YOU to profess to be anointed!?")
But why ME? The TRUTH is that if folks spent as much time asking themselves... and LISTENING... as to why NOT them... as they do to "why Shelby"... they would KNOW the answer. Because it lies with each one of us, NOT with the other guy. But if there IS a "why Shelby", it is simply and solely due to mercy, which has been granted me... because I not only know he is speaking to me... but am not afraid to be chided, ridiculed, expelled, persecuted, whatever by others... so that I openly PROFESS it. I am not ashamed of him in front of men. Because I love him. So, I don't CARE what the naysayers think of me: it is the truth; and such ones cannot give me life. Thus, not DENY him... simply to appease those who can't wrap their heads around what I am experiencing. The deficiency is theirs, not mine.
But I have come to know that the greatest reason I have been shown mercy, is because of MY love for THEM... resulting from THEIR love for ME. Which I get that many here don't get, but perhaps the following account will help explain, because it is MY account, in every sense:
"When one of the Pharisees invited [Jesus] to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that [Jesus] was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
"[Jesus] answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
"Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” [Jesus] said.
"Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
"Then [Jesus] said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
"The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
"[Jesus] said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
This woman was forgiven much... because she loved much. In return, she loved much... because she was forgiven much. And so she put HER faith in the One who so loved HER... and forgave her. I have done nothing but the same. Again, if the Holy One of Israel is not speaking to you... has not called you... has not chosen you... that is between him and YOU. Not ME and you and him. Nor it is about me... but you.
I hope this helps and, again, I bid you peace!
Your servant and a slave of Christ,
SA
