Post by wandashort on Feb 22, 2011 8:18:42 GMT -5
I am declaring that I am officially now a “Preterist Antilabelian” (lol Ron). There is a new one for you to add to the chart Patrick! :-} After spending a sleepless night thinking thru where we are as a group and where my hearts desire is that we could be - I started making a list of all the people that have played a part in my 2 year journey in this community.
I was blown away by not only the number of names and faces that crossed my mind but by the sheer diversity within the crowd! I want to share with you and ask for your patience and remember that this is what I have learned from these people … you may have other experiences with them.
I have learned valuable lessons from every sort and type of preterist and non preterist known to this movement. Full, Partial, Realist, Realized, Historic, Proper, True, Consistent, Idealist, Idealism, Universalist, Charismatic, IBD, CBV, CC, Evolutionism, Biblist, Hybrid, Hyper…and surely I missed some.
What is truly amazing to me is that if I simply tuned out the ones that don’t fit with my own personal viewpoint then I would never have learned these incredible things from these incredible people!
I have learned from:
Alan Bondar – that reading scripture for our enjoyment and understanding means to not take anyone’s word for it. That we should be bold and fearless and dig deep and study all of God’s word with new covenant eyes.
Allyn Morton – that you can have meaningful and calm dialogue with those you have vehemently opposed in the past.
Brandon Littlejohn – that fresh life can be breathed into this community and we can start to get back to the basics of loving each other little steps at at time.
Chuck Coty – that when the good fight becomes a weight on your own heart it is time to stop, refocus, renew and in doing this you can have a positive impact on many others who are in the same spot..
Curtis Sibbit – that it is good to publically and privately thank those that have blessed you.
Dave Embry – that you can feel very strongly about a view yet still not bloody people with it over and over again.
Dave Green – that you can speak volumes with few words. And a smiley.
David Curtis – that God is in control…that He does what He wants, how He wants, when He wants. Period.
Don Preston – that you can study for decades and still read a passage of scripture one day and it comes off the page and slaps ya!
Dorothy Anderson – that continual searching can change the course of your views and that friendships can be the anchors that keep you coming back to truth.
Dr. Birks – that a pastor responds to a hurting person regardless of current events or whether that person is of his own flock.
Ed Hassertt – that the heart is more important than the head when being encouraged in our faith.
Edward Goodie – that it is good to proclaim what you believe over and over again even if you feel you are standing alone.
Hal – that no matter who is right or wrong – trust is something hard earned and easily shattered.
Jason Bradfield – that fierce loyalty and friendship sometimes can come across in the wrong way.
Jeff Vaughn – that there is a deeper meaning to creation than just the literal physical start of the universe.
Joe Perrot – that preterists have the absolute best senses of humor. Hands down.
Joe Vincent – that your family must come first in order to have a strong foundation to be a ministry leader.
John Scargy – that the process of learning never ends and as things become clearer other things then need to be relooked at again and again.
Ken Palmer – that understanding the dynamics of the group having the discussion important to reaching them on their level with the truth.
Lahaina Dave Warren – that perseverance and seemingly unending energy will set the stage for truth to spread.
Larry Siegle – that all of your words are a choice and you can choose to be kind, loving, gentle even in rebuke or admonishment.
Laurie Norrish – that you don’t need to tow the party line yet you don’t have to rock the boat either.
Lincoln Springer – that random acts of kindness have long reaching positive effects for more than the original intended party.
Marty Angelo – that God will use any life experience and situation to bring about His plan and purpose.
Messiah Reformed Church (Fort Myers) – that there is no joy like that which is nurtured within a local body of believers who fellowship together and genuinely love each other like family.
Micah Martin – that it is truly a beautiful thing being a parent who embraces the fulfilled view.
Mike Biedler – that I shouldn’t assume what a view really is based upon the words used in the title.
Mike Bennett – that you can make small purposeful changes within the sphere of your influence that benefit many going forward.
Mike Grace – that the Old Testament is a beautiful tapestry of story that perfectly works hand in hand with the New Testament.
Mike Loomis – that it is good to go where God leads without worry.
Mike Sullivan – that it is important to know WHAT you stand for 100%.
Norm Voss – that you can hear the truth and not be ready to be receptive to it until years later (Grandpa Voss story)
Patrick Stone – that looking past personal horrific situations and staying connected with the body is edifying to ourselves as well as others.
Phil Naessens – that I shouldn’t ever be afraid to look hard at what I believe and all that is entailed and to not shy away from putting a spotlight on it.
Rivers of Eden – that I should never believe something simply because it feels good to believe it…that I must believe because it is truth.
Sam Frost – that we don’t have to know it all and we can keep running down the areas of theology that are not settled within our minds/hearts.
Tami Jelinek – that it is necessary to ask questions until you understand something…even if the answers are not what you want to hear or rock your foundation.
Tim Martin – that even small gestures to make past wrongs right within the body may have huge rippling ever increasing blessings.
Todd Dennis – that deep study in God’s word is never wasted.
Tom Joseph - that there is a distinct difference between forgiveness and letting go.
Ward Fenley – that sometimes the message of salvation can be flowery or it can be blunt and that it isn’t the words used as much as the message that is important.
William Bell – that being a partner in ministry with another is a huge blessing to both parties and it is for a lifetime.
~~~~~~~
I think it is time to move past labels. For more of us to become “Antilabelians”. Time to move past the negative history of this preterist community, the past hurts, the past jabs and arguments.
How though? I would suggest that if you have hurt someone – go to them and attempt reconciliation. If you have been hurt – go to the person and let them know you were hurt. If there is nothing to forgive then just let go. Make a decision to be less thin skinned and show more grace to each other.
Can we move on as a community of believers with the knowledge that we are free in Christ? That we are of one body? Can we begin to see the common threads vs. the minute differences? I hope so. and I will continue to fervently pray so. Blessings, wanda
I was blown away by not only the number of names and faces that crossed my mind but by the sheer diversity within the crowd! I want to share with you and ask for your patience and remember that this is what I have learned from these people … you may have other experiences with them.
I have learned valuable lessons from every sort and type of preterist and non preterist known to this movement. Full, Partial, Realist, Realized, Historic, Proper, True, Consistent, Idealist, Idealism, Universalist, Charismatic, IBD, CBV, CC, Evolutionism, Biblist, Hybrid, Hyper…and surely I missed some.
What is truly amazing to me is that if I simply tuned out the ones that don’t fit with my own personal viewpoint then I would never have learned these incredible things from these incredible people!
I have learned from:
Alan Bondar – that reading scripture for our enjoyment and understanding means to not take anyone’s word for it. That we should be bold and fearless and dig deep and study all of God’s word with new covenant eyes.
Allyn Morton – that you can have meaningful and calm dialogue with those you have vehemently opposed in the past.
Brandon Littlejohn – that fresh life can be breathed into this community and we can start to get back to the basics of loving each other little steps at at time.
Chuck Coty – that when the good fight becomes a weight on your own heart it is time to stop, refocus, renew and in doing this you can have a positive impact on many others who are in the same spot..
Curtis Sibbit – that it is good to publically and privately thank those that have blessed you.
Dave Embry – that you can feel very strongly about a view yet still not bloody people with it over and over again.
Dave Green – that you can speak volumes with few words. And a smiley.
David Curtis – that God is in control…that He does what He wants, how He wants, when He wants. Period.
Don Preston – that you can study for decades and still read a passage of scripture one day and it comes off the page and slaps ya!
Dorothy Anderson – that continual searching can change the course of your views and that friendships can be the anchors that keep you coming back to truth.
Dr. Birks – that a pastor responds to a hurting person regardless of current events or whether that person is of his own flock.
Ed Hassertt – that the heart is more important than the head when being encouraged in our faith.
Edward Goodie – that it is good to proclaim what you believe over and over again even if you feel you are standing alone.
Hal – that no matter who is right or wrong – trust is something hard earned and easily shattered.
Jason Bradfield – that fierce loyalty and friendship sometimes can come across in the wrong way.
Jeff Vaughn – that there is a deeper meaning to creation than just the literal physical start of the universe.
Joe Perrot – that preterists have the absolute best senses of humor. Hands down.
Joe Vincent – that your family must come first in order to have a strong foundation to be a ministry leader.
John Scargy – that the process of learning never ends and as things become clearer other things then need to be relooked at again and again.
Ken Palmer – that understanding the dynamics of the group having the discussion important to reaching them on their level with the truth.
Lahaina Dave Warren – that perseverance and seemingly unending energy will set the stage for truth to spread.
Larry Siegle – that all of your words are a choice and you can choose to be kind, loving, gentle even in rebuke or admonishment.
Laurie Norrish – that you don’t need to tow the party line yet you don’t have to rock the boat either.
Lincoln Springer – that random acts of kindness have long reaching positive effects for more than the original intended party.
Marty Angelo – that God will use any life experience and situation to bring about His plan and purpose.
Messiah Reformed Church (Fort Myers) – that there is no joy like that which is nurtured within a local body of believers who fellowship together and genuinely love each other like family.
Micah Martin – that it is truly a beautiful thing being a parent who embraces the fulfilled view.
Mike Biedler – that I shouldn’t assume what a view really is based upon the words used in the title.
Mike Bennett – that you can make small purposeful changes within the sphere of your influence that benefit many going forward.
Mike Grace – that the Old Testament is a beautiful tapestry of story that perfectly works hand in hand with the New Testament.
Mike Loomis – that it is good to go where God leads without worry.
Mike Sullivan – that it is important to know WHAT you stand for 100%.
Norm Voss – that you can hear the truth and not be ready to be receptive to it until years later (Grandpa Voss story)
Patrick Stone – that looking past personal horrific situations and staying connected with the body is edifying to ourselves as well as others.
Phil Naessens – that I shouldn’t ever be afraid to look hard at what I believe and all that is entailed and to not shy away from putting a spotlight on it.
Rivers of Eden – that I should never believe something simply because it feels good to believe it…that I must believe because it is truth.
Sam Frost – that we don’t have to know it all and we can keep running down the areas of theology that are not settled within our minds/hearts.
Tami Jelinek – that it is necessary to ask questions until you understand something…even if the answers are not what you want to hear or rock your foundation.
Tim Martin – that even small gestures to make past wrongs right within the body may have huge rippling ever increasing blessings.
Todd Dennis – that deep study in God’s word is never wasted.
Tom Joseph - that there is a distinct difference between forgiveness and letting go.
Ward Fenley – that sometimes the message of salvation can be flowery or it can be blunt and that it isn’t the words used as much as the message that is important.
William Bell – that being a partner in ministry with another is a huge blessing to both parties and it is for a lifetime.
~~~~~~~
I think it is time to move past labels. For more of us to become “Antilabelians”. Time to move past the negative history of this preterist community, the past hurts, the past jabs and arguments.
How though? I would suggest that if you have hurt someone – go to them and attempt reconciliation. If you have been hurt – go to the person and let them know you were hurt. If there is nothing to forgive then just let go. Make a decision to be less thin skinned and show more grace to each other.
Can we move on as a community of believers with the knowledge that we are free in Christ? That we are of one body? Can we begin to see the common threads vs. the minute differences? I hope so. and I will continue to fervently pray so. Blessings, wanda
