John,
Considering how Jesus spoke to the Syro-Phoenician woman in Matthew 15, and Peter’s attitude toward Gentiles in Galatians 2, and even some comments Paul made, it makes me wonder how many Jews ever accepted the believing Gentles as real brothers and sisters in Christ. For Peter, even after being told by God, “What I have cleansed call not thou common or unclean ”, for him to still have so much fear of the Jews seeing him sit and eat with Gentiles (Gal. 2), it stands to reason there must have been conversations among the Jews concerning Gentles being second class members of the body of Christ. Thank God that He found a man who didn’t trust anything contrary to what he had been given by him! Paul really had to stand alone. It amazes me, Paul’s spiritual strength. Very few in this world develop this kind of steadfastness.
In thinking about this scene and noticing not many men in this life seem to have the strength to stick with what God had given them, I think about your father, “Preacher Clark”. He was an example of one who was successful, and we still reap the benefits of his strength, given from God.
If I hadn’t found you, I am doubtful I would been able to hold on to what the Lord told me when I asked him about the divisions among God’s People. He told me “Doctrines and Commandments of Men” was the reason. Oh, God! Sweet, direct and short answers are so precious, and at that moment in my life, breath-taking. If I hadn’t met you, would I have heard and understood what was recorded in the Minutes of the 1974 Church of God International convocation in Dallas: “Touch not the unclean thing”? That understanding still excites my soul to this day. I have no idea how I could have the point without help from God.
Those two experiences connected together, along with hearing you say, ” They [Christian sects] are all wrong” (my spirit jumped up and down, saying, “Yes!”) were instrumental in my leaving Christianity, although at the time I didn’t know to call it by that name. I hope my action in leaving that abomination will count for something in the end.
Thinking about what happened to Peter falling victim to the pressure around him in Galatians 2 makes me pray, “Please keep me, God, from anything that opposes your spirit!”
There is no hope of doing what is correct without help from Jesus.
God help us!
Wendell