Cloud of witnesses
Submitted by Heather on August 09 1999 at 13:47:18
In reply to http://anon.proxy.anonymizer.com/Re: Accepting Christ Submitted by Encouraged on August 08 1999 at 20:38:15
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"Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations. The Lord apportioned to them great glory, his majesty from the beginning. There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and proclaiming prophecies; leaders of the people in their deliberations and in understanding of learning for the people, wise in their words of instruction; those who composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing; rich men furnished with resources, living peaceably in their habitations – all these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times. There are some of them who have left a name, so that men declare their praise. And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them. But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; their prosperity will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance to their children's children. Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake. Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out. Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations." [Ecclesiasticus 44:1-15] "And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets – who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. . . . Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us . . ." [Hebrews 11:32-12:1] Since I attend a Quaker meeting, I'm hardly like to disagree with you about the importance of the promptings of the Holy Spirit. :) I find it helpful, though, to listen the cloud of witnesses of Christians throughout the centuries, to hear how the Holy Spirit prompted them and to learn from them, just as the writers of the Bible learned from the holy men and women of faith who had come before them. I'm sorry that you don't feel that this is the right place for you; this is indeed an ecumenical forum, with Christians from all backgrounds, which means that some of the boylovers here may share your views on the Bible and some may not. If you don't feel comfortable taking part in the CBF itself, perhaps you could enter into e-mail correspondence with the CBF members that you'd feel comfortable talking with? I do realize that no forum is likely to be right for everyone – I have to admit that, coming from a high church background, I find this board to be a little too evangelical for my tastes at times :) – but I'd hate to think of you losing the opportunity to be in touch with other Christian boylovers. Christian boylovers are, in their own small way, a cloud of witnesses. Heather |