PTAP: Email RCVD & Responded to - A word of correction.
Thank you for the testimony of this faithful worker. It's always a joy to hear how God is using faithful brothers and sisters to do His work in even the darkest of places. I was somewhat surprised, though, at how this older lady was characterized. I'm sure it may be she was not particularly pleasant, but it seems in this story that she is being demonized simply to make us feel good about her humiliation. Even the Pharisees, who murdered Christ, were simply characterized by what they did rather than how they acted or their tone of voice. I'm not saying this as a criticism of you or this work because it is so valuable, but simply so that we may all be above reproach from those who would accuse us.
Anyway, I still want to thank you again for this newsletter. It has been a great encouragement to me to keep praying for this region, knowing that, indeed, God is faithful to accomplish his work.
- James
===== The portion under question. =====
The leader was a harsh-looking older woman who appeared to relish her job. There was no comforting "come join our happy group" air about her, and even some of the converts seemed to eye her with fear. Her faced contorted with pleasure as she maligned Christians, slandered the Bible, and blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ. This certainly wasn't friendship evangelism!
<+>< + ><+>
Essence of reply:
Thanks for sending your comments. We will keep it in mind in the future. However, I only relay the emails & do not write them, so I don't feel right about editting them extensively.
- Mert Hershberger "Abdul Kalimatullah"
======
later...
(November 29, 2005)
Dear James,
In re-reading through your email & the offending portion. I thought of 2 things.
1. There are some pretty descriptive portions of responses to Jesus & by Jesus.
... Satan is said to have entered into Judas.
... Jesus addressed satan when talking with Peter because he so adamantly opposed the Lord's death.
... Jesus said some serious things about blashpheming of the Holy Spirit.
2. Acts 7:24 uses the words furious & gnashed teeth ... these are pretty descriptive words, actually containing meanings very similar to the testimony originally sent.
3. Having had some times of witness with Muslims who adamantly opposed the gospel, I dare say that there are some who contorted their faces & really seemed to take on a different character when harshly attacking the holiness of Jesus' death on the cross.
4. It should be noted, that there are places in the NT where a group of inquirers or a crowd was described as divided in their responses to Jesus ... some members in the crowd fearing others.
... just some further thoughts in "defense" of the original statement that have come to mind over the intervening weeks.
<+>< + ><+>
Mert Hershberger
ptap@srginc.org -- 1-800-376-5876
North American Coordinator
Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
mertaka@everybody.org
Anyway, I still want to thank you again for this newsletter. It has been a great encouragement to me to keep praying for this region, knowing that, indeed, God is faithful to accomplish his work.
- James
===== The portion under question. =====
The leader was a harsh-looking older woman who appeared to relish her job. There was no comforting "come join our happy group" air about her, and even some of the converts seemed to eye her with fear. Her faced contorted with pleasure as she maligned Christians, slandered the Bible, and blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ. This certainly wasn't friendship evangelism!
<+>< + ><+>
Essence of reply:
Thanks for sending your comments. We will keep it in mind in the future. However, I only relay the emails & do not write them, so I don't feel right about editting them extensively.
- Mert Hershberger "Abdul Kalimatullah"
======
later...
(November 29, 2005)
Dear James,
In re-reading through your email & the offending portion. I thought of 2 things.
1. There are some pretty descriptive portions of responses to Jesus & by Jesus.
... Satan is said to have entered into Judas.
... Jesus addressed satan when talking with Peter because he so adamantly opposed the Lord's death.
... Jesus said some serious things about blashpheming of the Holy Spirit.
2. Acts 7:24 uses the words furious & gnashed teeth ... these are pretty descriptive words, actually containing meanings very similar to the testimony originally sent.
3. Having had some times of witness with Muslims who adamantly opposed the gospel, I dare say that there are some who contorted their faces & really seemed to take on a different character when harshly attacking the holiness of Jesus' death on the cross.
4. It should be noted, that there are places in the NT where a group of inquirers or a crowd was described as divided in their responses to Jesus ... some members in the crowd fearing others.
... just some further thoughts in "defense" of the original statement that have come to mind over the intervening weeks.
<+>< + ><+>
Mert Hershberger
ptap@srginc.org -- 1-800-376-5876
North American Coordinator
Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info
mertaka@everybody.org
