Posted by Pastor Tim email me at ( - my user name - )@believersbay.com
on November 3, 2009, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Free to Worship "
Pastor Will,
Thank you for having the loving boldness to bring a correction to my perception of what the Word says. Thank you for caring enough to admonish me to caution. If more of us who claimed the name of Christ would exercise this loving guidance the body of Christ would indeed be a much more mature body.
Please accept my apology for having caused you concern. Let me state categorically that I know God is sovereign. It was never my intent to imply anything otherwise. The beginning of what you quoted, “God made obedient angels servants of these lesser beings and even God became their servant!” is “God made”. I had anticipated that this would display who was sovereign and who was in charge...God. I apparently failed to express myself clearly. Please forgive me.
I cannot help but point to the servitude of Christ. It was the Father’s will that he become a servant. When you say we I assume you mean all of humanity in general, not those who have been born again. I never said God, the Father had to do anything, nor that Jesus had to do anything. I’m not sure how I gave you that impression. Perhaps I have, once again, failed to communicate clearly. I admit I’m far from perfect. Again, if I conveyed that message let me be crystal clear. Jesus was, is, and will always be our God and Creator. Scripture is quite clear on this point. If I conveyed any other message, please forgive me.
However, I cannot help but share that we were made coheirs with Christ when the Holy Spirit came to live within us. We are made worthy by Christ himself to be served. Not that Christ owes us service but as our example he served so that we in turn would see that we are to serve our brothers and sisters, esteeming them more valuable than ourselves.
All things in the universe have the primary service to God whether they follow God’s will or not. This would include angels. That doesn’t change the fact that God, in his sovereignty has caused them to become our servants.
Thank you for admonishing me to use caution in my speech. As a writer I tend to reach for the inspirational phrasing and evidently I’m causing some to feel that I’m leaving behind the truth of the scripture. The loving concern you have expressed has been received with open arms. In addition to the forgiveness I ask of you, I’d also like to ask you to pray that this apparent tendency be corrected within me and that the Holy Spirit bring these warnings to my awareness, as I seem to have missed any such word of caution from Him.
I was unaware of any man-centered gospel being preached today that makes us sovereign and God dependant upon us. That gospel is a false gospel. The only thing that I’m aware of that comes close to this is the name-it-claim-it movement from years ago that utilized speaking as an incantation that caused God to (supposedly) submit to the will of man. While there is a Godly confession expressed in God’s Word one must be very aware that separating God’s Word from God’s Will is a false teaching. Is that what you were talking about? I’m interested in learning more about this man-centered gospel you’re referring to.
I am, however, in disagreement with you on a one point. I believe God does need us. He created us to fulfill a need, want, desire, however you wish to express it. I realize this is a contentious point within the body of Christ so I mention it to clarify my belief, not to cause an argument.
I’m looking forward to more spirited discussions of God’s Word and theology. I enjoy that a great deal as long as it’s presented with confidence and love. That’s not to say that I’ll agree with everything I hear. 
God Bless you richly as you continue in His will for your life.
Sharing the Love of God with Common Sense
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