Joe, you have touched on a very important aspect along ones journey to true understanding of God's love for us.
You asked:
Is Peter describing the stages one must go through to become truly "charitable?" Or can these attributes be randomly obtained? Can someone constantly make intemperate statements yet have charity? Can we question our own faith and the faith of others and still display true (agape) love and charity?You first ask if one must go through the all tha stages to become truly charitable? The answer is dependant on ones definition of the word "truly." If the term is used as "being" charitable, then yes, one can be truly charitable, with the will and desire to constantly seek and to help others. However, if the word truly is interpreted to mean: Can one fully know and understand the only True One behind all charity, then answer can only be No. :
Can we question our own faith and the faith of others? Well this is dependant on how one classes oneself. If I or another professes to be "called" or even "chosen" by God, yet fail in any of the attributes given by Peter, then yes.
2Pe 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine 2Pe 1:5
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 2Pe 1:6
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 2Pe 1:7
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2Pe 1:8
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Pe 1:9
But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.Peter gives us a wonderful benchmark for use. If one is seen to be constantly failing in brotherly love, then truly they surely have become blind, for the truth is hidden from them.
Can someone have nothing more than a clue of God's plan and purpose for mankind and yet have perfect agape love which is charityNot as long "perfect" means meeting all of the criteria the Peter lists, today, tomorrow and always.
(Tough order in todays world)
Do we need to have patience and longsuffering before we can manifest charity or do some start with charity and work their way back?Some of course can have charity without patience and longsuffering, but it will not be true or perfect. All charity is of God, but motive comes from ones own heart.
Does true charity seek the approval of men or the will of God, do some charitable actions seem bitter to the recipient because this action is not what the recipient desires?This is question is double sided. There are many times when an act of charity is reliant on the approval of both man and God; other times charity is "true" because it sought not to please man before God.
An example of both can be given, when a brother or sister comes to you with the the hope of an attentive ear regarding a question they may have, or advice that they seek.
If they are seeking understanding, and I as a brother show true charity by listening attentively and seeking to help, will without a doubt give my response in a approving manner so as to demonstrate brotherly kindness and charity. The brother or sister in question should feel this genuine brotherly kindness and charity. If not, surely I have failed them as well as God.
However, if a brother or sister comes to me asking for help in bending or breaking the law, then I am compelled to give an answer that is pleasing to God first, and to them second. Second, because if I show anything other than brotherly kindness and charity to this brother or sister, then I haven't truly sought the approval of God, or my brother or sister, even if the answer is not what was "wanted" and is correct in form but not spirit..
Great Thread Joe,
Comments are always welcome
Your brother in Christ,
Darren