Good Morning Gregor and JavaJoe,
I find much with which to empathize in both of your comments.
If we think about it the history of the true church as well as the institutional church has been the will of God.
God's plan includes everyone and when we are examined in the spiritual lake of fire we have to examine ourselves, our motives and the mis-information that burdened us when we were apart from God's direct influence.
Apparently, God is working out a plan to allow each of us, until chosen, to walk alone as far as we wish to. Even when we/you are in a church congregation and serving one another or serving the ones that the leaders choose for you to serve, e.g the needy, the prisoner, the afflicted, it is not very much different than serving in the Lions club or a Youth Center.
Sure we put on special robes to sing Hymns or the Priests wear identifying collars so folks will feel comfortable sharing personal feelings with them, but it's really just good old human fellowship that we observe. People need people and we naturally gravitate to any organization that feeds our needs, the need to serve and the need to be served. Putting a 'religious' blanket around our service to others doesn't prove it is of GOD.
I empathize with Gregor being so far away from 'live' human contact of a like mind and I think that I can share in that same loneliness because I used to be a member of the WCG and was able to fellowship with hundreds of like minded, loving folks, many of whom I still see on a regular basis, mostly at funerals.
What comes to mind as far as close fellowship in my mind is something like a young person, which we are since we just got started learning the REAL truth in the recent few years, who is leaving home and going away to college to find the 'pearl of great value'. It is going to be lonely, it is supposed to be lonely because we are to change, to grow, to stretch ourselves as God leads us to understand His will and many of us need the time alone to reflect and meditate on what is happening to us.
I don't know about anyone else, but I am not ready to teach at this stage of my development. I understand that my task will be to teach, but I am working among the faithful here on BT so that when I stumble and falter there will be pairs of loving hands to lift me up and dust me off so that my education may continue.
Please fellows, let us be patient with God and with ourselves and not worry too much about sharing all that we have recently learned about God. None of our friends or our family members are in any danger of losing their immortal life or the life of the age to come. None of us is in any danger of disappointing God and Christ because we didn't act quickly to convert each person who asked of us the reason for our faith. Our Father and our Elder Brother are VERY patient and in addition they have the power to give us the correct words IF and WHEN it becomes urgent based upon THEIR judgment.
This week I am preparing a bible study to share with a small, local congregation that doesn't have a minister. The topic will be on the joy of serving God and how God has a plan to bring joy to every person who has ever lived.
The inspiration came from a book one of the members loaned me called; The Kingdom of God is a PARTY, by Tony Campolo. As you may imagine, I am not going to teach with authority concerning doctrine. The folks would listen and even participate in the discussion, but the doctrines wouldn't remain with them because they would just filter them out automatically through the traditions they have always known. It is my hope however that they will come away with less fear of the future in their minds.
Really, all that I am going to do is leave with them the memory that I served them willingly and that I enjoy being in their company and that they can call upon me anytime they are lonely and in need. LATER, in a thousand years or so, who knows, we will meet again and with perfect recall, I will greet them and give them a big loving hug and welcome them into the Kingdom of our Lord.
Each of us walks this journey alone at some human level. We who are called and chosen are no longer alone and never again will be, so let's be thankful for that and patiently learn to exercise the spirit of Christ within us and practice what we are learning until we are better prepared to share with those whom we will serve
in spirit and in truth.
Thanks for reading and please comment.
Regards, Bob