Unfortunately thus far it would appear that none of what we have said has helped her, but rather just increased tensions. Not that we should give up on her, just that although we have tried, it would appear that we have not made any real progress with her.
This was the very bone of contention between Brent & me:
i was determined to help some BBers who, it turned out, were equally determined to not be helped. Brent had already realized this while i had not. What might have transpired had i listened to Brent can only be guessed at, but i can now see and admit that my efforts may well have exacerbated the problem at that time.
And yet, Brent ventured over to the new "Eagles" BB on a mission similar to mine previous; to attempt to win back someone who had wandered astray (in this case Sondra) and bring instruction & enlightenment to those who listened to her. Why?
Because sometimes when we see the nature of another person's darkness, it resonates within us of the darkness from which the Lord has delivered us and we think with our hearts because we empathize, longing for that other's deliverance.
Are our efforts toward the benighted destined always to fail? Does it matter? Paul said that he became all things to all men in order that those who could be won
would be won, and that it would be to his woe to not preach the gospel. The personal woes that we may experience as a result of failed attempts to reach others is
nothing compared to the woe of which he speaks.
Personal rejection? Sure it hurts, but what of it? Our Lord Jesus Christ stopped at nothing on our behalf. The Lord of Glory bears the title Man of Sorrows for His earthly ministry. And as we are partakers of His inheritance, shall we complain to become, in miniscule measure, partakers in His suffering? No, because in Him we are more than conquerors.
So then, Brent, about your defense:
Some know you & trust you. To these you do not need to defend yourself. To these your defense is understood without statement.
Some do not know and/or trust you. To these you need not defend yourself because they will not believe you or accept your defense on any terms.
Then there are those who do not know you well enough to decide whether they trust or distrust you. What these need to hear is not your vindication, nor even your explanation, but the pure and simple statement of the truth. It is the Truth, not your or my telling of it, that liberates. To see me or you as we see ourselves will not help them (because as yet
we do not see as we should), but if we preach Christ and tell the Truth in Him, He will draw the hearers to Himself.
For me, Brent, you need no defense. You can decide why.
al
