"laestadian, apostolic, gay, lgbtq, ex-oalc, ex-llc, llc, oalc, bunner" LEARNING TO LIVE FREE: Reading the Postilla

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Reading the Postilla

Our anonymous Postilla reader strikes again! Read on:
Here is the Postilla reader again--please bear with me while I share one more time. After this the Postilla goes back on the shelf. In the Bible Luke. 5:1-11 Jesus tells Simon Peter to put out his nets again, after Simon has spent the night fishing without any results. Simon does as Jesus asks and the nets are filled to a breaking point. Simon is so overcome with amazement that he falls at Jesus' feet and says "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man Oh Lord". Jesus tells him "DO NOT FEAR, from now on you will be catching men". Simon Peter leaves everything and goes with Jesus.
Now comes Laestadius. Does everyone know that unrepentant and sorrowless refers to people outside the OALC and repentant and sorrowful are those folks in the church? He says in Sermon number 26, "If the Savior were traveling on earth now, the unrepentant would gather around Him like mosquitoes, while on the other hand, the repentant and distressed would stand afar off and cry, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us". The sorrowless people do not understand enough to be ashamed, but Peter on one occasion felt so unworthy to be beside the Son of God that he fell down and said "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man O Lord". When has the sorrowless multitude felt unworthy to stand beside the Son Of God. The unsorrowing ones crowd and jam right in beside Him, just as if they were His best friends. If only they had perception enough to feel unworthy and FEARFUL of the Son of God, they would stand at a distance and leave room for the repentant ones, but these miserable ones do not know enough to feel ashamed".
There it is--I don't need to read more. I hope my little journey into the Postilla has been helpful to someone. Bless you all.
Thanks, anonymous. Now I understand better that pride-in-feeling-shame thing.

2 comments:

  1. "Now I understand better that pride-in-feeling-shame thing."

    That was a zapper of a statement! It suddenly made clear a very strong Apostolic fault! They really have "pride" in being "humble" which is such a contradiction in terms!

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  2. I agree. I also think there is a great deal of pride in their exclusivity and holier-than thou attitudes. I also noticed many are quick to point out, with much emphasis and dare I say, pride, their 'unworthiness'. Aren't we all worthy of God's love? I hope it doesn't seem like I am making a blanket statement intended to apply to all OALC; I am merely relating to my own experience with some members. Sadly, many are trapped in the belief that what LLL, the Elders and preachers tell them is the gospel truth.
    God Bless us all.

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