Am I isolating myself for God's sake?

Jeremiah 15:17, I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice;  I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation. (ESV)

JEREMIAH—NOTE ON 15:17 Jeremiah took no part in the nation’s sin (Ps. 1:1). sat alone . He was isolated because of his commitment. (ESV Study Bible)

Jeremiah was struggling to be God's messenger as he was to speak and go against the norms and sins of Judah. The people were giving him a hard time and wasn't listening to him and had been mean to him because of that message. Jeremiah, however, was wondering/complaining why he had to suffer more than Judah even though he was fearfully and faithfully following God's commands and not at yoke with the unbelieving crowd. Jeremiah isolated himself because of his commitment.

God rebuked Jeremiah for his envying evil people, complaining his life was worse than the evil people. God said if he repented he will restore Jeremiah.

I need to do that too. My life right now is a mess. It felt God was ignoring me just as the people ignored me, too. My spiritual parents failed and turned to be wolves in sheep's clothing.

Am I isolating myself for God's sake?

Four & a half years ago, I left home to move to another city. To start building my life: to work, to have a career, to settle here, to make this city as my home base if I travel to other countries for missions, and to also hoping to expand God's kingdom by making Him known or be magnified by people...

Sadly, it turned the opposite. I see sin and people's desires more than them wanting to fearfully follow God, including my ex-sprititual parents. And I struggle to have a career, to settle here, and I don't find a "home" or belonging, including a church.

I left my first job in a "Christian" seminary because that place was so isolated from the world, meaning I live inside the campus, I barely see the residents (students and teachers/staff) mingle with the outside world. I wondered how was I going to grow and practice faith and sharing God outside. I also didn't like the job. I isolated myself from that place because I thought I couldn't "do" my commitment with God and wanted to be in the outside world and to teach.

I then moved close to my spiritual mom (who however forbid me to go to her house) and worked as an English as Foreign Language Instructor (which I thought was God's gift of teaching for me because I enjoyed teaching and being with people). Since moving to this city, I went to church with my spiritual mom and joined a ministry with her. However, things turned so bad that my spiritual mom started to become to toxic and mean to me. I also wasn't allowed or disproved to meet create and gather a small group of disabled/depressed/lonely people. My spiritual mom would often watch over me and when I make "autistic mistakes", she would be angry at me, she wouldn't even believe her rebukes, expectations, judgments/accusations outweighs her "love" and commendation and were harming me. She ignored when I didn't feel well or was needing her. She didn't like people to depend on her and she began ignoring me. (Ironically, I didn't even want her to always watch me for my mistakes). She finally showed she didn't want me (she had a love-hate on me) by continuosly blaming me that this was my fault. I lost my trust on her. I got autistic burnout and was got tired.  Before I decided to leave church, I felt there was a spirit of excellence lurking in that church and I was sure I wouldn't belong there because I would often commit "mistakes". If I continue to attend there, was I to avoid her, what if she'd continue scolding me or if she ignored me, what if the people would question me, what would I say and I couldn't lie. I couldn't look at her straight in the eye either so I left. I left the church and later moved away from my spiritual mom (as she was neglecting and ignored me anyway and I hated the traffic to work). I isolated myself because I didn't know what I was supposed to do and wasn't learning God stuff that much.

(I'm already getting tired telling this story again and again.....because this isn't resolved. She still wouldn't think she did something wrong, or maybe she did but she's not repenting. Even if I forgive her, it still hurts. And I still have to stay away from her. So much for a 2nd mom, who said wouldn't leave and forget me. Yes, she's not forgetting me in memory, but she has abandoned me, left me, disapeared from my life. I was unwanted and forgotten.)

I then moved to my spiritual dad's church. Long story short, he taught me sex real-time. He coerced me to learn it like that to help me understand. He taught me a lie that what we were doing was okay. What he taught on the pulpit was different from the several things he taught me. He was teaching me the world. He also kept cutting me off, blamed me. And when he wanted or I wanted him back because I wanted relationship and needed a 2nd dad, he gave me conditions which included that I had to give in to his will and obey him. I was naive, I didn't know much. I was getting confused, but I believed him, and I was looking up to him as my 2nd dad. I thought he was just being a father figure. After several cycles of being cut off, get back, everything went fine, then insisted to do his sex will, then I become whiny on many things, he got tired of me, then cut me off, and so on went the cycle. He kept accusing me and told me I was delusional and needed to take meds. But I later had enough of it and wondered his teachings (sexual and theological) on the pulpit, to others, and to me were so inconsistent. I began to find no respect on him and stopped listening to his sermons or joining the small groups. I'm isolating from that church because I can't follow someone like that, and I'm in a dilemma about this situation, if I tell the truth, people might turn against me, wouldn't believe me, and he could lie that could harm me even more, if I don't, people are going to question my aloof behavior and I wouldn't be able to speak honestly but excuses.

I, unfortunately, still co-own a business with him and his daughter because I still need it, I don't have a replacement and struggling to have a replacement. I also find others unsupportive or is it just me because I was made this way. I also left work because of the pandemic and because I got tired talking and being with people. I now don't like to be around people and I'm not ready for 2021 (wishing it won't come). I've isolated myself from people because I lost myself and have been judged, betrayed, accused, and not anymore comfortable around them nor able to trust.

I have gone so far from the original me who started this journey.

Am I isolating myself for God's sake?

What am I supposed to do if I am not isolating myself for God's commitment?

A Christian with High Functioning Autism

There have been changes in my life the past year and since I last wrote in this blog.

It's difficult to keep up writing especially when thoughts are shambled. If I start one blog post, more comes and I don't stop.

Reentry from China has been difficult, and I've been away for more 19 months now. Finally found a book about ReEntry by Peter Jordan. It mentioned something unfortunate about reentry:

The pressure of re-entry have the unfortunate tendency to push you in the opposite direction to where you want to go. Instead of pushing you closer to God, re-entry stress tends to push you away from Him.

I'm now in another city from my passport country. Hoping to start over, but with the help of my
spiritual mum. So yeah, I'm now in my spiritual parents' city.

Other changes? My spiritual dad left me, gave up on me. I've been making lots of mistakes, especially mistakes that I have no control making. I also went to meet a neuropsychiatrist and psychologist to have myself a formal diagnosis for high-functioning autism, at least I got ruled out from ADHD and Schizoid Personality Disorder. I'm still waiting for the results, hopefully I get the answers I need to also help me find help with my socio-communication troubles, including keeping up with finding or maintaining a job, and surviving post-graduate studies with all its research papers and more papers. Troubles also like Executive Functioning Disorder that is very evident in my present job (which was recommended by my spiritual dad but he left so he wouldn't help me anymore), echolalia (which turned out bad that I used an internet source to explain to my spiritual dad that I can't give to his choice of church yet...but I actually mean that I want to pray for it yet and talk it with my spiritual mum because we plan to give 10% to my home church), and hyperlexia (able to read a lot, but unable to properly explain, summarize, comprehend, and write down those thoughts).

Some blessings from 2016? I won a million bucks. I remember praying to God a month before I left China to teach me how to manage and handle money if I become a steward of His money. A year later, he gave 1M. However, there were consequences: family wanted the money, my spiritual dad wanted me to give me to his friends' church asap, relationship with my spiritual mum, I think, became shaky too (I was afraid she'd leave me too).

So... Questions. Will I eve get a higher education? Will I become part of the the fulltimers? Will I become a missionary?

1. God sent me in cursed ways, so He could show His Greatness to me.
2. Though being rejected many times, God did not reject me to know Him.

At least those are absolute truths.

I was thinking... I saw a video of someone on the spectrum who became a missionary, but he had help. A pastor also in the spectrum, but he also had help. I just hope I will get help and be understood and not just to be forced to change my behaviors to make it look appropriate or acceptable. I don't want to do things just to earn my spiritual mum's hug and love. I lost my spiritual dad's love, trust, and free hugs, too, you know.

I am sad.

At least this comment from this forum says:

Thoughts: Christian Pediatrician Refuses to Treat Baby Girl Because Her Parents Are Lesbians

Link: Christian Pediatrician Refuses to Treat Baby Girl Because Her Parents Are Lesbians

Thoughts:

As a medical practitioner, it is ethical to treat anyone, regardless of race, religion, or background, but as a Christian, God said to help anyone without exceptions (Hebrews 13:16, Philippians 2:4, Matthew 25:35-40), unless the family refuses or the doctor is incapable to treat the child.

As for the 'parents', they have already broken God's original design that man and woman (Genesis 2:24) are to be in union, and relations with the same sex is out of God's creation. In OT, homosexuals are punished by death (Leviticus 20:13), but in NT, Jesus has come to fulfill this law (Matthew 5:17), he is to be the Judge now. The 'parents' will face Jesus soon. Our work is to "go and disciple all the nations, baptizing them, and teaching them the Word of God." (Matthew 29:18-20)

As for the child, the sins of the 'parents' are not the child's doing. It is not the child's payment (eternal judgment) for the 'parents' sins (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus also said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:14)

Response: 5 Reasons Children Should Be in The Main Service Regularly

Experiencing a local church that is almost like from the Church in the Book of Acts, even in the most unlikely places (Ch*na), is, well, the blessed experience ever.

I had a little friend who was 1.5 year-old. He sat quietly and attentively with his parents (sometimes), esp when his father (elder of the church) leads the message. They were teaching him already how to be in church since infancy.

"Train up a child the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

I salute parents who join their children to worship, esp when the kids are "well-behaved".

I also grew up attending church with my parents for Sunday service. However, I had the freedom. I always made mischief running around the sanctuary, eating those communion flat bread chips after service, and always asking to go out to play. =P

Here are the 5 Reasons Children Should Be in The Main Service Regularly:

1. Children should not be removed from the main body for convenience sake. 
2. Children are a part of the Body of Christ.
3. Children need Godly examples of how to worship.
4. Children need to feel like they are a part of the church community.
5. Children who don’t feel like a part of the church community will leave church when they’re older.

Read the entire article here: http://www.churchleaders.com/children/childrens-ministry-articles/261362-5-reasons-children-main-service-regularly.html

The Genesis Code

In God's frame of reference, dictating Moses to write Genesis, the world was made in six days. In our frame of reference at present (the universe expands), the world was made in 15.7 billion years. As the universe expands, time isn't constant. Ever heard from the news lately that the Earth moved a millisecond or so. And our world clock isn't the same: Travelling to from the other side of Earth may take two days, but those awaiting your arrival only wait for a day. - Astrophysics, Geophysics, & Genesis

The theory makes sense.

When Moses wrote Genesis, the events occurred in Genesis happened years before Moses. Therefore, Moses need Someone to help him write Genesis, and that Someone is of course, God Himself.

So when God told Moses what to write, the only source of information was God. Maybe the Earth was not made in 6 days, but according to God, it was six days. Knowing in our finite minds and being as small as a speck of dust compared to the expanding universe, time expands as well, which we think the Earth was made in 15.7 billion years. If we travel from Earth to the ends of the universe, and measure time by our own standards, time lengthens as well.

Time then is in God's control. "In God's time." Things we don't understand, things we hope to understand. Then we only have the Bible. Prayer, according to God's will. What is God's will but what is present in Scriptures.

The people behind the ideas of this movie were brilliant. To spread the news about Science defending the Creation, they need something that won't look boring like a documentary or seminar, that even the common people would watch without knowing they are being told the Truth.

Check this link that will direct you to the scene where this is being explained: https://youtu.be/kYtm1o1DQ0o?t=1h7m35s

Or watch it all.

Coming Off From China (Being Aspie/Different)

What has China taught me?

Being 'different' or diagnosed, even reverse culture shock, is no reason to excuse myself from being able to reach to others nor failings in relationships. I have issues socially and communication, understanding how others think and do in situations, especially how the world is. The reason for this is man's depravity. And the history and reason of man becoming corrupt in mind and heart (and any creature, be it physically or environmentally), goes all the way back to the Fall of the first man and woman.

We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah 64:6

Knowing ourselves and with the help of psychology and psychiatry, it may be good, so we would NOT the ultimate good.
know how to understand ourselves and how compatible or incompatible we are with the world. Also to be able to know how to cope and adjust ourselves to this world that does not understand us. But it is

What then after knowing ourselves? Does this excuse us from who we truly are in God or excuse to follow His commands? No. With God's help and as our Hope, our weaknesses can become strengths.

People who feel 'different' from the rest, even those who call themselves Christians, excuse themselves because of inabilities (or inner desires). Even 'normal' people excuse themselves from doing God's work. Which should not be, because, however, the gospel of Jesus Christ can MAKE US NEW.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17

It is not a sudden change, but it is gradual.

When I was in China, I almost forgot my inabilities/weaknesses. God was watching over me and helped me overcome my personal struggles. Reentry brought back the memory and living these struggles. The environment and people might be a factor, but knowing God was able to do in me I thought I could not, God can change anyone. No inability or disability can stop us from giving God the glory to praise His name and advance His Kingdom.

Dear Thirteen Year Old

I saw this video on Facebook about CBC Wiretap where people of all ages, young and old would say, "Dear x year old....Signed a x+y year old."

If I were to advice my younger self, I'd say:

Dear 13 year old,

You are now a young adult. Learn a lot about life, about social skills, basic living skills, everything, pray for and find a  mentor. Start contributing to society. Live as a young adult. Don't spend so much time or 100% of life in academics. You may be described as a kid, but don't let them make you stay young, take responsibility. You're a young adult who still depend on your parents. Don't worry. Time will come when you won't depend on them. Words like  "teens" "teenager" didn't appear until the 90's.

If you're reading this and not a 13 year old anymore, you're not too late. Read "Do Hard Things".

Signed,

A 27 year old, who is still learning about life and living in parents' house.

Embracing Reentry

Two and a half weeks after coming back home.

After depression, I'm facing to have found no direction (what to do, what job to take, should I work now or not yet, when can I leave and do cross-cultural missions again). Having a hard time in the ministries at church. Can't explain what I'm really going through. At times I want to 'stand up' and do something, and another times, just want to 'sit down' and do nothing.

Have been asked to play the piano in church and accept a job in computers, but I dare not. I'm pushing away what is known to be the old me. I don't want to go back to the old cycle of becoming frustrated and not liking what I'm doing. Seeking to do something that relates and develops to the new skills I learned overseas.

I have lost and left behind my old self in my former host country to take in the new self. Coming back, I'm misunderstood and still viewed as the old me. I wish people leave behind their old stereotype of me. The only ones that remains in me is the yearning to be equipped in ministry and know God and His Word, and the difficulty in communicating and interrelationships.

I long so much to leave this city I grew up in. I keep questioning God, why he brought me back when I was close to His greatness and my joy was great as well. Here, I face a lack of joy.

All I can really do is read books and hope to get to know God through those books. Also read books about education to know more about teaching. Besides this, I'm lost.

I am given the idea to start tutoring. Though I am still not confident to tutor because of my lack of experience and know-how-to-tutor, I, with fear, will try. I am afraid to fail others.

Need the Father to provide a way. He brought me back! Need Him to help me face this time of transitioning to whatever is next. Without Him, I am in fear, without a job, no direction, no support. However, where is He then?

Visionary Dreaming (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

“God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren and God Himself accordingly. He stands adamant, a living reproach to all others in the circle of brethren.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Reflection:
Joseph was a dreamer. He became proud for it.

Quote taken from: http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevinwax/2007/02/17/god-hates-visionary-dreaming/

Let Bitterness Cast Out

Two months after coming back from another country, I found my hometown still a pain. All problems and struggles I left were still present. Re-adjusting was hard after giving myself away in that country to know the people to minister to them.

Experiencing hardships and discomforts became a joy and comfort as I took part the struggles Jesus faced when He was on earth. However, coming back, everything was still the same, old hardships were still present and the struggle of a comfortable, convenient life with family and old friends became harder. I became too critical and more bitter.

I needed a community to help me re-adjust, a community to be serious with God together, a community to pray against this spiritual warfare, but every one were just too busy. But I understand they wouldn't understand my experiences. However, when I try to reach out for help, they "shrug" (looks like they don't want to be involved in my loss and grief after coming home).

Coming back to my old life was hard.

I came back but God became silent and Satan was winning. Where did I go wrong? Why do I respond with bitterness? Maybe I really am not angry at people, but angry at me. Maybe I am angry at people because I can do nothing much here. People are around for support. People are more concerned with their jobs and enjoying this life with temporary pleasures. While I am convicted of God's Word, broken to obey God's Word.

I became depressed recently. No reminder that God is still here or counsel to "read the Bible everyday," "don't look at the past but forward," "your parents will support you," "no one can help you but you alone" could help me overcome this low state. But when I accidentally came across the song, "Break Every Chain," there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain, it struck. YES! THERE'S A POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS TO BREAK EVERY CHAIN. I only needed a reminder of God's grace, of who Jesus is. And THERE'S AN ARMY, RISING UP TO BREAK EVERY CHAIN. God's army conquers against the enemy that binds these chains.

Then I must concentrate on Jesus, not people. Love people. To love people, I must talk to them about Jesus.

"We shouldn't love people in order to share our faith with them. Rather, we share our faith and ourselves with them in order to love them." ~Timothy Keller

Let this be my mission as I am back in my hometown, which I may be called to stay:

• If I am looking for a community that's Christ-centered and mission-minded, then I hope to make one.
• I hope to disciple my brother and his girl friend for they both are looking for deep relationship with God. Bringing them to a church, which can meet their spiritual needs.
• As for my home church, I pray you'd find the gospel a 'joyful burden' to accept and live.
• As for my parents, I pray you'd know the true God.
• I hope to find like-minded people to grow together, learn from each other, and make where we are our mission field.
• I also hope to build relationships, bringing them to places just to spend time together. (need money)

Father, bless this vision. Cast out my bitterness. May the power of Jesus' name break every chain. Amen

Marrying Someone Not Willing to Go (John Piper)

"You ought to marry someone who's willing to go anywhere for God. If they're not, they're out." - John Piper

Self-pity and Christian Hedonism (John Piper)

The Christian Hedonist -- who has made delighting in God, not self, be the project of his life -- shouldn't boast in his successes or wallow in self-pity over his failures. But in victory and loss, he clings to the neck of another. The Christian Hedonist hugs. - John Piper

Excerpt: http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/winning-like-a-christian-hedonist

"How easy it is to begin to assume that I should be comfortable. How quickly I can start to expect ease and hassle-free ministry.

But I tell missionaries just the opposite. Life is war. Life is stress: the language is stress; the culture is stress; the food is stress; the kids’ education is stress; relationships are stress. Get ready for incarnation and crucifixion." -John Piper

Excerpt: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/taste-see-articles/irving-hetherington-self-pity-and-service

The Gospel Is the Power of God Unto Salvation (John Piper)

"The gospel is the good news that God gave us his Son, so as to obtain for us everything that would be good for us. Therefore the gospel is the power that gives us victory over temptation to despair and to pride and to greed and to lust. The gospel alone can triumph over every obstacle and bring us to eternal joy. Whatever it costs, stand in it, hold it fast, believe on it, feed on it, savor it, count it more precious than silver or gold. The gospel will save you. And it alone." - John Piper, Romans 1:16b

Excerpt: The Gospel Is the Power of God unto Salvation

The Humble Christian (Jonathan Edwards)

"The eminently humble Christian has so much to do at home and sees so much evil in his own that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts." - Jonathan Edwards

Excerpt: Undiscerned Spiritual Pride

Getting to the Root of Radical (David Platt)

"The message of Christianity is not that we need to do more for God, but that we need to trust in what God has done for us" - David Platt

Excerpt: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2010/05/25/getting-to-the-root-of-radical

Preaching Is A Gift (John Newton)

"Be punctual in waiting upon God in secret." - John Newton

"Preaching is a gift. It cannot be learned by industry and imitation only, as a man may learn to make a chair or a table: it comes from above; and if you patiently wait upon God, He will bestow this gift upon you, and increase it in you. It will grow by exercise." -John Newton
Excerpt: The Gift of Preaching--Advice to a Young Preacher

Joy and Mission (Timothy Keller)

"The lack of joy in your life is due to your lack of mission." -T.Keller

When People....(after preaching) (Mark Driscoll)

"When people have follow-up questions, they are helping you learn what you missed in your sermon. When lost people want to talk about the message, they are helping you learn to do evangelism. When people are confused, they are helping you learn how to communicate more clearly. When people need prayer, they are helping you learn to love well. When people criticize you, they are helping you grow in humility. When people praise you, they are helping you stay encouraged." - Mark Driscoll

From: http://theresurgence.com/2012/12/05/5-ways-to-get-better-at-preaching-and-teaching

Moralism vs. Christ-Centered Exposition (Tim Keller)

Excerpt: http://www.monergism.com/moralism-vs-christ-centered-exposition-tim-keller

A BASIC OUTLINE FOR CHRIST-CENTERED, GOSPEL-MOTIVATED SERMONS
The following may actually be four points in a presentation, or they may be treated very quickly as the last point of a sermon. But more generally, this is a foundational outline for the basic moral reasoning and argument that lies at the heart of the application.

The Plot winds up: WHAT YOU MUST DO.
“This is what you have to do! Here is what the text/narrative tells us that we must do or what we must be.”

In every text of the Scripture there is somehow a moral principle. It may grow out of because of what it shows us about the character of God or Christ, or out of either the good or bad example of characters in the text, or because of explicit commands, promises, and warnings. This moral principle must be distilled clearly. 

The Plot thickens: WHY YOU CAN’T DO IT.
“But you can’t do it! Here are all the reasons that you will never become like this just by trying very hard.”

But then a crisis is created in the hearers as the preacher shows that his moral principle creates insurmountable problems. The sermon shows how this practical and moral obligation is impossible to meet. The hearers are led to a seemingly dead end.

The Plot resolves: HOW HE DID IT.
“But there’s One who did. Perfectly. Wholly. Jesus the—. He has done this for us, in our place.”

Then a hidden door opens and light comes in. The sermon moves both into worship and into Christ-application when it shows how only Jesus Christ has fulfilled this. If the text is a narrative, you can show how Christ is the ultimate example of a particular character. If the text is didactic, you can show how Christ is the ultimate embodiment of the principle.

The Plot winds down: HOW, THROUGH HIM, YOU CAN DO IT.
“Our failure to do it is due to our functional rejection of what he did. Remembering him frees our heart so we can change like this…”

Finally, we show how our inability to live as we ought stems from our rejection of Christ as the Way, Truth, and Life (or whatever the theme is). The sermon points out how to repent and rejoice in Christ in such a way that we can live as we ought.

Trust Christ alone versus Trust Christ by trusting His People

I have two friends, a Catholic and a Protestant. The Protestant quoted Kevin DeYoung, "You cannot trust Christ truly unless you trust Christ alone."

Then the Catholic argued, "Trusting God means trusting those He sends. He sent Christ so we trust Christ. Christ sent people (disciples) so we trust also the disciples (John 17:18 & John 20:21). Belief in Christ does not negate belief to the rest of the household of God. The Head is part of the Body. Therefore, belief & love for Christ is never "alone", it must extend or mirror to those whom Christ loves (primarily those who with Him in his heavenly family)."

The Protestant quoted the context of the quote, "There is nowhere else we ought to look for our salvation than in Christ. You cannot trust Christ truly unless you trust Christ alone. No matter how much you boast of Christ or talk of your love for Christ or passion for Christ, if you add anything to Christ, your boasting and love and passion are all in vain. There is no "both-and" with Jesus, only "either-or." Either Jesus is the only Savior [John 14:6], the perfect Savior, and your only comfort in life and in death, or Jesus is for you no Savior at all."

The Catholic responded, "It is not adding in the salvation or sufficiency of Christ but more on the aspect of trusting Christ so much that you must also trust those whom he sends. God is love but He does not point or exclude others to be loved that's why Christ has 2 commandments namely Love God & love others. The problem with that view is it is reductionist. It reduces the Christian idea of salvation based on love. It makes it individualistic (disregarding others). The complete picture of salvation is "communion", community, fellowship, church, FAMILY. This is an example of what I am saying.... (Matthew 10:40) "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me." Faith in Christ is not a private privilege or exclusive of others. Faith in Christ is inclusive & it logically includes to those whom he favors or sends."

The Protestant, "Your taking it out of context... I cant post the whole book here...the text is about Jesus being the Savior and salvation is found in Him alone (Acts 4:12)..."

The Catholic, "However, the Protestant approach in salvation is individualistic & most of the time simplistic to the point that it contradicts the entirety of the Scriptures... Everything is centered in Christ but those who are drawn to Christ are necessarily drawn to each other. Salvation is communion with Christ at the center."

Flawed as I am, I want to make a comment but this, "Answer not a fool, lest I become one." Therefore, I just want to make a statement here.

To take both points:

1) Trusting God means trusting those whom He sends.

First of all, people are sinners and fail. If we trust people, we are open for disappointments because people do fail. Whom God sends: family, friends, mentors, even enemies. As a reflection in the Book of Judges that God no longer removed Canaan from Israel to test them, punish them, and teach them. God sent people to test us for faithfulness, do we trust Him or people? God sent people (good or bad) to teach us a lesson, to bring about obedience to God. God sent people to mold us, to strengthen us for His purpose.

Jesus, though the Father gave him people who would believe Him, did not trust in man for He knew man's nature is sinful. (John 17; John 2:23-25)

To whom did Adam trust? He trusted himself and his wife, they fell and disobeyed God.

To whom did Abraham trust? He trusted himself and his wife, they disobeyed and manipulated God's plan.

To whom did Samson trust? He trusted himself and Delilah who took his strength and gave him to the Philistines.

To whom did Solomon trust? He trusted himself and all "good things", he was puffed up and forsook God.

By this definition that "trusting God means trusting those whom He sends", things look filthy and messy, all disappointments.

2) Trusting God alone and only Him.

We can still trust people but not so much that our trust is reliant on them than God. Trusting God is knowing who God is, His Character. When we trust a person, we usually first know the person before we begin to trust Him. But trusting man apart from trusting God alone, that's similar to point #2. But trusting man is not the same as trusting God, because man is, again, sinful and fails. God is the Creator, King, Father, Lord, and Ruler of us. He is all sufficient, complete, perfect, faithful, and everlasting.

Our Catholic friend here says that this is individualistic, simplistic, and reductionistic. I wonder why people want complicated things and make it the ultimate truth, because simple things are hard to understand in limited minds. Loving God and loving others is not like two commandments made into one. God said to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. When we learn, with the Holy Spirit's enabling, to love God, loving others come naturally to us, which loving others comes from God too. The foundation of love, trust/faith is God who has given this enabling to us through the Holy Spirit. It is not even individualistic, because we are trusting God to do what He oughts us to do or will to do according to His 2nd commandment about others, which is stretched into the 4th to 10th commandment in the Ten Commandments.

Trusting God alone is not reductionistic, we're not reducing what the Bible says. My friend is connecting a puzzle, though it fits, does not make the picture. He is actually adding the principle of the Scriptures because the Bible doesn't say anything what my friend is saying.

To whom did Moses trust? If he trusted the people God entrusted him, he's bound for failure. If he trusted his siblings, he's also bound for failure. Therefore, a servant of the Lord, Moses trusted God alone.

To whom did David trust? If he trusted Saul, he might have not become King because Saul betrayed him and killed him. David trusted Jonathan, true, but David trusted God more. When a sleeping Saul was brought into David's hands because he's the next King, David didn't kill him because God appointed Saul, therefore David had no power to kill Saul except God. David trusted God alone, yet He became King as God promised.

To whom did Jesus trust? If Jesus trusted his disciples, could we have Jesus today? Jesus' disciples left him.

To whom did Paul trust? His friends even left him.

3) Conclusion

Therefore, to whom do we trust? But in God alone. Salvation comes in God alone. Ephesians 2:8 says, "For by grace you have been saved (salvation) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (emphasis mine) Salvation comes from God. Grace comes from God. Faith/Trust comes from God. No man gives another man salvation, grace, and faith.

Though man is sent by God to bring another man to Christ, that doesn't mean the man has the power to give salvation, grace, and faith. God entrusted him, but the Holy Spirit does the work through the man.

I have spiritual parents who bore me to faith, that doesn't mean they gave me faith. Romans 10:17, "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." God gave me that faith through my spiritual parents who taught His Word to me, who led me to know God. Trusting God by trusting whom He sends is not it. Trusting God because He is God who provides, who loves, who cares, who is Father, who is King, who is Savior, who is Lord, who is what we are not, is different from "Trusting God means trusting whom He sends." It may mean that my Catholic friend here doesn't know God.

Matthew 11:29-30, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Simple, God didn't say, "Take my yoke because it's complicated."