46:30 "...and the problem that I have with this whole scenario is that Jesus called Peter and ordained him a disciple and if we would use this, if we we believe that Peter was never converted, then we should find unconverted people to ordain as ministers." whether Peter was converted or not is irrelevant because Jesus also ordained Judas, knowing he was not converted. As noted in Review and Herald, October 5, 1897, paragraph 2, 'Jesus saw the true inwardness of the heart. He knew that Judas was not converted.' This demonstrates that the church has always included unconverted individuals in positions of trust, and perhaps some have never truly been converted. This is not ideal, but is in fact the nature of tares among wheat within the church experience - including in the ministry. Yet, God is working in their hearts, just as Christ sought to win Judas' heart while he served as a minister. Unfortunately, some in ministry see themselves as self-appointed 'ministry purifiers,' believing it is their responsibility to free the ministry from those they consider not as pure as they are. And they think they are doing God's work in order to prepare the church to receive the latter rain. In doing so, they exclude genuinely converted individuals from the ministry whom God has unmistakably called, but in their judgment are not perfect enough to serve as ministers. This in itself shows that the 'ministry purifiers' need to be converted. Its a sad state of affairs - may God help us all.
46:30 "...and the problem that I have with this whole scenario is that Jesus called Peter and ordained him a disciple and if we would use this, if we we believe that Peter was never converted, then we should find unconverted people to ordain as ministers." whether Peter was converted or not is irrelevant because Jesus also ordained Judas, knowing he was not converted. As noted in Review and Herald, October 5, 1897, paragraph 2, 'Jesus saw the true inwardness of the heart. He knew that Judas was not converted.'
This demonstrates that the church has always included unconverted individuals in positions of trust, and perhaps some have never truly been converted. This is not ideal, but is in fact the nature of tares among wheat within the church experience - including in the ministry. Yet, God is working in their hearts, just as Christ sought to win Judas' heart while he served as a minister.
Unfortunately, some in ministry see themselves as self-appointed 'ministry purifiers,' believing it is their responsibility to free the ministry from those they consider not as pure as they are. And they think they are doing God's work in order to prepare the church to receive the latter rain. In doing so, they exclude genuinely converted individuals from the ministry whom God has unmistakably called, but in their judgment are not perfect enough to serve as ministers. This in itself shows that the 'ministry purifiers' need to be converted. Its a sad state of affairs - may God help us all.