[Lawrence F Vincent]

Hello Everyone,
I am Lawrence Francis Vincent (you can call me Francis), a researcher and voluntary spiritual trainer from the Catholic Diocese of Dharmapuri. I could not join earlier due to a health setback and now ready to complete the course, though in solitude but accompanied by all your forum posts and discussions.

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear sister Hephzibah,

Thank you for your generous appreciation. God bless you.

Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear brother Karl Dennis,
I admire your resolve to be more intentional in your relationship with unbelievers. Your proposed way of accomplishing this in practice, by developing genuine friendship with others and demonstrating the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ, is most inspiring and I would love to do the same.
The importance you accord to this as a means for not being the cause for others to stumble, is most commendable and a truly praxis oriented thought. It is indeed powerfully double-edged and we can link our efforts for our salvation directly with the salvation of other fellowmen.
Congratulations and thanks brother.
Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear brother Arul Sam, I welcome your precise contention that the very fact that not hearing the Gospel is no excuse for escaping condemnation, urges you to share the gospel in every possible way. Your choice of quotes (Acts 4:12 and Rom 10:14) aptly reinforce and strengthen your contention. As you have rightly pointed out subsequently, we are indeed called to be like the watchman of Israel in Ezekiel 33:7. And again, the need to share the good news in some way or the other by God’s grace, is exactly what ‘fulfillment of our mission’ is all about. God has indeed defined a beautifully interdependent network based on love for God and neighbour.
Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Your’e right brother Richard in asserting that there is no question of losing salvation. It is a very complex matter which is rarely debated purposefully. No one can snatch those who belong to God and they are absolutely secure. However, there is no taking away their freedom and if they choose to stray it amounts to rejecting God’s salvation. That is why Paul says: “Woe to me if do not preach the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Also see Ezekiel 3:16-21; 18:24-26 and 33:18. I know it is a complex topic and would prefer to discuss it in person rather than having a public debate; of course only if you are interested. But I respect your point and so as to not cause any confusion I am deleting part of my post and thank you for taking up this matter with me.
Yours in Lord Jesus Christ
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

There are multiple ways by which God reaches out to each and every person so that no one remains excluded from his plan and purpose for all humans to indwell with him in his eternal abode of love, joy and peace.
Those who do not heed his loving overtures are indeed hell-bent and bring about their own ruin by spurning God’s love. In the process they also incur God’s wrath by choosing the way of evil to engage in abhorrent actions. If they have chosen to do so after rejecting the good counsel of their own conscience, then the consequences are obvious and imminent.
The Gospel is revealed for this specific purpose: to equip those who are called by God to be his instruments or extended arms in the salvation of humanity. If such fortunate ones who receive the Good News, fail in this sacred duty, then they are bound to become worse off than others who never heard the Good News.
Therefore, it is only logical that the reward or condemnation of those with higher responsibility is also higher than others. This clarity of our role as God’s co-workers in salvation of humanity, urges us to be more faithful in our personal witness as well as witnesses in our capacity as members of the church.
LAWRENCE F VINCENT

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear Bro. Richard,
Thank you for your comments.
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Thank you sister Mabellyn for your observations.
Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Thank you sister Hephzibah.
Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Thank you brother Ajit Moses, for those additional thoughts.
Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear sister Hephzibah,
I endorse your pointed observation that it is only to exploit the misery of the faithful, that “prosperity lures” are working hard to try and wean away the weak ones who could succumb to this illusory delusion.
As you have said, unless our hearts are set on the precious values of the kingdom that Jesus will consummate when he returns, we cannot avoid becoming vulnerable to such lures that can mislead us to change track and choose the “wide road that leads to hell”.
If only we would take care to observe closely, there is a clear proof of tandem working of the “prosperity lures” and “social evils that are perpetrated on hapless victims”. Those who fall for such lures are bound to become worse victims
Regards
Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear brother Arun Thomas,
I appreciate and welcome the deeply personal response from your heart, of believing that it has even wider connotation to the ministry of the Church (the ministry of reconciliation – 2 Cor 5:18).
Truly, just as you have pointed out, this does affect our ministry in a two pronged way – to the downtrodden of this world, to whom this this awesome Christ comes with the hope of a better tomorrow and also to the worldly powerful, who in their arrogance walk over the weak, a conviction reminding them that they are not all powerful but that they are answerable to one who is All Powerful.
And yes, our Lord will one day ask account of their life, purely on the platform of love. We the church must believe this firmly.
Well said brother.
Regards – Lawrence

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Our God is a God of justice and goodness, which are two traits of his character. This is the exact reason why, we the people of God find “injustice” and “evil” most unbearable.
But that is the challenge of life and people of God are expected to bear this pain in their struggle to lead a life pleasing to God.
But if such endurance has to be sustained throughout life there has to be an enabling factor or cause. In fact, it has always been there for the people of God as we read in several places in the Old Testament about the hope of deliverance of the righteous from all troubles (Eg. Psalm 27:14; 31:24; 34:19 & Isaiah 54:4) and about final justice by way of enemies of God’s people being made a “footstool”(Psalm 110:1).
The renewal and raising of this same hope to higher than ever before and in clearer terms is seen in this New Testament era. (Eg. Matthew 21:42-44; John 14:2-4, 17-20).
It is our confident hope in the future triumphant return of Christ, that sustains us in our daily struggles which is further complemented by foretastes of heavenly joy to keep us going without losing heart. This is how our serving God and the ministry of the Church Is encouraged in the midst of persecutions.
LAWRENCE F VINCENT

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear Rev Lola,
I loved your precise emphasis on being fruitful and as you have beautifully pointed out, the fruits of the Holy Spirit that we would bear are indeed the ultimate differentiators that would usher God’s kingdom. God bless your ministry.
Lawrence F Vincent

[Lawrence F Vincent]

Dear sister Hema,
‘Words make worlds’ and the language we use while relating with others, is going to play a very significant role in our effectiveness. Congratulations for your choice of words that render great truths simple to comprehend. You have not missed out anything and have presented the crux of the whole lesson rather crisply and clearly. The Scripture references too are very apt and corroborate your thoughts perfectly. Your simple expounding is going to be very useful to many of us in sharing our understanding with others.
Thank you very much and wish you all the very best.
Lawrence F Vincent

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