“I Still Have Many Things to Say to You”: But You Cannot Bear Them Now

By Marcia G. Carrier

Shocked by the idea that some people believe that God hates ____s, Pastor Marcia Carrier describes a new way of thinking about God and His love for all people. I Still Have Many Things to Say to You (But You Cannot Bear them Now) explores the sheer awesome and unconditional love God has for each of us. This is a must read for anyone who has questioned their faith or whether or not they are chosen. Pastor Marcia gives a convincing argument that we cannot even comprehend how much God loves us and chooses us. Readers will finish this book feeling renewed in their faith and confident that God hates no one.

Jenny Nettesheim

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781973608493

Marcia G. Carrier

Marcia has been a pastor for the past twentyseven years. She lives in Hartford, Wisconsin. She has two daughters and four grandchildern. Her passion is Biblical Interpretation. Her other passion is tennis.

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Copyright © 2017 Marcia G. Carrier.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-0848-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0849-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017918007

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/13/2018

CONTENTS

Introduction: An Invitation to Enter the Conversation

Chapter 1: God Hates???

Chapter 2: The Over Riding Need to be Right

Chapter 3: Where is God in the Mess?

Chapter 4: The Identity of Christian

Chapter 5: Why did God Send Jesus to Earth?

Chapter 6: The New Contract

Chapter 7: The Quality of Hate

Chapter 8: The Quality of Love

Chapter 9: The Little word New

Chapter 10: The Not so Little Word Sin

Chapter 11: Faith / Belief

Chapter 12: A Most Intimate Relationship

Chapter 13: The Stumbling Block

Chapter 14

Chapter 15: A Radical Change Is Coming!

Chapter 16: The Best Promise Ever

Chapter 17: Big Changes To Come!

Chapter 18: Before God We Are All Equal! No Exceptions!

Chapter 19: Who Really Is Our Neighbor?

Chapter 20: Thank You For Your Willingness to Enter The Conversation

INTRODUCTION

An Invitation to Enter the Conversation

1. Could it be that God has more to say than what was first printed in the books chosen to be the Christian Canon?

2. Could it be that all of our questions are not answered by what is specifically written on the pages of the Bible?

To be attentive to these questions I am going to attempt to place words on the pages of this book that could have indefinable present day meaning before a God who is undefinable and beyond the limits of our human brain’s ability to comprehend.

This small book is one person’s passionate plea for the Christian world, and our nation, to come together in their ignorance. It is a thesis on one, just one, understanding of the most widely read book in our history. A book that cannot easily be understood at first, nor even second reading. A book that needs explanation of its contexts, cultures, languages, and traditions. And yet, a book that I believe holds the basic truth for life and living upon this earth.

This small book is also a plea for those, who seem to want to, limit God’s grace and mercy. They do this by witnessing in ways that put stumbling blocks before those who still strive to seek meaning and purpose in this God who seems so very illusive and untouchable.

In the last century our nation has experienced the insurgence of a very strong right wing in the Christian religion that has claimed dominance in Biblical understanding. I am not attempting to pronounce judgment on their theology, even though I disagree with their interpretations on scripture as well as their methods of witness and evangelism. It is simply my opinion, and so, I have to say, I may very well be incorrect in my assessment. What I will attempt to do is request that they at least consider what I have to say. Keeping in mind that I am perfectly willing to admit that I could be incorrect in my own understanding, interpretation, and theology. However, it is my firm opinion that we all stand ignorant before this boundless God that we worship. I honor all thoughts on scripture as one person’s, or one group’s, true belief about what is written within the covers of the Holy Bible. I am truly grateful that people have a passion for what they profess to believe.

What concerns me, and the reason for this book, is how our witness as Christian draws in, or turns away, those outside the institutional church. I speak about this at the very beginning of my thoughts. Jesus gave us a commission to Go and make disciples (students) of all nations,… (Matthew 28:19-20 NRSV). My primary question is: Are we making disciples? Or are we making skeptics? Does our witness create a safe place for wonder, questions, and/or doubts to grow into belief that leads to a life of faith? Or, does our witness intimidate and limit people’s quest for truth?

As I do this I will be talking about the difference between the Old Covenant (the Old Testament) and the New Covenant (the New Testament). I will touch on the issue of sin, belief, faith and most clearly Jesus’ promise of continual assistance in our student status of human living in a very human culture.

For those of you who are not familiar with theological lingo, I want to be very intentional about the various terms that we theological types tend to use so freely in conversations like this one, not realizing how foreign their meaning is to the world around us. I mention this because when I first entered seminary I sat through my first hour of Lutheran Theology listening to the professor rattle on using terms I didn’t understand. I went up after class and asked him: So, do you have a dictionary I might buy that will help me understand the language you use? He smiled, laughed a little, and answered: Yes, as a matter of fact we do. I went directly to the bookstore and bought a little paperback that became my guide to listening in class that first year.

We, in the institutional church often forget to remember that what we understand so automatically fails to express the message to those who come to listen. And, it is not just the big concepts like incarnation, salvation, justification, sanctification, redemption, repentance, etc. It also includes what I call the important little words like love, grace, sin, saved, baptized, all, if, old and new that tend to get left to the listener’s imagination without adequate definition. So, throughout this conversation I will attempt to be attentive to the words and concepts that I will bring into the discussion in order that you, the reader, will be able to stay with me as we go along.

With all of that being said, I invite you into the conversation. I encourage openness and a grace filled discussion about how we might faithfully witness together to this Mighty God we claim to believe in and have faith to follow.

So, come on along!

CHAPTER 1

God Hates???

The poster on the T.V. screen read: GOD HATES____s!

The poster on the nightly news, written in bold black