Man, that makes me mad. But, a soft answer turns away wrath, right?
So, here's my soft answer. This place has been my church, for all intents and purposes, for the better part of a year. Before that, it was a place where I came to terms with the fact that I "had been" in ministry in COGOP and "wanted to be" in ministry again. That question no longer torments me, but without Jude2 I'm not so sure I could say that.
Most importantly, though, although I've only met a few of you in person and a few more by telephone and email, it seems like I know you all. And, I don't give a royal rip what some holier-than-thou self-important person may say about Jude2, the people here are real and genuine. Not "has beens", but certainly "wanna bes". To the person, I've seen people here "wanna be" like Christ, I've seen some "wanna be" loved and accepted, I've seen some "wanna be" taken honestly with respect, I've seen some "wanna be" listened to, I've seen some "wanna be" left alone even, I've seen some "wanna be" better students and followers of the Way, I've seen some "wanna be" just about everything under the sun, and I've seen most of them get what they want in some degree or fashion. Now, if that ain't ministry, tell me what is.
I've seen some have beens, too. How many times I've clicked on the Prayer and Praise forum and seen people say "I have been praying for you." I got a PM from someone today who detected some cynicism in my posts and took the time and consideration to kindly ask me if I was alright. HA! Nobody else in my circle of friends and family has picked up on it.
He said, in a word, "I have been thinking about you."
Yup. Has beens and wanna bes. Good company to be in if you ask me.
Human government bears the same relation to hell as the church bears to heaven. (David Lipscomb, On Civil Government, 72).