The phrase doesn't just appear in a redemptive sense, though. In many cases, it is in reference to judgment, like Ezekiel 6:7- "And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD."
I think that in chapter 20, we see most clearly what this is all about. "And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. And you shall know that I am the LORD... And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evils ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds." (20:42,44) God is passionate about "manifesting His holiness" and revealing Himself and His glory, both in redemption and judgment. He does everything "for His name's sake," so that all will know that He is Yahweh. As the ESV Study Bible says again, "Ezekiel spoke oracles that vindicate the reputation of this holy God. This radically God-centered point of view finds it sharpest expression in 36:22-23... Thus the primary purpose of Ezekiel's message was to restore God's glory before the people who had spurned it in view of the watching nations."
See all the "you shall know that I am the LORD" passages in Ezekiel here.
3 comments:
Have you seen the recent posts on www.sgmsurvivors.com including the reported abuses/coveup in the Fairfax SGM Church? You might want to reconsider if you still want to be a pastor for SGM.
www.smgsurvivors.com
Steve,
I appreciate that you are trying to bring a serious issue to light. I am praying for that girl and her family. I for one am grateful for sgmsurvivors.com (a site that i follow fairly regularly) to the extent that I am made aware of disconnects between SGM faith and practice. It reminds me of the flaws in SGM as well as the flaws in myself-- both of which, I think, are invaluable to any pastoral ministry.
However, I don't appreciate the gossipy overtones of your unsolicited comment. There are definite issues and wounds and abuses that need to be confronted, but commenting on strangers' blogs is not the way to fix these things. For people who have been hurt to come together on a site dedicated to their healing might not be gossip, but advertising a poor girl's abuse and subsequent church struggles on strangers' blogs most certainly is. This is not the pathway to healing.
As to my calling to pastoral ministry and my love for Sovereign Grace Ministries, your comment does not dissuade me. Let me be clear: I do not want, in any way, to minimize some of the very legitimate concerns and trauma that people have had and experienced. I grieve for them, and I pray for them and their pastors, that the Holy Spirit would bring healing and address the underlying issues here. But with my eyes wide open to past and present problems within SGM, I reaffirm my sense of calling. If I was looking for a perfect church, I would still be looking. But I have found a wonderful home at SGM, a home full of messy people with broken lives and a glorious Savior. I am thankful that God has led me here, and I look forward with expectant faith to how He might use me here.
In His peace,
Brendan
Brendan
I put this information out here so that other people can be aware of these blogs and read them and decide for themselves. I appreciate your sensitivity to the wrongs done in SGM and your acknowledgment that some changes need to be made.
Unfortunately, it appears that posting of these issues may be the only way that SGM may feel moved to make changes. These certainly have existed for quite some time. Besides the infant molestation case, SGM has yet to address any of the issues that have been brought up on these blogs that I am aware of. That certainly says something.
I do hope SGM leadership is seeking God on all of this. You sound like a second generation SGMer. Hopefully SGM will make changes necessary or you may see what your parents work to build collapse. Only God knows.
Unfortunately, SGM has a long history of calling something "gossip" or "slander" as a way of suppressing any questioning. It certainly also allows leadership to rule without their actions being questioned. Your calling my sharing this blog information "gossipy" sure sounds like the old SGM ploy. Keep sheep blind about abuses that have occurred and leadership's actions.
It is your decision between you and God about whether you want to be a pastor there. I am glad that you are at least aware of various issues that exist at SGM. I am also glad to see you are getting a college degree before your possibly entering into their pastor's college.
Regards
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