Your short, emotional, reactionary response to only the first part of three of David Orton’s Biblically in-context papers is insipid and barren. If you are going to criticize someone’s teaching at least do your homework first and present a sound Biblical refutation.

As for your comment: “plenty of good “traditional” churches out there that do have God in there presence”:

No “churches” have God in their presence. God dwells only in His ekklesia (called out ones), His temple/tabernacle which is both, the true Christian’s person and the celestial temple of the body of Christ on earth and in heaven:

“Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” (Acts 7:48-51)

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor 3:16)

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” (Heb 8:1-2)

You also said: “And relating it to Saul and David? Wow, were you the kid that made the trianagle peg go into the square peg by hitting it with the circle peg?”:

The analogous picture of moving from a Saul like leadership to a heart of David one is prophetically sound and a truly relevant challenge to the modern church. As for your sarcastic tone: I understand you may be “cut to the heart” (Acts 7:54) by the piercing prophetic challenge to both yourself and the church in general, but you could at least loose the nepios attitude and respond in a profitable manner.

Peace
Bretto

bretto@christisall.org