by
Lee Frances Heller
Other sheep I have, that are not of this fold; them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." -- John !0:16
One of our greatest difficulties is the non-acceptance of our life style by the "churches", which results in rejection of us by at least 95% of them. The only thing wrong is that they don't read all the bible. The man made legalism manifests itself in that little black book written by man whose title is "Church Discipline". It very often supersedes the bible. It has no elasticity. It is iron bound, and so are it's adherents. This is why we are often asked to leave a church and branded undesirable. They are all of the flock of Jesus', and when they have negative attitudes towards us, they simply set themselves aside as keepers of the house of God and the family of God in which there is no room for us, as we are not stereotypical and don't fit.
Jesus says to them, "And other sheep I have that are not of this fold." He wants to get us all together in one field and be our shepherd. I often wonder about my daughter who was raised to be the Christian she is. She is bitterly, almost violently, against me. How in the world are we going to get along in heaven? We're both going there. We'll do just fine, as when we die we lose all manifestations of the flesh. We don't take our likes and dislikes with us. There will be no crossdressing needs. No gender dysphoria because, "For you are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither bond or free, there is neither male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28)
That applies to life in this world also, but imperfections in the weave of the church society fail to make it a reality. I guess that's why Jesus referred to the "the other sheep I have." Postionally, we are in the fold. Our wings are reserved for us in heaven. Each of us will be one of the heavenly host someday. It doesn't feel like it now because of the battle we have with "spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)
God loves you, and Christ died for you. He died to remove the blanket of sin you were born under. Open up your heart and life to Him and join us "other sheep". As Christ came into this world and went to His own people in this world He created and was rejected by them, the principle of rejection was made alive and real on a Spiritual level. But as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God; that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, rely on) His name. John 1:(11) 12.
"As many as," Nowhere in the bible will you find an exception to any invitation which says, "except cd/tg/ts."
We are the OTHER sheep. We are His sheep just as much as the finest, noblest, hierarchy or member the church can offer.
