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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Savant | 42686 | ||
it's not my place to forgive judas. whats more important, did the father forgive him. and even more important, are you forgiven??? | ||||||
2 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Hank | 42692 | ||
Savant, welcome to the forum and please don't think that all questions posed to this forum are as inane as "Do you forgive Judas?" I believe you gave as good an answer as any, in view of the inept question. It struck me as singularly hilarious to walk into my Sunday School class some bright Lord's day morning and say, "Good morning, class. Everybody in favor of forgiving Judas raise your hand...... Now, let's vote on Saul of Tarsus, that mean Pharisee who persecuted Christians. Shall we forgive him or cut all his letters out of the Bible and throw them away? Why, there are so many bad guys in the Bible that I suppose we could spend the whole hour deciding which ones to forgive." ...... And, oh yes Savant, I nearly forgot: I like the last question best of your trio: "Even more important, are you forgiven?" --Hank | ||||||
3 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Mommapbs | 42736 | ||
Greetings Hank! Since our salvation depends upon God's forgiveness, why not mull over what our responsibilities are in the matter? As for Judas, I too agree with Savant's answer. We are told to forgive those who "trepass against us." So what about those who do offend us - what is our attitude? What should it be? This gives me cause for introspection for as I sit and read some of the posts on this Forum, I become angry and offended by the tone or the lack of Bibilical support of many. Since I am offended, does this predicate the necessity of my forgiveness toward the writers of these "inane" and "inept" texts? I forgive you. Mommapbs |
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4 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Hank | 42747 | ||
Mommapbs, forgiveness is always in order. But that is not the same thing as approbation. Jesus' pattern prayer teaches us to "forgive our debtors." This does not mean that Christians cannot and should not speak out clearly and forcefully against "inane and inept texts" or against any form of false or frivolous statements on this forum or anywhere else. 2 Timothy 3:16 uses, among others, the words 'reprove' and 'correction.' There is a growing battle cry in our culture for 'tolerance.' But the definition that is attached to the word generally means something like 'tacit approval' -- approval and acceptance of other religious views and teachings that are different from and often inimical to the teachings of Christianity. We are being taught and asked to believe that one religious faith is as good as another. We are fed the lie that even in Christendom, one church -- no matter what its adherents teach -- is just as true as any other. Christians who stand firm in their faith and oppose these views are often branded as bigots and troublemakers and treated as spiritual lepers. Mommapbs, your words to me, "I forgive you," sound magnanimous enough on the surface but carry the clear implication that some word or deed calling for forgiveness must have preceded them. So for what, may I ask, do you feel moved to come forward and announce that you forgive me? Wherein have I trespassed against you? --Hank | ||||||
5 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Mommapbs | 42749 | ||
Hank - Thanks for your prompt reply. Although not addressed to me, your criticism of others who pose questions on the Forum did upset me. It has been said, if you can't say something nice . . . and this has NOTHING to do with tolerance. I agree, we must be vigilant in defending the Faith and the Truth of God's Word. But there is a way to do it, with gentleness, respect and love. This appeared to be lacking (from my perspective) in your response. We are to told to esteem others more highly than ourselves and in the context of this command, I felt that you were being unfair to the the author of the original question. How does one discover the Truth unless one desires to know it? Discovery always involves questions. No question should be ever called inane or enept. To do so may discourage others from participation. If I harbor bitterness toward you or any other in my heart, the only one who will suffer is me. Therefore, it is better to forgive the offense than to become an offender. Please don't get your hackles up - this has been a good exercize in recognizing my own critical spirit and what I evoke in others! If I have offended you in any way, please accept my sincere apologies! Mommapbs |
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6 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Hank | 42763 | ||
Mommapbs, to you and others who seem to be persuaded that reproof must always be accompanied with gentleness, I invite you to examine some examples that the Bible provides in abundance. Consider, for example, how 'gentle' Jesus was in many of His dealings with the religious leaders of His day. Read Matthew 23: "woe to you, hypocrites ... fools and blind ... serpents, brood of vipers ..." -- how gentle do this words of Jesus sound to you, Mommapbs? Read Paul's letters, and Peter's, and John's. You will find strong words of rebuke, chastisement and denunciation of falsehood, of frivolous behavior, of idle chatter and speculation, of vain philosophy -- and these words are more likely than not to be served up with vigor and strong condemnation than with namby-pamby 'gentleness.' Yes, the ear-marks of a true disciple of Jesus Christ are -- among others -- love, humility, patience, kindness, and a forgiving spirit. Yet the examples for our behavior that the Bible sets before us for emulation do not suggest that gentleness should be synonymous with a passive and spineless acquiescence that leads us to allow ourselves to be blown about by every wind of doctrine. In saying that you felt I was being unfair to the original questioner, you failed to give reasons for your feelings. You say that questions are a prerequisite to discovery, and to a limited degree I agree with you that this can be true in certain situations, but discovery of truth is not always, without exemption, dependent upon questions. You further state that no question should ever be called inane or inept, and with this statement I disagree with vigor. As there can be foolish answers so can there be foolish questions. Our system of jurisprudence, in recognition of this fact, routinely prohibits improper questioning of witnesses in a court of law. Clearly a proper question should be given at least a measure of care and thought and so should the answer. One sees today, not only on this forum, but elsewhere in religious circles, a woeful lack of care and thought being given to either. --Hank | ||||||
7 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Mommapbs | 42787 | ||
Hank, how is the question, "Do you forgive Judas?" akin to the self righteous attitude of the Pharisees confronted by Jesus? Perhaps if you suggested that this questions was "frivolous, idle chatter or speculation" it would not have had the same "punch" of your original characterization. My primary concern was and is that when you cast disparaging remarks (as opposed to a Biblical rebuke) upon another's posting, (you referred to Love Fountain's question as "inane and inept") others may also experience a sense of inadequacy and become discouraged from future Forum participation. If you are concerned about the propriety of a question or the direction of a thread, may I suggest that you call it to the attention of the Lockman Foundation for review. Mommapbs |
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8 | Do you forgive Judas? | John 13:11 | Radioman | 42791 | ||
If anyone's postings result in Love Fountain becoming discouraged from future Forum participation, then that one's writings will not have been in vain. Be assured: reporting abusive or innappropriate postings to the Lockman Foundation has been done and shall continue to be done whenever necessary. |
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