Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Difference between christian/ disciple | Acts 11:26 | Morant61 | 131200 | ||
Greetings GB! May I interject my friend? I have been a part of this forum for a long time now - longer than most! Over that time, I have seen many insulting posts. I have also seen many people defend their insulting posts by appealing to Jesus' example (I'm not trying to say that your posts are insulting. I just wanted to address this issue my friend). The problem that I have with that defense is that we are not Jesus. :-) He had perfect knowledge, perfect power, perfect love, and was 'sinless'. Scripture does give us some guidelines concerning our words and our interactions with others. Consider the following: Col. 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." The phrase translated 'your conversation' is literally 'the words of you'. Also consider the following: 2 Cor. 5:14 - "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." People will be much more likely to respond to grace and love than to insults or sarcasm. I have seen this many times on this forum. 'Grace' can 'love' doesn't automatically mean that a person will respond to 'truth', but it is much more likely to occur than with insults or sarcasm. Usually, all that happens with insults and sarcasm is that the posts become personal attacks. Again, my friend, I am not writting this specifically to you. I am simply using your post as an opportunity to remind all of us to watch our 'words'. Words can hurt, heal, help, or destroy. They can calm or inflame. I know from experience that I have to constantly watch my own words. I can't count the number of times that I was tempted to responded to someone 'hatefully'. But, as I prayed about my words, I was led to delete the post and start again - this time using a generous doses of grace and love. :-) I pray that all on this forum will remember these words from Scripture, beginning with myself. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Difference between christian/ disciple | Acts 11:26 | Glory Bound | 131217 | ||
As usual Tim, your words are pure. Tim, I too am familiar with those to whom you refer concerning their insulting posts. However, I would attest that there are occasions when the naked truth is insulting. But when ones nakedness is revealed, should they not do something other than defend their nakedness? When one makes ignorant statements concerning scripture, and then refuses scriptural instruction, I should think that the instructor would be expected to either "give up" on that person, or present the truth in a more firm manor. My biggest mistake is that I do not like to give up where scriptural truth is concerned.Perhaps I added a little more seasoning than I should. I apologize only to any who may have misunderstood my intentions. I make no apologies concerning any of my statements to this individual. As I intend to take your thoughts to heart, "If ones intentions are pure, will they not listen to correction?" Thank you Tim GB |
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3 | Difference between christian/ disciple | Acts 11:26 | Morant61 | 131233 | ||
Greetings GB! As I mentioned my friend, I wasn't directing my comments specifically toward you! :-) I don't believe that it is possible for one to be both truthful and loving at the same time. The thing that I always try to remember is that what I am presenting isn't MY TRUTH! It is God's truth. Therefore, I don't have to take it personally if His truth is rejected by someone. :-) Besides, if I am being insulting, it is less likely that the person whom I am trying to reach will hear the truth anyway. Imagine the following two statements were addressed to you: "I love you my brother and I really believe that you are going to be very useful in God's kingdom. However, there is an area of your life that you really need to pray about bringing under the Lordship of Christ...." Or, "If you weren't so stupid, you could understand what I am saying!" To which statement would you most likely respond to positively? :-) Again, my friend, I am not addressing this subject specifically to you. I am simply using the opportunity to remind all of us to season our words with love and grace. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | Difference between christian/ disciple | Acts 11:26 | DocTrinsograce | 131242 | ||
Jumping in here, entirely out of context just to share an anecdote. I have an uncle who has always challenged me to deeper insights and greater cerebration than is common. When I was a youngster I remember him coming to me and presenting the following question: "What is more important, love or truth? Imagine that your dear grandmother, who loves you very much, bakes you a batch of cookies. You eat the cookies become violently ill. When your grandmother asks you, how you liked the cookies, do you answer (a) 'Grandma, they were wonderful!' out of love or (b) 'Grandma, thank you, but they made me really sick.' out of honesty." We walk this narrow path frequently interacting with people around us. Sometimes it is best to just not let others lead us down to a point where we have to speak the truth. Before I'm misunderstood, here, let me cite another anecdote. This occurred with John Wesley. (I do not agree at all with Wesley's theology, but he was a very virtuous man, and, in that, I can find much to emulate.) In his time Wesley discouraged women from ornate jewelry and fancy clothes. At one place he was preaching, after the message an older dower women came dragging in tow a younger woman by the hand. Coming up to Wesley she thrust the young woman's hand into his face. She was wearing a very ornate engagement ring. The dower lady fiercely said, "What about this?" Wesley paused a moment and then replied, "Yes, that is a very lovely hand." |
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5 | Difference between christian/ disciple | Acts 11:26 | Glory Bound | 131486 | ||
Your note is well understood and agreed on. I'd have to say that Love is the most important but, that truth has a place where LOVE is concerned. I would interject my thoughts concerning your first example. I'd have to say, "Grandmother, I love you and appreciate the cookies you made for me, but what did you put in them?" Who knows, she may have accidentally used powdered bleach in place of sugar, and it may severly affect someone else. Most assuredly, the root of our being is to be LOVE. Yet too many confuse the fact that truth is an ingredient where love is concerned. Is not LOVE truth? I look on truth as a seasoning where LOVE is concerned. It is necessary. Some do not like salt. Others do. Some require more salt than others. Even still, many require garlic, or pepper as a seasoning. Where LOVE is concerned, TRUTH is a necessary ingredient, but as with any seasoning, there can be too much or too little. In Christ GB |
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6 | Difference between christian/ disciple | Acts 11:26 | DocTrinsograce | 131541 | ||
Good answer, GB! You should have been there to have given me the right response! :-) Of course, the truth of the matter is that these things are divided only in the human mind. In God, they do not stand alone. Love, Truth, Mercy, Justice, Wrath, Joy, etc. all abide together in God without contradiction or ambivalence. |
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7 | Difference between christian/ disciple | Acts 11:26 | Glory Bound | 131545 | ||
"You should have been there to have given me the right response" Did I not read a post concerning this matter? They do get quiet confusing and hard to follow at times. GB |
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