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NASB | 1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 13:1 ¶ If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God's love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. |
Bible Question:
Loud Mouthed Christian: Help! I have a friend who believes in the sovereignty of God to the extent that it seems to be causing problems. I'm not sure how to help her. She is convinced that God puts people in her path so that she might 'bless' them by exercising her gift of teaching. Due to God’s sovereignty, she believes that her thoughts at the time of her 'divine appointments' are ordered by God and that she should speak them (all). The problem is, she exercises little or no restraint in what she says. In her mind, its all from God. Since she believes her thoughts at those times are placed there by God, they should be a blessing to others. She pours out thought after thought, much of it unrelated to the person’s actual needs. She goes on and on like a person starved for conversation. She dominates all bible studies, prayer groups and individual conversations. It drives everyone, including her leaders, nuts. She believes that God's word doesn't return void and she is therefore justified spouting off whatever happens to come to her. She has been confronted many times by others, including pastors, to tone it down but she can't seem to receive it. I mentioned to her that her 'teaching ministry' might be more effective in the Church if Christians were open to hearing what she has to say, but that her style has alienated almost everyone. Her response was that Jesus didn't worry about what people thought of him and he didn't try to censor what he had to say just to placate his listeners and so neither should she (so much for my first argument). I also told her that some thoughts are probably not from God and that she should therefore be slow to speak them. I also told her that some of her thoughts are likely for her only and not for sharing with others. Between these two circumstances a lot of her thoughts would therefore not be appropriate to speak out. These ideas seemed new to her but she still shows no signs of slowing down. She is so used to people slamming her that she has her defenses in high gear. I've been praying for her and believe God has a place in his body for her. She is otherwise lovely and committed. Please pray for her and if you have some scriptures that might help her please pass them on to me. |
Bible Answer: Jesus never forced. Jesus only preached to those who came to him to hear His word. There are no accounts of Him preaching to anyone who did not want to receive the message. He spoke and crowds gathered. Matthew 7:6,12,15 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Ecclesiastes 9:17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Mark 4 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown." I hope this helps. |