Subject: Harsh Treatment? |
Bible Note: Beja, My only response would be from God's Word: Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. From this passage, we learn about a group of people who apparently were in violation to God's Will and His Word. I don't know the details but it's sufficient the name was most certainly not complimentary. Rev 2:19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Another report of christians following another person in conflict with God's Word. Nuff said. 1 Cor 1:11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. This passage indicates Paul's own regret in baptizing. What a shameful condition to take place in the Lord's church. 1 Tim 1:18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. Well I think I could come up with other examples, including those from the OT but I think you get my point. When one gives his life and everything he hopes be to the Lord, sacrificing his all, it's a natural thing for such a child of God to be a little sensitive to this thing as name-calling. Sure we are to take such ridicule and abuse from the world but when a christian comes to this Forum dedicated to Bible study by christians and for christians to use to build up the Lord's church, we naturally think we won't be stuck with labels other than simply christians. I think the scriptures above and all the other examples from the Bible clearly support this position but that of course is just my opinion. What do you think? Still wishing God's richest blessings on you, Inquisitor |