Featured Crossing the line

I would need to know more about the context of "calling out of sin" as being desirable, but I will say that the church needs to preach what they are for, what Jesus has done for them, rather than going around and finding fault with everything and stating what they oppose.

 

Yes, good thread. My first thought is folks, even in the local church, using truth for the purpose of being mean, or the enjoyment of seeing others being hurt. I despise the term brutally honest. For example, if someone was coming to church that did not bathe properly, you are being honest to tell the person they stink. However, it is the intent of the heart. If I am in a crowd of people with this guy, and say so all can hear, "what is your problem, you smell like a double dose of skunk." I have told the truth, yet, he has been embarrassed in front of others. My object was not to correct the problem, but to use him to make fun, at his expense. On the other hand, I could have gotten him alone and asked him what the deal was, and what needed to be done to correct the situation. That was a crude example, but everyone knows exactly what I am saying. It kind of parallels the gossip problem. One is either trying to restore the person in question, or get a thrill of being the first one to "spread the news." One is of God, the other is not.

 

Very wise words.:thumbs:

The Bible---God's word ---has to be used to LOVE people, not to beat theme over the head. I think a good way to explain it to this board would be the very same way that people on here and a lot of evangelical churches think that Blacks cry racism too much, the unsaved, the unchurch and the back slidden feel like we hit them over the head with a Bible full of "DON'Ts" too much. We're always coming across negative.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say stop loving me so much. :laugh:

We've got to learn how to meet folks where they are and recognize that folks just want to be loved. Not beat upon. Not laughed at. Not made to feel like they are freaks. Just loved.

There is nothing like seeing someone who has been treated as an outcast respond to someone taking a genuine interest and loving them. It's what Jesus did.

Lord knows we get beat over the head enough with the straight wicked things of this world. Let's not act like them when we're presenting the truth.

 

Another AMEN! They know what we're against. Let's talk to them as we would a family member. Let's love them and show them that in spite of what they have been sold, there is a best way.:thumbs:

 

What would you say about Jesus who used a whip to clear the temple and over turned tables? And what about when He called people dogs, hypocrits, and snakes?

 

Context, was it for preachers against abortion, gay marriages, or some other moral issue, and the person in captioned wanted them to be for those things?

 

I would say that he didn't go around doing it every day. How many times did he do that vs. the number of times he healed people?

 

yes, as he gave the good news to siiners who wpuld receive the message with gladness, but to the "dogs", those who were blind to Him and his work...

same way today!.

 

The Righteous Lamb of God came to seek and save that which was lost. He wasn't trying to win an argument.

 

I would say that HE was the messiah.

 

I just wanted to tell you that your testimony rings true with me. I am very sad we got off to a bad start over Romney. The Spirit in me testifies that your posts are from the heart. There are many on here that I feel that way about including Salty, TNB, Old Regular, Convicted1, DHK, Dr. Bob, Yeshua, EWF, InTheLight, and others. I do not always agree with them, but what they post rings from the heart. There are two on here that come across exactly the opposite. I do believe in the end, brothers in Christ always find each other.

 

I like a line from the Casting Crowns song - Jesus, Friend of Sinners:

Nobody knows what we're for, only what we're against, when we judge the wounded

What I see in scripture is that Jesus tended to view people as being in one of two groups:

Those who were oppressing the people with self-righteous hypocrisy, judgment, condemnation
Those who were being oppressed by the aforementioned group

To those who were being misled, oppressed, lied to, given a false gospel, who were spiritually sick and needed the Great Physician, Jesus was full of love and compassion. He never compromised the truth that sin is displeasing in the sight of God. But he always proclaimed "Your sins are forgiven" or "your faith has healed you" etc before He said, "Go and sin no more"

But to those who were the self righteous, teaching doctrines of men, etc., He had the harshest of words for them - Brood of vipers, Sons of hell, Whitewashed tombs full of dead men's bones, blind leading the blind, Sons of the devil, and others.

If we want to emulate Christ, we should display the utmost of compassion and empathy toward the hurting, and the utmost contempt for those who are shutting up the kingdom to others


One person I encountered on another forum said the church should comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable

 

:applause::applause::applause:

 

Judith

I would say Jesus was correct in His determinations.

Are you putting Jesus clearing the Temple on the same level as an anti-abortionist who shoots doctors in the back? I would not expect it of you.

 

He announced and proclaimed forgiveness upon sinners who were to be saved by Him, but to the others, was fire and brimstone in the tradition of OT prophet!

 

Nope, more like on the level of one denouncing the murdering of bablies as an abomination before God, and MANY pastors so called who support tham will proabably hear"depart from me, I never knew you!"

 

Amen, very well said. Thank you.

 

I can only recall two instances that the Lord expressed visible anger. One was what you mentioned about clearing the temple or making a dishonest gain using the house of God. The other was the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in their love for the Lord. Christ never showed anger at those who we do today, such as the tax collectors, prostitutes, and the general lower rungs of society of the day. To those, He preached the Gospel and the love of God.

 

The model we should use, preach the Gospel in love.