What is going on in Christian circles?

To reiterate, I never said that. In fact, not only did I not say that, I even specified that my statement was based on the assumption that he was a Christian, thus, for the purposes of this conversation, saved and regenerated.

Nobody in that thread said that.

 

The worst part is that they don't even seem to be basing it on anything. It all seems to be very personal, as if anybody who isn't in their clique is an interloper who needs to be run off.

If it was an argument that got heated, then I could understand. You just seperate, go back to your corners, cool down, and then try it again. But this is just animousity right out of the gate and for no apparent reason.

I'll give you a good example. In one thread, we were talking about feeding the homeless, I mentioned that I didn't believe that government programs were good for the poor, but that I've seen many private, non-profut, usually faith based, programs that had a great deal of success not only feeding the hungry and helping the poor, but actually helping them to climb out of the poverty hole.

I was very repsectful, very calm, didn't say a cross word to or about anything. All of a sudden, I'm attacked and told that I hate the poor and how I feel the poor are so inferior that I wouldn't help them. It wasn't the words or the tone that I found hurtful (because, honestly, there are two posters here who give me far worse than that every day). It was just the idea that something I shared in order to try to share something of myself, was thrown back in my face as an excuse to attack me for what, I don't even know.

In another, somebody showed a video of a girl who was supposed to be leading worship. I simply made a comment along the lines of "the girl's not bad, but typically, that's not what we mean when we talk about 'leading worship'". I was attacked up one side and down the other.

The only time I've ever seen anything like the hatred in this place is from the atheists on ChristianForums.

 

Interesting, you told me if I was going to debate I should be able to just take it when others were less than kind to me.

 

I think we ALL (myself included) need to step back and see why we're all becoming so defensive, so judgmental, so eager to be offended by every little thing, so eager to defend our own righteousness.

Ego?

 

I didn't realize that responding to the OP was "hijacking". I was under the impression that hijacking a thread was along the lines of attempting to change the subject of the thread and distract from the conversation as defined in the OP. Perhaps you have some other definition?

 

Then I will assume that you misspoke.

 

"....Speak[ing] the truth in love, [so that we] may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.....Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
---Ephesians 4:15, 31-32

 

Nothing to apologize for. Just a little confusing was all.

 

I like that Scarlett! a sick Bride.

I was thinking as I read it that we are all sinners saved by grace. We have lost the knack of showing some graciousness ourselves in the name of standing up for what is right and/or biblical.

 

Speaking of the Bride as whole, not just BB or any particular fellowship, I believe part of the problem is a whole lot of folks have been told they are saved when in fact they are not.

I believe a whole lot of folks have been told to worship, invited to worship, and encouraged to worship WITHOUT being introduced to the Master.

But mostly I believe it is ignorance of the Scriptures. It is so easy for me, for any of us, to let our own thoughts/egos/emotions replace God. We need to be in the Word for cleansing rather than chasing the latest fad, oldest fad, or emotional-mountaintop-moment of the day.

I do also think we are tainted with something the world is also struggling with today: the thwarted expectations of some really good younger folks (economy and all) has generated a great deal of anger towards anyone 50+. In response many of us oldies are beginning (probably wrongly) to dish back what we receive.

I would say we oldies and the youngsters need to get alone with the Master and apologize and start loving the other age group of the flock.

 

While I agree we should not be harsh to be harsh, and in fact harshness should be a last resort, only used in very specific circumstances, you are using "love" and defining it, in a very unbiblical manner.

Love is not a feeling, way of expression, or "speaking softly." Speaking softly and gently can be extremely hateful. Likewise, being very harsh can be loving. Jesus was the epitome of love, even when he was leveling blistering attacks against people, calling them snakes, whitewashed tombs, and in Peter's case, Satan himself.

If you ignore important doctrine to "keep the peace" you are hating your brother. You care more about your own composure, reputation, and popularity, than you do about the good of your brother and sister. You would rather spit in the face of God, who thought it important enough for you to know His ways that He spent time to write them down, than to offend someone who is holding to the most debase and debilitating, God dishonoring doctrine.

"Speaking the truth in love" has nothing to do with whether or not you are harsh. Speaking the truth in love, means that you have the proper motivation; i.e., you are not trying to show your superiority, nor "beat" the other person. You are trying to correct that person's false understanding of something important. You know that holding false doctrine is harmful, especially to the believer's relationship with Christ, and in that person's ministry. Therefore, even though you know you will be hated for it, called "divisive" etc., you do it anyway. For you would rather die than allow the lies of Satan to stand next to the truths of God as an "equally valid interpretation."

So, let us not sell out Christian truth, for Pagan, ecumenical, and pluralistic "get alongism." Instead, let us speak the TRUTH, in love, sometimes even harshly, just like Jesus and the apostles did.