Brothers and sisters, what exactly are we doing? If you have ears, please hear. (Revelation, preaching)

[meerkat2]

Originally Posted by sandgirl

Alpha, I understand and agree with most of what you're saying. However, there is a lot more to this. This is a wonderful opportunity the Creator has given us on this forum. I think we must remember we are in the end game. People are making their final decisions about eternity, and the time is very short.

Remember Jesus whipped the money changers out of the temple. He embarrassed the pharisees and scribes that were going to stone the prostitute. He told us we were sheep and to be sly as a fox.

We are warriors who are to put on our armor daily. We do not fight in the same way as the enemy. We must not let ourselves be tricked into responding to personal attacks (been there, done that) and responding back negatively. We must press forward with the attack on satan's kingdom but it must be done in love. Souls are at stake, the KING IS COMING!

This is what I think is offputting and against the message of Christ.

[meerkat2]

CG81 & sandgirl,

Agree with what you say, individuals are not the enemy or necessarily evil.

However I have come across people who do believe that if you believe in Jesus that you are not evil and if you don't believe you are evil. The emphasis is on belief not deeds.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by meerkat2

CG81 & sandgirl,

Agree with what you say, individuals are not the enemy or necessarily evil.

However I have come across people who do believe that if you believe in Jesus that you are not evil and if you don't believe you are evil. The emphasis is on belief not deeds.

Belief is a deed.

godspeed,

freedom

[Ilene Wright]

Originally Posted by sandgirl

Alpha, I understand and agree with most of what you're saying. However, there is a lot more to this. This is a wonderful opportunity the Creator has given us on this forum. I think we must remember we are in the end game. People are making their final decisions about eternity, and the time is very short.

Remember Jesus whipped the money changers out of the temple. He embarrassed the pharisees and scribes that were going to stone the prostitute. He told us we were sheep and to be sly as a fox.

We are warriors who are to put on our armor daily. We do not fight in the same way as the enemy. We must not let ourselves be tricked into responding to personal attacks (been there, done that) and responding back negatively. We must press forward with the attack on satan's kingdom but it must be done in love. Souls are at stake, the KING IS COMING!

Amen, Sandgirl!! Jesus was perfect and He NEVER sinned, so His holy anger was not a sin! Anger in the right perspective is needed for us to be driven enough to challenge such nonsense. Passiveness and meekness have their place as we serve and bow to our God, but He would not tell us to "put on the full armor of God" unless He expected us to fight for His Truth!

[Oakback]

Originally Posted by DayoftheLord

Amen, Sandgirl!! Jesus was perfect and He NEVER sinned, so His holy anger was not a sin! Anger in the right perspective is needed for us to be driven enough to challenge such nonsense. Passiveness and meekness have their place as we serve and bow to our God, but He would not tell us to "put on the full armor of God" unless He expected us to fight for His Truth!

Fight who?
Fight what?

[Ilene Wright]

Originally Posted by Oakback

Fight who?
Fight what?

I should not have to explain this to a Christian.

[little_thirsty]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

Folks, ".....as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Col 3:12-14)

I don't know about you all, but I can't get this out of my head. If you look back over the responses in just this thread, are we doing these things?

[Oakback]

Originally Posted by DayoftheLord

I should not have to explain this to a Christian.

This Christian needs one

[meerkat2]

Freedom

I am starting to think that belief in God saves (Jesus Chist as saviour) can not be separated from deeds, I am not against belief being labelled as a deed.

However what about James 2:17 Even ">so faith if it hath not works is dead being alone __
18 Yea a man may say Thou hast faith and I have works shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Here faith and works are treated as separate things.

Belief is a deed.

godspeed,

freedom

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by little_thirsty

I don't know about you all, but I can't get this out of my head. If you look back over the responses in just this thread, are we doing these things?

Nope.

I believe the scriptures in the OP have even been refereed to as 'such nonsense'.

But you and I didn't write the Bible, little thirsty, we just read it and hopefully apply it.

It is evident that certain posters are above reproach, able to justify their actions and words in each scenario. It's interesting because many of those claiming such allegiance to 'the cause' are absolutely ignoring the scriptures posted in the OP.

That's why last night when I drafted that OP I included 'If you have ears, please hear'.

We have some ear-less Christians here.

The professing Christians here have been all over the place on comments. And some of our more 'outspoken' lot have been strangely absent.

But my heart breaks and is burdened for those outside the faith. The atheists and the agnostic, let see what they had to say thus far.....

First, a moving post seemingly ignored by the noise of 'I have the right to shout and scream'.....

Originally Posted by MTbound

I do not see that the disagreements are arising between the believers and the non-believers. I used to enjoy reading the uplifting messages on your side, but lately I just feel voyeuristic watching Christians argue amongst themselves........... I would like to see more of the "good news" I was taught as a child.......

Then, because I was so callous in my OP that I mis-labeled one of our posters(and I hate labels anyway), denverian had to get me straight (and the OP has been edited for the fix)....

Originally Posted by denverian

Nice post Alpha! And just for the record, I don't consider myself to be an Atheist. I don't have enough faith to believe there's no god at all! I'm more semi-agnostic, but leaning toward the existence of a higher power. I point to nature for believeing someone or something out there must be higher and more powerful than us here on earth. The odds of this planet just happening, the seasons, the animals, rain, and sunshine, etc., for no reason makes no sense to me. How a heart can pump blood through a body for 95 years and a brain can function for that long is beyond my comprehension. So no, I'm not an Atheist.

And then there's this one. Where June tells us she feels like our enemy and was interested in the invitation offered in the words 'Follow me'....

Originally Posted by june 7th

Something tells June that hers would be considered one of the souls that are at stake. As such, given June's "atheist status," she also has the feeling that she is one of the "enemy." While June's not exactly certain she's okay with that, (as it surely perplexes her) what concerns her more is how she is to be "fought and attacked" when all the while, this is to "be done in love." If June is thus understanding all this correctly, June is taking her soul into her own protective safety and safe keeping, as neither June, nor her soul, can withstand any fight, any battle. But as she steals away with her soul, locked up, safe and secure, she also remembers that Jesus didn't have to do any fighting or attacking. -June thought he simply said "Follow me." An invitation always seemed so much nicer to June than a battle. That initially seemed so much more reasonable to June, but now she has fled for safety, as she'd rather be alone.


-But then, June supposes, that is why June just doesn't "get it," and why June's an atheist...

And yet the justification to ignore the scriptures that COMMAND us to approach others in a way that reflects grace, compassion, hope, love and in a word CHRIST-----goes on and on.......

....so, those with ears, hear! And do something!

By something I mean let this sink into who you are, be a part of your character, your personality....because the people we need so desperately to reach, those who many claim are so close to the end and eternal consequences that it's imperative to make a connection with them.....

....those people are tuning us out. And the Jesus we preach with us....