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I'm struggling with a lot of things but one of the main things I'm struggling with is us.
What in God's name are we doing? (And I mean that quite literally)
We come to this forum and launch all out wars on ourselves and with those that are non-believers.
We rail against what's right and what's wrong and to what avail?
Are we God's servants?
Are we?
Think about it.
I certainly try to be God's servant.
I know many of you claim and indeed I believe you want to be God's servants. We'll that makes us ALL co-servants.....not masters.
I don't know. I just read some scriptures this evening I feel compelled to share and would appreciate any comments or thoughts you have on them.
I think a lot about these forums. The various people on them. How many of them I consider 'friend'. How many of them I have prayed for.
Here's the thing:
We(Christians) are here and we're not behind closed doors of a small group study. We're not in the privacy of our own homes. We're not in our sanctuary where the Word is preached. We are, when here in the forums, in the world. We're surrounded by some other Christians and we love to talk and chat but many times we start trying to get into the meat of matters when in fact in places like this we're commanded to 'keep it light' (milk). A LOT of the folks reading our posts are unbelievers, new believers or weak believers. We should be doing one thing and one thing only here, reflecting HIM. We have a venue here where people TOTALLY opposed to God and the idea of a Savior WILLINGLY engage us in conversation. Do you know what a privileged that is? What are we doing with this opportunity?
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)
Anyway, here's the scriptures until I can get some other comments together.
Listen, I love you guys.....I know that sounds weird but I really really do.
From the atheists and/or agnostics of MontanaGuy, GCSTroop, June, cncracer, cheilgirl, and denverian to those who have faiths both similar to mine and very different. We (I am speaking to Christians) have a responsibility to rightly reflect Christ's love to the world. Seriously. That is our MAIN OBJECTIVE.
Ah, I don't know how to really say what it is I want to say, so let me just give ya those scriptures that I can't get out of my mind.
It's a series, please pray over them Christians. These are from the book our Risen King has provided for us.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col 4:5-6
and
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:1-4 (please read all of Romans 14)
and
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Cor 9:19-23
...that's it.....that's all....this was probably more for me than anyone...maybe God's trying to get it through my thick head....but I thought I'd share and see if you could help
I need to make myself a slave to everyone....then I'll be one step closer....
God bless.....
Last edited by Alpha8207; 09-18-2008 at 09:07 AM..
Reason: added the phrase 'and/or agnostics'
I'm struggling with a lot of things but one of the main things I'm struggling with is us.
What in God's name are we doing? (And I mean that quite literally)
We come to this forum and launch all out wars on ourselves and with those that are non-believers.
We rail against what's right and what's wrong and to what avail?
Are we God's servants?
Are we?
Think about it.
I certainly try to be God's servant.
I know many of you claim and indeed I believe you want to be God's servants. We'll that makes us ALL co-servants.....not masters.
I don't know. I just read some scriptures this evening I feel compelled to share and would appreciate any comments or thoughts you have on them.
I think a lot about these forums. The various people on them. How many of them I consider 'friend'. How many of them I have prayed for.
Here's the thing:
We(Christians) are here and we're not behind closed doors of a small group study. We're not in the privacy of our own homes. We're not in our sanctuary where the Word is preached. We are, when here in the forums, in the world. We're surrounded by some other Christians and we love to talk and chat but many times we start trying to get into the meat of matters when in fact in places like this we're commanded to 'keep it light' (milk). A LOT of the folks reading our posts are unbelievers, new believers or weak believers. We should be doing one thing and one thing only here, reflecting HIM. We have a venue here where people TOTALLY opposed to God and the idea of a Savior WILLINGLY engage us in conversation. Do you know what a privileged that is? What are we doing with this opportunity?
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)
Anyway, here's the scriptures until I can get some other comments together.
Listen, I love you guys.....I know that sounds weird but I really really do.
From the atheists of MontanaGuy, GCSTroop, June, cncracer, cheilgirl, and denverian to those who have faiths both similar to mine and very different. We (I am speaking to Christians) have a responsibility to rightly reflect Christ's love to the world. Seriously. That is our MAIN OBJECTIVE.
Ah, I don't know how to really say what it is I want to say, so let me just give ya those scriptures that I can't get out of my mind.
It's a series, please pray over them Christians. These are from the book our Risen King has provided for us.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col 4:5-6
and
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:1-4 (please read all of Romans 14)
and
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Cor 9:19-23
...that's it.....that's all....this was probably more for me than anyone...maybe God's trying to get it through my thick head....but I thought I'd share and see if you could help
I need to make myself a slave to everyone....then I'll be one step closer....
Alpha, maybe if we look at it from another angle.....perhaps we are online witnesses to those who are willing to listen. Granted, sometimes we get into a heated discussion but we are still bringing the Word to others, whether they are Christians or not. We also find out a lot about ourselves when we hold ourselves and others up to the Book of Life. For the most part, we can probably all agree that it's not a pretty picture and yet His grace and mercy is eternally sufficient for us. However, for those of us who know Christ, we can look it this as a way to bring the Word to others, hopefully in a Christ-like, loving and compassionate way. Blessings to all.
Last edited by urbanlemur; 09-17-2008 at 08:15 PM..
Reason: additional copy
Alpha, maybe if we look at it from another angle.....perhaps we are online witnesses to those who are willing to listen. Granted, sometimes we get into a heated discussion but we are still bringing the Word to others, whether they are Christians or not. We also find out a lot about ourselves when we hold ourselves and others up to the Book of Life. For the most part, we can probably all agree that it's not a pretty picture and yet His grace and mercy is eternally sufficient for us. However, for those of us who know Christ, we can look it this as a way to bring the Word to others, hopefully in a Christ-like, loving and compassionate way. Blessings to all.
I agree that we are online witnesses, but send a DM to a few of those on the outside of the faith and ask them what they 'witness' from most of our posts.
That's where I am feeling convicted, urbanlemur. What are we showing the world?
Unity?
Love?
Compassion?
In this forum?
...but I do believe we CAN accomplish this if we have one mind...and that of Christ!
Well, we're certainly not going to be able to disagree or discuss anything at all in the present popular way we do "church:" passive audiences for a few paid professionals (unless we're charismatic, then we get to wave our arms when we sing along!)
The reason the Church has so little influence on the world is because the Church has little influence on the Church! I went to church; but, the Church wasn't on the program. Few ever even notice her absence.
Do you realize the Reformation came and went, but the Roman Catholic Church is still here? Don't expect to correct such deadly unreality in the rest of Institutional Christianity either. Leave their bureaucracy, other mediators and willing victims in their cages. Disengage! We already have homes in which to meet with one another. We already have a living and present Head Whose name is JEALOUS. Prevent whoever would take over our meetings from doing so. MEET WITHOUT HUMAN HEADSHIP!!!
(I would add that the "Christian" discussions here are semi-private in that you have to want to come here and go through the process necessary to do so. Besides, the rules are the same, public or private. Scripture tells us to love even our enemies. It's the false "spin" suggested we engage in we must avoid. Insipid, masked, pretentious, neutered, like brute beasts to the slaughter...we're so used to our presence making no difference to the outcome of our meetings we're ready to be wrapped in shrouds here too?!)
Last edited by JamesMRohde; 09-17-2008 at 09:47 PM..
Not really, its between any that care to observe and discern.
We are all at different levels, some can hear and some cannot.
Jesus did not speak to the multitudes in weakness, He laid it all out there and let those that had ears to hear take it all in or reject.
Especially the Sermon in Matthew 5,6,7.
That's a lot to chew on Alpha...as it is late and time for me to go to bed, I will ruminate on this post and get back to you tomorrow!
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