Hostility

[elijah23]

Did Jesus teach us to be hostile to Christians who do not agree with all of our theological beliefs?

 

[pjt]

Did Jesus teach us to be hostile to Christians who do not agree with all of our theological beliefs?

Just the opposite wouldn`t you say. We are to take care of each other, show all the fruits of the spirit to each other, encourage, love, and build up each other for the sake of the Kingdom. Our first responsibilities are to God, then to our spouses, then our immediate family, and then to the family of God. But I think the family of God is often put below non-Believers in the name of Christianty/evangelism but I think that is wrong. I think we should take care of our own first and let that be a witness to others.

 

[elijah23]

Just the opposite wouldn`t you say. We are to take care of each other, show all the fruits of the spirit to each other, encourage, love, and build up each other for the sake of the Kingdom. Our first responsibilities are to God, then to our spouses, then our immediate family, and then to the family of God. But I think the family of God is often put below non-Believers in the name of Christianty/evangelism but I think that is wrong. I think we should take care of our own first and let that be a witness to others.

When I disagree with another Christian, I likely will say so, but I try to do it without belittling them.

 

[pjt]

When I disagree with another Christian, I likely will say so, but I try to do it without belittling them.

I think that is the right spirit to have. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing and debating. We see that done in the Bible especially in the New Testament church and the Bible says when we have a legitimate problem with someone we should go to them and speak it. But I think the spirit of a Christian debate or going to a fellow Christian with a problem we have against them is to work out a problem together to try and bring order and harmony back into the relationship. Of course, that is not always the outcome, but that should be the spirit of the debate, not to prove oneself as right or to expose the ignorance or lack of knowledge in the other by showing off how much more we know and certainly not to belittle or hurt a brother or sister. Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree on certain points and leave it at that when we realize we both are convinced we are right and neither is going to budge. When it gets to this point it is no longer a Christian debate but more of a push to prove oneself as right and that gets dangerously close to pride which we as Christians need to avoid and help each other avoid by not leading one another down that path.

 

[elijah23]

I think that is the right spirit to have. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing and debating. We see that done in the Bible especially in the New Testament church and the Bible says when we have a legitimate problem with someone we should go to them and speak it. But I think the spirit of a Christian debate or going to a fellow Christian with a problem we have against them is to work out a problem together to try and bring order and harmony back into the relationship. Of course, that is not always the outcome, but that should be the spirit of the debate, not to prove oneself as right or to expose the ignorance or lack of knowledge in the other by showing off how much more we know and certainly not to belittle or hurt a brother or sister. Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree on certain points and leave it at that when we realize we both are convinced we are right and neither is going to budge. When it gets to this point it is no longer a Christian debate but more of a push to prove oneself as right and that gets dangerously close to pride which we as Christians need to avoid and help each other avoid by not leading one another down that path.

A website like this perhaps can be very useful in uncovering truth, as we discuss (or debate) issues. It is helpful if everyone treats everyone else with respect—otherwise people won’t participate.

 

[Mike]

Elijah, I hope this is a general question and statement regarding hostility and not a thread intended to be directed at another singular member... It's a good topic to discuss on a general level and a bad one to make personal. :yes

 

[elijah23]

Elijah, I hope this is a general question and statement regarding hostility and not a thread intended to be directed at another singular member... It's a good topic to discuss on a general level and a bad one to make personal. :yes

I agree.