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[__ Prayer __] Need help with discernment

Grazer

Grazer

Member
I need your advice on discerning something that's come to me. Whilst waiting for my train I was thinking about whether I should stop frequenting certain forums or keep going in the hope I can make a difference. Suddenly the passage about pearls and swine come into my head. Not knowing chapter and verse I looked it up:

Matthew 7:6 NIV "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

I'm praying about it now and whilst its not the first time I've thought about walking away from forums, its the first time I've had scripture come to mind. If you could pray for me and let me know if God gives you anything or you have any thoughts please let me know. Just to add, when I was looking up the verse, the first site I clicked on contained the below;

Let's look to Jennifer, 10, for more light on what Jesus meant: "Jesus said don't give your pearls to a pig because a pig is too dumb to understand what a pearl is worth

Harsh but interesting

Just as I finished writing this, someone left me a comment on one of the forums I was going to walk away from saying they were happy to have me back; very humbling to read that but now I'm confused lol

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2
 
I believe this speaks to knowing who, and who not, to engage in certain conversations. For example, don't engage an atheist on specific biblical doctrines since they do not accept the authority of the bible.

It really is about picking your conversations carefully, and knowing when to bow out of one if it obvious the point you are making is not getting through to the other party.

Basically, if the Holy Spirit has not opened someone's eyes to a specific truth they will not understand it no matter how well you explain it.
 
Knotical said:
I believe this speaks to knowing who, and who not, to engage in certain conversations. For example, don't engage an atheist on specific biblical doctrines since they do not accept the authority of the bible.

It really is about picking your conversations carefully, and knowing when to bow out of one if it obvious the point you are making is not getting through to the other party.

Basically, if the Holy Spirit has not opened someone's eyes to a specific truth they will not understand it no matter how well you explain it.
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Would this apply to Christian forums too?
 
Knotical said:
I believe this speaks to knowing who, and who not, to engage in certain conversations. For example, don't engage an atheist on specific biblical doctrines since they do not accept the authority of the bible.

It really is about picking your conversations carefully, and knowing when to bow out of one if it obvious the point you are making is not getting through to the other party.

Basically, if the Holy Spirit has not opened someone's eyes to a specific truth they will not understand it no matter how well you explain it.
Click to expand...

Took the words right out of my mouth for sure! And yes, it applies to Christian forums too (at least in my opinion). There are a lot of different people on any type of forum, so maybe a better way of putting it is that it applies to the people in a Christian forum too, not so much to the forum itself.
 
Grazer said:
It's the Christians I'm having problem with.
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Well, in the case of speaking to those who declare themselves as Christians it can be rather sticky, but as long as what you are trying to convey is scripturally based and within context then you just need pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to them in regard to any specific doctrine you are discussing.
 
I know what you mean. I just got on this forum and am about ready to shake the dust off my shoes. I feel like I am on here as a missionary.
 
In Biblical times, when leaving Gentile cities, pious Jews often shook the dust from their feet to show their separation from Gentile practices. Jesus told his disciples to use their gesture against them. If the disciples shook the dust of a Jewish town from their feet, it would show their separation from Jews who rejected their Messiah. The gesture was to show the people that they were making a wrong choice.

See Matthew 10:5-6, 11-14
 
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Knotical said:
Well, in the case of speaking to those who declare themselves as Christians it can be rather sticky, but as long as what you are trying to convey is scripturally based and within context then you just need pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to them in regard to any specific doctrine you are discussing.
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I've sent you a PM
 
D2wing said:
I know what you mean. I just got on this forum and am about ready to shake the dust off my shoes. I feel like I am on here as a missionary.
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This really should come as no surprise. Who's typically drawn to join discussion boards? Opinionated people who want to voice what they believe. Yeah, there are some who have more questions than opinions, but they're the minority.

So, you have an on-line community of opinionated people discussing something they are passionate about with relative anonymity. There's a recipe for an argument! We're not talking about widgets here.

Within the body of believers, there is such a thing as righteous judgment. Iron can sharpen iron, and we do our brother no good if we don't point out where he's letting this world influence his life or beliefs. I've never, ever, even speculated that someone is going to hell, but I believe it's not biblical to say we can't call sin for what it is. Within the Body of Christ, this is our duty.

When a point has been clearly articulated and received, what follows is seldom productive. Sometimes it's better to pass on a discussion rather than get dragged down in the weeds. As others have said, knowing when to walk away from a disagreement is key, and it's often pride that prevents that from happening.
 
I actually do make a difference especially in my environment of work. Although sometimes I am discouraged by my thoughts, but when it comes to sharing about the faithfulness, love and blessed in believing in Christ was, I would in out of joy desired to pour out all my gladness and gratefulness to God and share with them, and on that I will always pray fervently in my heart that the conversation would be successful in the meaning that they actually enjoy what I was talking about Christ. And actually, I felt sad also when I seem to have the spiritual obstruction among Christians, especially when I get to know they are Christian since born, and when they share about their spiritual life and daily commitment to God, Satan is working on my spirit that the harsh prickles on the mean time prevent me from any blessing and understanding, be in one heart and gain acknowledgement and wisdom from God's spirit. I always want to overcome yet it couldn't be done by my own strength and I know only by God's grace one could turn themselves and accept Christ. And in an multinational countries, there's majority of another belief like Islam, Hinduism and Taoism, and I appeared to show compassion and patience on them when I came to interaction and acknowledge their disbelief, and I put a hard time on this but later I found out only with patience and God's work, one able came to Him and accept Christ, such that they are very humble to God and they doubt on the purpose of God when it comes to Christ' salvation in the form of human being. When I actually rejecting them I feel sad though, I feel emptiness when I does not spend my time sharing the gospel and Christ work on me, and my eagerness also reminded me that God on the other hand ask us to love one another, enemies or friends, when it comes to one who needs to know more about Christ testimonies and more over I always seem to get connected when I come to a point: they believe in God. When I actually take my courage and sincerity to communicate deeper and longer with the Hindu that worship idols, I actually got surprised that one actually participating in the church and get to know our faith in Christ by Christian friends, and she actually loves to listened to the christian songs and pastor's teachings, and she currently not convert to Christian. And on this point, God's is working on them, and full of pity and hope I surrender her faith to Lord and confident that on His time she would wholly submitted to Him. And when it comes to muslim that is persistent in their belief, the first thing I am spiritually touched and taught by the holy spirit is being kind and lovely to their persistence and on the moment holy spirit also guide me fervently in the prayer. And by the way, when I am dealing with my family which are non-Christians, they actually mistaken and criticize me of my faithfulness in Christ, which makes my soul really sad and low, but at the mean time of facing these challenges times and times on, God still encourage me to be persistent and confident in preaching and testifying on behalf on God about Christ' salvation. There's once my brother really insult me hardly when I preached the gospel, they would always call me insane or being nuisance, but the Holy Spirit still by the power insist me to speak it out. And for days, they used to stop and discouraged me to become faithfully submitted in Christ nature to Lord, especially I told them the truth about my commitment, but God actually does not hold me back and every time the holy spirit would encouraged me to speak honestly and courageously, and despite of the harsh words and reaction they give hurts my spirit in abundance of faith, holy spirit still make me to become persistent when I faced the challenges. Hope God makes you eager and cheerful in preaching, and blessed with His words and grace. Amen.
 
Claudya said:
If it's us that you have trouble with then why do you ask us, the ones that you feel so superior to, for prayers or discernment?
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Whilst its true I have issues with some on here, there are a few I trust and am interested in what they think.
 
Sorry for that post. I'm really unhappy and envy you for all the attention you get. I can do whatever I want and won't get any.
 
Grazer said:
I need your advice on discerning something that's come to me. Whilst waiting for my train I was thinking about whether I should stop frequenting certain forums or keep going in the hope I can make a difference. Suddenly the passage about pearls and swine come into my head. Not knowing chapter and verse I looked it up:

Matthew 7:6 NIV "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

I'm praying about it now and whilst its not the first time I've thought about walking away from forums, its the first time I've had scripture come to mind. If you could pray for me and let me know if God gives you anything or you have any thoughts please let me know. Just to add, when I was looking up the verse, the first site I clicked on contained the below;

Let's look to Jennifer, 10, for more light on what Jesus meant: "Jesus said don't give your pearls to a pig because a pig is too dumb to understand what a pearl is worth

Harsh but interesting

Just as I finished writing this, someone left me a comment on one of the forums I was going to walk away from saying they were happy to have me back; very humbling to read that but now I'm confused lol

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

One thing I've learned in this long life of mine is that only names & faces change...personalities remain the same. Regardless of where you go or what you do, you'll encounter lovely people as well as nasty sorts. The lovely people we appreciate, but somewhat take for granted because they are nice. The nasty sorts.... well, those are the ones who try to get under our skins; they offer irritation and there are times when we accept what they're offering.

The way I look at being here: I was led here. Pure and simple. No one told me about CFnet; I didn't do a search. I had prayed for an online Christian community where I could go to learn & share, and the addy I typed in the search bar was the one for here. There are so many lovely people here. However, I've also encountered some particularly nasty ones who did not stay here long. We're all at different positions along the pathway in our individual relationships with our Lord God. Some are younger in their faith....some have been mature Christians for years. It's a wonderful blend!

Still, the personality types are consistent here as they are in our regular off-line lives. Some are serious Type A, very dominant ...and some are serious Type B, very passive. We each belong to one family, though: God's family. And like any family, we're not always going to see eye-to-eye. Will the time we spend here always be smooth? Nope ... life doesn't trend that direction typically! :shame

Anyway, I plan to be here until our Lord directs me elsewhere. And I hope you decide to be here as well until our Lord directs you elsewhere. :wave
 
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