Proclaiming God's Love with BOLDNESS

[sisterchristian]

Love] does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth (1 Cor. 13:6).

The word “love†has taken a beating over the years, and we Christians have far too often been part of the problem instead of the solution. We’ve allowed the culture of the day to influence our thinking and interpretation of the word, rather than adhering to God’s purpose and definition. As a result, we are in danger of reducing the word love to a synonym for being “nice†and non-offensive, thus stripping it of its power to rescue and redeem.

Now most of us know that the word love has more than one specific definition, but when we look at the word as it is used in the Scriptures to define the very characteristic and essence of God, we don’t find any wiggle room. Nowhere is the word better defined than in 1 Corinthians 13, the famous “love chapter.â€Â

Most of us like the verses that say love is kind and humble and that it isn’t rude or envious or boastful. But what about the verse that says it “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truthâ€Â? If we, as Christiansâ€â€and particularly those of us who claim to be writers and speakers/teachers of God’s Wordâ€â€don’t apply that verse to our own lives, how dare we presume to preach God’s love to others? God’s love is deep enough and faithful enough that it gets in the face of sin and calls the sinner to repentance, and then rejoices when that sinner repents and embraces the truth.

But have you noticed that not everyone responds favorably to an in-your-face-John-the-Baptist “turn or burn†message? Chances are, if you’ve ever delivered oneâ€â€either verbally or in written formâ€â€you’ve received some less than enthusiastic responses. In an age of tolerance and political correctness, we Christians have the most intolerant, politically incorrect message on the planetâ€â€and God has commanded us to go into all the world and proclaim it, regardless of the results.

True, we are to “speak the truth in love,†meaning that the ultimate goal of our message is to see people come to repentance and embrace the truth so they can be saved, and we are to proclaim that message humbly, knowing that it is only by God’s mercy that we ourselves are saved. But the bottom line is, we are to speak that message anywhere and everywhere we get the chance. We do no one a favor by sugar-coating our words in an attempt not to offend anyone.

brothers and sisters in Christ, love does not refrain from speaking truth for fear of offending. Love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.†Love understands that we live in a world that is bound for hell and eternal separation from God, and that only we have the words that can deliver the captives and restore them to right relationship with their Maker. Will we offend some by those words? Absolutely. The message of the Crossis always an offense to those who prefer to remain in their sins. But better to risk offending the hell-bound sinners than to hear their voices echo in our ears on Judgment Day, “Why didn’t you tell me?â€Â

 

[MrVersatile48]

Did you see http://www.jhm.org @ 8am @ http://www.God.TV - part 2 of 4 @ Bible Prophecy for the 21st Century - he preached straight down the line @ the Great Tribulation & many responded to the altar call - praise God!

If you're on the council of an area with dangerous cliffs, etc, it's love to put up warning signs - & negelect not to - as in Ezekiel 2-3 - see http://www.BibleGateway.org

Fear not, folks: Rev 4:1 says

1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here

In Rev 4-5 we see the church clearly praising God in Heaven

The judgements start in Rev 6

Jesus said His return will be as in the days of Noah & of Lot

Both times, warnings were given of judgements to come

Both times, believers were removed to safety before the judgements fell

"God does not take pleasure in the death of any man, but desires all to come to repentance"

"God commands all men, everywhere, to repent"

Maybe some readers feel the call of the Great Commission - which was given to every believer in Matt 28 & Mark 16

You may wanna pray for, & even join, something like

Street work in the UK

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=25734

I came in praying where this Word 4 Today fits best & I believe it's here, as many folk make many excuses for not evangelising & they are really following other gods in doing that:-

You shall have no other gods before Me

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of
Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

"You shall have no other gods before me. "

Exodus 20:2,3 NIV
_______________

I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth
I tell you of them."

Isaiah 42:8,9 NKJV
_______________

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.

No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me.

The Father and I are one."

John 10:28-30 NLT
_______________

We need a Savior because we are sinners,
and the wages of sin is death...

Thanks be unto God for his wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God is the object of
our faith; the only faith that saves is faith in Him.

Through the Bible in a Year - Readings for August 12

August 12: 2 Corinthians 13, 1 Chronicles 3-4, Zephaniah 1

Click Here for the complete schedule

Or Copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.arcamax.com/ttb-yr.html

Weekly Meditation 8/12 - 8/18: Jesus Christ Is Lord NKJV

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
"Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Revelation 5:13 NKJV

That all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

John 5:23 NKJV

 

[MrVersatile48]

Ezekiel 2

Ezekiel's Call

1 He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you."

2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

3 He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day.

4 The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.'

5 And whether they listen or fail to listenâ€â€for they are a rebellious houseâ€â€they will know that a prophet has been among them.

6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.

7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

Ezekiel 3

1 And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel."

2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.

5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel-

6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.

7 But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.

8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.

9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."

10 And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.

11 Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen."

12 Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling soundâ€â€May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!-

13 the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.

14 The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.

15 I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days-overwhelmed.

Warning to Israel

16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me:

17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

18 When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

20 "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."

22 The hand of the LORD was upon me there, and he said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you."

23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.

24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house.

25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.

26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house.

27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

Footnotes:

Ezekiel 3:18 Or in ; also in verses 19 and 20

 

[MrVersatile48]

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Footnotes:

Matthew 28:19 Or into; see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:13; 10:2 and Gal. 3:27.

 

[MrVersatile48]

Revelation 4-5 (New International Version)

The Throne in Heaven

1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God.

6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,

10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

Revelation 5

The Scroll and the Lamb

1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"

3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

5Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

12 In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"

14The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Footnotes:

Revelation 4:5 Or the sevenfold Spirit
Revelation 5:6 Or the sevenfold Spirit

 

[MrVersatile48]

Revelation 6

The Seals

1I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!"

2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

3When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!"

4Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.

6Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart[a] of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages,[c] and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

7When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!"

8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

10They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

11Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

12I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,

13and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.

14The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.

16They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

Footnotes:

Revelation 6:6 Greek a choinix (probably about a liter)
Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 show most clearly that believers are not destined to go thru the time of God's wrath & judgements on the earth..
Ian

 

[MrVersatile48]

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 (New International Version)

The Coming of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5

1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,

2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 

[MrVersatile48]

See What Did Paul Really Mean?

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=29575&p=344888#p344888

Ian

 

[Guest]

While the message of Christ might be found offensive to some or even many, that does not mean the givers of that message are to be offensive.

 

[sisterchristian]

While the message of Christ might be found offensive to some or even many, that does not mean the givers of that message are to be offensive.

Well how nice can someone be when they are telling someone to choose Christ or burn?? :crazyeyes: (Me offensive) **Batting my eyes**!

 

[Guest]

While the message of Christ might be found offensive to some or even many, that does not mean the givers of that message are to be offensive.

Well how nice can someone be when they are telling someone to choose Christ or burn?? :crazyeyes: (Me offensive) **Batting my eyes**!

That is why I personally do not believe "Choose Christ or Burn" is the best approach to "Proclaiming God's Love".

 

[sisterchristian]

Well the truth of the matter is, if you make the decision to reject Christ, then you will end up in hell. How do you go around that? Whether it's told at the begining, middle or end, it needs to be told.

 

[Guest]

Well the truth of the matter is, if you make the decision to reject Christ, then you will end up in hell. How do you go around that? Whether it's told at the begining, middle or end, it needs to be told.

Actually - rejecting Christ does not condemn one to Hell. We are already comdemned to Hell. The issue isn't with rejection - it is with acceptance.

Read the greatest sermons ever given - they are found in the book of Acts. What brought people to want to repent, believe and be baptised?

 

[sisterchristian]

Here are some verses to ponder on.......

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Matthew 11:6

53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:53-58

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Matthew 15:10-14

And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Matthew 24:10

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Luke 7:23

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke F29 for their sin. 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: John 15:18-26


11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 1 John 3:11-13

 

[Guest]

But nowhere does that say that we are to be offensive in how we talk.


All I am cautioning is that we can be bold and outspoken - but we are not to be a steamroller either.

Being "bold" does not necessarily mean being up in someone's face - but rather publicly recognizing the Lord for what He has done. Saying grace at a restaurant before one eats can be seen as being "bold'.

 

[sisterchristian]

But nowhere does that say that we are to be offensive in how we talk.


All I am cautioning is that we can be bold and outspoken - but we are not to be a steamroller either.

Being "bold" does not necessarily mean being up in someone's face - but rather publicly recognizing the Lord for what He has done. Saying grace at a restaurant before one eats can be seen as being "bold'.

That's one way of being bold, The other way is speaking the truth of god's word and not compromising, or sugarcoating it, but telling it like it is!

 

[sisterchristian]

Here are some more "offensive" scriptures to ponder on.....

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. Matthew 11:-20-23
And my favorite:
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Matthew 23:13-33

 

[sisterchristian]

But nowhere does that say that we are to be offensive in how we talk.


All I am cautioning is that we can be bold and outspoken - but we are not to be a steamroller either.

Being "bold" does not necessarily mean being up in someone's face - but rather publicly recognizing the Lord for what He has done. Saying grace at a restaurant before one eats can be seen as being "bold'.

Read Matt.22:13-33 I think Jesus makes a better example here then you do!

 

[Guest]

sister - please do not misunderstand me - I agree that the Gospel message is offensive to those who do not know it.

I also realize that I am not sinless like Christ.

What you have provided is the message, it needs to be coupled with Eph 4:29 "Let no unwholesome (rotten) word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."

I believe "need of the moment' is the key.

 

[Guest]

Read Matt.22:13-33 I think Jesus makes a better example here then you do!

I do not understand why you are making this personal. Christ will always make a better example than any of us. However, as I mentioned in a previous post - I believe the key to being bold is found in the "need of the moment".

Let's put the verse you mention in the context of the whole Chapter 23 (assuming that you meant Matthew 23:13-33).

Verse 1-3 explains that Jesus would be critical of the Pharisee's because they placed themselves in the "chair of Moses". They did not have the authority from God to do as such. Verse 3 Jesus tells the crowd that they were to follow what the Pharisees 'said" but not to do what they do. In other words, the crowd was to follow what the Pharisees read from - the Written Word of God. However, the people were not to follow their deeds in how they applied it.

In the 'need of the moment' Christ leveled out some serious Woes. At the same time, I believe it was Christ, and Christ alone that would be able to level those 'woes'. Let he who has no sin, cast the first stone.

A "bold" word spoken not in the "need of the moment" can be more disastorious (spell checker please!) than good. In all things we should pray to the Father for the appropriate direction and timing.

Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. "