Growth When confronted we must still love.

[thepilgrim111]

"I commit my soul to my gracious God and Savior, who mercifully spared and preserved me, when I was an apostate, a blasphemer, and an infidel, and delivered me from the state of misery on the coast of Africa into which my obstinate wickedness had plunged me; and who has been pleased to admit me (though most unworthy) to preach his glorious gospel."(John Newton)

Can we stand up for our faith without being offensive? Can we respond with love instead of with a bitter defensive attitude when confronted by a challenge to what we believe? We can and we must is the answer to both questions, if we but remember what we were when God loved us: Rom 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." KJV

Can we not put up with one we (in a not so Christian manner) consider to be an idiot, when God could put up with us and our ungodly behavior before salvation? Were we not behaving like ungodly, ungrateful, idiots; and are we not still such at times? Lets us remember what we were and who we are now, before we treat the unbeliever with contempt. Being confronted by an obnoxious person is not an invitation for a Christian to be obnoxious.

Maybe not enough said, but I've run out of words for now.

God bless,
Lonnie

 

[for_his_glory]

Hi Lonnie and welcome to the forums.

Good post as we should always be pleasing to others as God is pleasing to us. It's all about the greatest commandment of love found in Matthew 22:36-40. Our flesh is quick to strike out against those who come against us, but if we keep the love of God in our heart and know He loved us unconditionally then that love which is the light of Christ will shine through us that others will see our joy no matter what obstacles try to get in the way.

 

[Eugene]

Maybe not enough said, but I've run out of words for now.

Dear Brother Lonnie, we can answer every man that asks with love and the reason of our faith. I believe what you have expressed is exactly what the following scriptures are saying.

Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Blessings in Christ Jesus.

 

[LovethroughDove]

Philippians 2:1-4 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests , but also the interests of others.

When we remove selfish ambition from the equation, then we can love........just as Christ loved us.

 

[Edward]

Philippians 2:1-4 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests , but also the interests of others.

When we remove selfish ambition from the equation, then we can love........just as Christ loved us.

You make it sound so easy, Sister. If it's a challenge about our beliefs, that's not so hard. I simply give personal testimony. If it's not about our beliefs but just someone being obnoxious...not so easy. I know that I am supposed to forgive and walk in love, and this I try to do...and many times, just when I've worked through it and forgiven them in my heart...they do something else to rile me up and tear it all down!

Try to behave like this ...but inside I feel like this

This not so easy sometimes.

 

[Douglas Summers]

You make it sound so easy, Sister. If it's a challenge about our beliefs, that's not so hard. I simply give personal testimony. If it's not about our beliefs but just someone being obnoxious...not so easy. I know that I am supposed to forgive and walk in love, and this I try to do...and many times, just when I've worked through it and forgiven them in my heart...they do something else to rile me up and tear it all down!

Try to behave like this ...but inside I feel like this

This not so easy sometimes.

Hi Edward, The man who has seen himself for what we are (plural) Truly know God's grace. The man that was saved by God's grace in faith will broadcast that grace outwardly to others through his new nature. The sum of (1 Corinthians chapter 13) are the result of being a born again believer. The unselfish love of God being broadcast to the world by the fruit of God's grace, from the Born again Believer.
But we are also guardians or contenders of the Faith. We are to contend for the faith that was preached by the Gospel of God in Jesus The Christ. We are to listen, with the Spirit of Grace to filter out doctrines that they do not creep in unawares. The Scriptures tell us that while in the world we will do business with fornicators, cheater and ungodly men, but not conducting business like them, but as men transformed by the renewing of the mind and heart by rebirth. But it is also said, if one who claims to be a brother is a fornicator or acts as ungodly in business. Do not fellowship with him, don't even eat with them. This a war we fight, not a flesh and blood war, but a war of principles against those who walk after the action of fleshy principles, even against the principles of those who hold high positions over us that claim to be a brother but, who dictate what a man can or can not believe in.
There are many son's of predition among us. Even as Judas walked among the Disciples. There is a place for anger, a righteous anger to tear down strongholds against the word of God, and those who cloak themselves as a lamb, but inside they are a roaring lion, ready to devour you righteous soul and replace it with another doctrine.

So there is a place for righteous anger, but if it is a dispute between brothers, try to resolve it before nightfall. The visible church reads the Scriptures like a script in a play. They act out the parts by the flesh. One of the things they like to do is show grace by saying they forgive everyone like Christ. But they never establish that grace comes by faith in the work of God in Jesus Christ. They just forgive someone, by their pride as being God Like. And there is never a change in the sinners life whom they forgive, and it becomes a church of tares.

What I'am saying is, be angry with those who as Satan's minions, disguise themselves as Saints,. And warfare against them with the Shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and your sword as the word of God, and your feet shod with the Gospel of God in Jesus Christ. And yes, the breastplate of righteousness.

 

[Edward]

Hi Edward, The man who has seen himself for what we are (plural) Truly know God's grace. The man that was saved by God's grace in faith will broadcast that grace outwardly to others through his new nature. The sum of (1 Corinthians chapter 13) are the result of being a born again believer. The unselfish love of God being broadcast to the world by the fruit of God's grace, from the Born again Believer.
But we are also guardians or contenders of the Faith. We are to contend for the faith that was preached by the Gospel of God in Jesus The Christ. We are to listen, with the Spirit of Grace to filter out doctrines that they do not creep in unawares. The Scriptures tell us that while in the world we will do business with fornicators, cheater and ungodly men, but not conducting business like them, but as men transformed by the renewing of the mind and heart by rebirth. But it is also said, if one who claims to be a brother is a fornicator or acts as ungodly in business. Do not fellowship with him, don't even eat with them. This a war we fight, not a flesh and blood war, but a war of principles against those who walk after the action of fleshy principles, even against the principles of those who hold high positions over us that claim to be a brother but, who dictate what a man can or can not believe in.
There are many son's of predition among us. Even as Judas walked among the Disciples. There is a place for anger, a righteous anger to tear down strongholds against the word of God, and those who cloak themselves as a lamb, but inside they are a roaring lion, ready to devour you righteous soul and replace it with another doctrine.

So there is a place for righteous anger, but if it is a dispute between brothers, try to resolve it before nightfall. The visible church reads the Scriptures like a script in a play. They act out the parts by the flesh. One of the things they like to do is show grace by saying they forgive everyone like Christ. But they never establish that grace comes by faith in the work of God in Jesus Christ. They just forgive someone, by their pride as as being God Like. And there is never a change in the sinners life whom they forgive, and it becomes a church of tares.

What I'am saying is, be angry with those who as Satan's minions, disguise themselves as Saints,. And warfare against them with the Shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and your sword as the word of God, and your feet shod with the Gospel of God in Jesus Christ.

...diligently guarding ones heart, amen Brother. It's hard though but so important that it can not be brushed aside. With what judgment we meet out, is the same judgment that we will be judged with!

 

[Douglas Summers]

...diligently guarding ones heart, amen Brother. It's hard though but so important that it can not be brushed aside. With what judgment we meet out, is the same judgment that we will be judged with!

So True.

 

[LovethroughDove]

You make it sound so easy, Sister. If it's a challenge about our beliefs, that's not so hard. I simply give personal testimony. If it's not about our beliefs but just someone being obnoxious...not so easy. I know that I am supposed to forgive and walk in love, and this I try to do...and many times, just when I've worked through it and forgiven them in my heart...they do something else to rile me up and tear it all down!

Try to behave like this ...but inside I feel like this

This not so easy sometimes.

True! At least we do have the knowledge of how we are supposed to act. Sometimes I don't do a wonderful job of expressing Christ's love and those are the times I go by my own knowledge of situations.

 

[Tony Hyman]

I have been using this one for some time now and it works most of the time on believers and non-believers in cases that I have been in contact with " A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."(Proverbs 15:1 N.I.V.)