every now and then, things get heated. since I have become a Christian, I often find that when I disagree with others, even peacefully, there is a lot of backlash.
even presenting topics for discussion, can sometimes bring controversy..because the truth of the matter is that no one likes to be challenged.
If we could grasp how differently church looks today than the church model in the Book of Acts, then we would learn that it IS ok to ask questions.
Asking questions and even disagreeing with someone on secondary issues doesn't make us heretics.
It makes us human. It means that we can see something wrong with the world and with the church and we simply want it fixed. Spritual discernment is like detective work. It involves not only testing the spirits around you, but testing teachings against the Word of God..
God told us to "test all things." and yet, it seems that with the testing comes subtle forms of persecution.
case in point.
Tonight, someone implied that if you don't have a "pastoral covering" then you aren't truly "walking the walk." You are only "talking the talk."
since, I had a discussion about pastoral coverings with the same person and spoke of how a lot of the teaching has paved the way for spiritual abuse, then I was forced to think that this post was directed toward me. am I only a talker? maybe I am just full of hot air? maybe my prayers don't matter and the things that I do or say to encourage? maybe none of it matters because I think about something differently? these are the thoughts that ran though my head as I read the posting.
and, I have to say, it stung.
As Christians, why do we try to judge where a person is spiritually because they interpret a verse differently than you do? Didn't Christ say that the litmus test for being able to tell if someone is a Christian or not, comes by identifying a person by their fruits, which include their love, kindness, gentleness, patience, and longsuffering?
who are we when we start telling someone that they aren't saved and then rejecting them or belittling them because they think differently on a topic or they question the state of the church today?
Isn't that essentially devisive when we judge and condemn others? Didn't Jesus warn against divisivenss and factions and petty arguments that lead to strife? Didn't Jesus question the state of things in His day? Isn't that one of the reasons why they hated him so much?
The truth is that we are all going to come to a point where we disagree. But to try to judge another person and call them a hypocrite if they don't agree with you, is..well, hypocrital.
It's not done in a spirit of love.
We have to be careful not to let our own religious pride steal the love that we are meant to have for one another.
We are all going to think differently about various issues. Some of us think Christ wanted us to serve wine for communion. Others serve grapejuice. Some believe that Jesus wants women to have long hair. Others think that it is ok to have short hair.
Some believe in pastoral coverings. Others don't. Is that meant that we are to judge and call into question who they are in Christ? Or does that mean that we remain an example through love?
We can fingerpoint all the livelong day, but the key message that Jesus came to show us was love.
It's so important that we learn to discuss things in a loving manner, rather than with hostility or with bias or condemnation. The other day I heard a quote that made sense to me.
“The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it” - L.L. Moody..
If we want to make a point about something, then we don't argue about it.. we live our lives with integrity and we stand upright. Then, others are able to recognize the example. there is no point or fruit in condemnation. We are called to be salt and light to those around us..with all that being said, if I offended anyone, forgive me. I love you. Agree to disagree.
Anyhow, tonight we had an interesting discussion about pastoral coverings. the first question that I posed was, "are pastoral coverings even biblical? are we supposed to submit to man or to God? what about churches where there is finanical, physical, and spiritual abuse? are we to submit to their leadership? under the covering teaching, the answer would be yes...
I am posting a video and a testimony that anwer my questions about these subjects.. agree to disagree and feel free to message me with your comemnts. It's OK to discuss things peacefully..
http://godswordtowomen.org/mcgrath.htm - very comprehensive testimony with a solid biblical backing...
when we dissect too much, we bleed from the inside - rb
let's just love another as the Bible commanded and quit making judgment calls on others. It hurts.
I'd be half tempted to say that I am through with self rightoeous people in general, but that wouldn't be showing unconditional love...
turn the other cheek and keep moving on..
even presenting topics for discussion, can sometimes bring controversy..because the truth of the matter is that no one likes to be challenged.
If we could grasp how differently church looks today than the church model in the Book of Acts, then we would learn that it IS ok to ask questions.
Asking questions and even disagreeing with someone on secondary issues doesn't make us heretics.
It makes us human. It means that we can see something wrong with the world and with the church and we simply want it fixed. Spritual discernment is like detective work. It involves not only testing the spirits around you, but testing teachings against the Word of God..
God told us to "test all things." and yet, it seems that with the testing comes subtle forms of persecution.
case in point.
Tonight, someone implied that if you don't have a "pastoral covering" then you aren't truly "walking the walk." You are only "talking the talk."
since, I had a discussion about pastoral coverings with the same person and spoke of how a lot of the teaching has paved the way for spiritual abuse, then I was forced to think that this post was directed toward me. am I only a talker? maybe I am just full of hot air? maybe my prayers don't matter and the things that I do or say to encourage? maybe none of it matters because I think about something differently? these are the thoughts that ran though my head as I read the posting.
and, I have to say, it stung.
As Christians, why do we try to judge where a person is spiritually because they interpret a verse differently than you do? Didn't Christ say that the litmus test for being able to tell if someone is a Christian or not, comes by identifying a person by their fruits, which include their love, kindness, gentleness, patience, and longsuffering?
who are we when we start telling someone that they aren't saved and then rejecting them or belittling them because they think differently on a topic or they question the state of the church today?
Isn't that essentially devisive when we judge and condemn others? Didn't Jesus warn against divisivenss and factions and petty arguments that lead to strife? Didn't Jesus question the state of things in His day? Isn't that one of the reasons why they hated him so much?
The truth is that we are all going to come to a point where we disagree. But to try to judge another person and call them a hypocrite if they don't agree with you, is..well, hypocrital.
It's not done in a spirit of love.
We have to be careful not to let our own religious pride steal the love that we are meant to have for one another.
We are all going to think differently about various issues. Some of us think Christ wanted us to serve wine for communion. Others serve grapejuice. Some believe that Jesus wants women to have long hair. Others think that it is ok to have short hair.
Some believe in pastoral coverings. Others don't. Is that meant that we are to judge and call into question who they are in Christ? Or does that mean that we remain an example through love?
We can fingerpoint all the livelong day, but the key message that Jesus came to show us was love.
It's so important that we learn to discuss things in a loving manner, rather than with hostility or with bias or condemnation. The other day I heard a quote that made sense to me.
“The best way to show that a stick is crooked is not to argue about it or to spend time denouncing it, but to lay a straight stick alongside it” - L.L. Moody..
If we want to make a point about something, then we don't argue about it.. we live our lives with integrity and we stand upright. Then, others are able to recognize the example. there is no point or fruit in condemnation. We are called to be salt and light to those around us..with all that being said, if I offended anyone, forgive me. I love you. Agree to disagree.
Anyhow, tonight we had an interesting discussion about pastoral coverings. the first question that I posed was, "are pastoral coverings even biblical? are we supposed to submit to man or to God? what about churches where there is finanical, physical, and spiritual abuse? are we to submit to their leadership? under the covering teaching, the answer would be yes...
I am posting a video and a testimony that anwer my questions about these subjects.. agree to disagree and feel free to message me with your comemnts. It's OK to discuss things peacefully..
http://godswordtowomen.org/mcgrath.htm - very comprehensive testimony with a solid biblical backing...
when we dissect too much, we bleed from the inside - rb
let's just love another as the Bible commanded and quit making judgment calls on others. It hurts.
I'd be half tempted to say that I am through with self rightoeous people in general, but that wouldn't be showing unconditional love...
turn the other cheek and keep moving on..
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