Title: | The CHRISTIAN Notesfile |
Notice: | Jesus reigns! - Intros: note 4; Praise: note 165 |
Moderator: | ICTHUS::YUILLE ON |
Created: | Tue Feb 16 1993 |
Last Modified: | Fri May 02 1997 |
Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
Number of topics: | 962 |
Total number of notes: | 42902 |
"By this shall all men know that you belong to me if you have love one for another" "I am not writing a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another" "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices withh the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" I think it's time that some christians in this conference were reminded of the basic rule of their faith - LOVE. I've never seen such a bad witness as I've seen in here in recent weeks. Every time I log into this conference I am subjected to reading a heap of mud slinging notes between brothers and sisters and I am fed up with it (and I'm sure the Lord is too!!). If the love shown by some in here reflects Gods love to the unsaved who come into this conference then it's no wonder people don't want to know God. Paul says "When I was a child I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put childish ways behind me" and I think it's about time some people put childish ways behind them and started to realise the responsibility they have in this conference. This is a public conference which anyone can look into and see what chrisitanity is all about. If all they see is a slanging match then they will simply do an about-turn and vow never to bother again. Love accepts the different opinions that others have and should only push its view if it has a loving concern that someone is being deceived. I call on you all to assess your witness in this place and to assess the state of your love for everyone else in this conference. We are told to love even our enemies, this is the basic lesson that comes before all other theological concerns and if you can't pass the first stage then don't bother trying to preach the second stage!!!!!!! Love Ben
T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
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773.1 | PAULKM::WEISS | For I am determined to know nothing, except... | Mon Aug 14 1995 10:35 | 34 | |
It's been stressing me, too, Ben. For the most part I've tried to NEXT UNSEEN past it, but it's been really thick lately. I think that a big portion of what is happening is that the actions of a few, while not at all intended by them as such, are perceived as attacking Christ by many here. If we really believe that Christ was the very creator of all that is, incarnated in human flesh, then we can't argue with him about the nature of reality. To even describe the situation of arguing with our creator about what is true presents a ridiculous picture. When our view of reality and His view of reality conflict, ours is always the one that is wrong. We have to constantly seek to mold ourselves in His likeness, not the other way around. So when, to pick one example, Jesus clearly had a great reverence for Scripture, proclaiming that not a stroke of the pen of it would be removed, we have to come to grips with the fact that the creator of the universe said that, and modify our view of reality accordingly. When someone attacks that view, it is perceived as an attack on Christ himself. There are several such issues. And unfortunately, our response is often the response of Peter in the garden of Gethsemane, when the soldiers came to attack Jesus - Peter immediately leapt up, sword in hand, and attacked those who attacked Jesus, cutting off someone's ear. Let those of us who perceive ourselves to be defending Christ by attacking those who are attacking Him remember Christ's rebuke to Peter "Enough of this! Put away your sword, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword." And let those who have been attacked by members here, remember that though Christ rebuked Peter and healed the servant's ear, that was not a validation of the servant's actions - the servant *was* still attacking Jesus. Paul | |||||
773.2 | Thanks Ben | YIELD::BARBIERI | Mon Aug 14 1995 11:11 | 22 | |
Hi Ben, That is wise counsel Ben. I recognize that I have often been one who has not represented Christ nearly as well as I should have. My zeal has almost always been in the area of where I felt a doctrinal position badly misrepresents a right understanding of God's character, BUT even in spite of this that is no excuse for some of my inputs. By this I mean there is eventually a time to stop and let the Spirit convict. To recognize I can do no more. To all you Conference participants and especially you read-onlies: I apologize for any way I have injured any of you and ask forgiveness. Thanks Ben. God Bless You All, Tony | |||||
773.3 | Amen! | CSC32::KINSELLA | Mon Aug 14 1995 16:28 | 13 | |
I think my current memory verse is one that I will start praying for all participants of this conference as it is my prayer for myself as well. Philippians 1:9-10 And this is my prayer for you: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Jilla | |||||
773.4 | BBQ::WOODWARDC | ...but words can break my heart | Mon Aug 14 1995 19:09 | 1 | |
amen | |||||
773.5 | ICTHUS::YUILLE | He must increase - I must decrease | Tue Aug 15 1995 05:30 | 3 | |
Thanks Jill .... appreciated. Andrew | |||||
773.6 | JULIET::MORALES_NA | Sweet Spirit's Gentle Breeze | Tue Aug 15 1995 11:58 | 1 | |
Amen... and thanks Ben. |