Mammamel
11-04-2008, 07:25 AM
Why do people who claim Christ feel it is ok to harass, bash and be otherwise nasty and obnoxious to others, who also claim Christ? (How is that for a run on sentence?)
My Bible reading today was Titus 3. I am reading in the “Good News” Bible this month to see what differences I can find between it and the KJV or NIV. This chapter is devoted to Christian conduct.
Here is Titus 3, I will bold the parts specifically related to this.
Titus 3
1REMIND PEOPLE to be submissive to [their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and willing to do any upright and honorable work,
2To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle, and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody.
3For we also were once thoughtless and senseless, obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures, wasting our days in malice and jealousy and envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating one another.
4But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared,
5He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7[And He did it in order] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to [our] hope.
8This message is most trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honorable occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people.
9But avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile.
[B]10[As for] a man who is factious [a heretical sectarian and cause of divisions], after admonishing him a first and second time, reject [him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him],
11Well aware that such a person has utterly changed (is perverted and corrupted); he goes on sinning [though he] is convicted of guilt and self-condemned.
12When I send Artemas or [perhaps] Tychicus to you, lose no time but make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
13Do your utmost to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they want for (lack) nothing.
14And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honorable employment), so that they may be able to meet necessary demands [a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%203;&version=45;#fen-AMP-29936a)]whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives.
15All who are with me wish to be remembered to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace (God's favor and blessing) be with you all. Amen (so be it).
What a statement. We are told flatly NOT to bash, harass or use other negative activities against who? People who ONLY believe as we do? Nope. There is not one single solitary person we are allowed to mistreat, call names or attempt to harm in any way.
Yet there are web sites today set up by so called Christians just for that purpose. What happens when a Christian visits one of them? Their witness is damaged. If they partake in the bashing and attacking and hate, it becomes part of them. It diminishes Christ in their life. They may still think they honor Him, they may even think they are defending Him, but in reality they are hurting His name.
There are churches who teach this, that its ok to hate others, wish them dead and so on. Churches who claim Christ. The one who said thinking of doing a thing is the same as doing it. Christ said that to think of committing adultery, was the same as doing it, to think of killing some one was the same as doing it. Yet there are blogs where people vocally say so and so or such and such group deserves to die.
Ladies, we can not condemn anyone. Call sin sin, but leave condemnation to God. No where are we called to think or act violently, either with words or deeds. Anyone who does so, is a Christian in name only. Their soul is not right with God. If it was, they could not act in this way.
God tells us that folks will use and abuse us. He also tells us to rejoice when they do, and to be certain we did nothing to bring it on ourselves. If we go and meddle with those who take pleasure in harming others, what happens? They have the ammo they need to turn on US. They can claim, and rightly so, that we are hypocrites.
Please ladies, think carefully over what you say and think. Guard your minds, tongues and fingers to be pleasing to God, and not a servant of evil.
My Bible reading today was Titus 3. I am reading in the “Good News” Bible this month to see what differences I can find between it and the KJV or NIV. This chapter is devoted to Christian conduct.
Here is Titus 3, I will bold the parts specifically related to this.
Titus 3
1REMIND PEOPLE to be submissive to [their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and willing to do any upright and honorable work,
2To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle, and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody.
3For we also were once thoughtless and senseless, obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures, wasting our days in malice and jealousy and envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating one another.
4But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared,
5He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7[And He did it in order] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to [our] hope.
8This message is most trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honorable occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people.
9But avoid stupid and foolish controversies and genealogies and dissensions and wrangling about the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile.
[B]10[As for] a man who is factious [a heretical sectarian and cause of divisions], after admonishing him a first and second time, reject [him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him],
11Well aware that such a person has utterly changed (is perverted and corrupted); he goes on sinning [though he] is convicted of guilt and self-condemned.
12When I send Artemas or [perhaps] Tychicus to you, lose no time but make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
13Do your utmost to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they want for (lack) nothing.
14And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honorable employment), so that they may be able to meet necessary demands [a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus%203;&version=45;#fen-AMP-29936a)]whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives.
15All who are with me wish to be remembered to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace (God's favor and blessing) be with you all. Amen (so be it).
What a statement. We are told flatly NOT to bash, harass or use other negative activities against who? People who ONLY believe as we do? Nope. There is not one single solitary person we are allowed to mistreat, call names or attempt to harm in any way.
Yet there are web sites today set up by so called Christians just for that purpose. What happens when a Christian visits one of them? Their witness is damaged. If they partake in the bashing and attacking and hate, it becomes part of them. It diminishes Christ in their life. They may still think they honor Him, they may even think they are defending Him, but in reality they are hurting His name.
There are churches who teach this, that its ok to hate others, wish them dead and so on. Churches who claim Christ. The one who said thinking of doing a thing is the same as doing it. Christ said that to think of committing adultery, was the same as doing it, to think of killing some one was the same as doing it. Yet there are blogs where people vocally say so and so or such and such group deserves to die.
Ladies, we can not condemn anyone. Call sin sin, but leave condemnation to God. No where are we called to think or act violently, either with words or deeds. Anyone who does so, is a Christian in name only. Their soul is not right with God. If it was, they could not act in this way.
God tells us that folks will use and abuse us. He also tells us to rejoice when they do, and to be certain we did nothing to bring it on ourselves. If we go and meddle with those who take pleasure in harming others, what happens? They have the ammo they need to turn on US. They can claim, and rightly so, that we are hypocrites.
Please ladies, think carefully over what you say and think. Guard your minds, tongues and fingers to be pleasing to God, and not a servant of evil.