Why do so many of you insult fellow Christians that express a different understanding?

[Jim B]

Are no commandments written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit within us? What is it that we hear with the "ears to hear" and see with the "eyes to see", which should be by or through or of the Holy Spirit?

The discussion is about the OT commandments, a.k.a., the law.

That is entirely different from the "commandments" written on our hearts by God.

As I wrote previously, "We are not commanded to obey the (written) commandments by Jesus. Only those who aren't saved must obey the (written) commandments. Christians have been given the Holy Spirit to be our guide, replacing the written commandments."

 

[TheOneHeLoves]

We are not commanded to obey the commandments by Jesus. Only those who aren't saved must obey the commandments. Christian have been given the Holy Spirit to be our guide, replacing the written commandments.

John 14:15 " If you love ME, keep my commands."

 

[amadeus]

The discussion is about the OT commandments, a.k.a., the law.

That is entirely different from the "commandments" written on our hearts by God.

As I wrote previously, "We are not commanded to obey the (written) commandments by Jesus. Only those who aren't saved must obey the (written) commandments. Christians have been given the Holy Spirit to be our guide, replacing the written commandments."

In a measure I agree, but considering that God Himself has never changed, will not the two, the commandments written on paper and those written on a person's heart, at times be the same or at least overlap?

Mal 3:6

For I am the LORD, I change not;...

Jas 1:17

...the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Ac 10:34

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

 

[Jim B]

John 14:15 " If you love ME, keep my commands."

One of the worst things that you can do is take a single verse out of context -- in this case, seven words to try to prove doctrine. To whom was Jesus speaking and what was the context?

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:15-17

Jesus was speaking to his (unsaved) disciples before the Holy Spirit was given. Christians are to be guided by the Holy Spirit within, not by the external law.

Romans 7:4-6 (written to believers): So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code."

If anyone, as a Christian, puts themself back under the law, they are denying what Jesus accomplished by His crucifixion. The blood of Christ is wasted!

Personally, I will follow the Holy Spirit, who was given to us to guide us internally. The external, written law is for the unsaved only. That is the basis of the Christian faith.

 

[Wrangler]

Why do so many of you insult fellow Christians that express a different understanding?​

I think part of it is that people in today's feminized society are so easily offended. In Biblical terms, this what rebuking and sharpening iron looks like.

Deepak Chopra said to be complimented or insulted is a choice. So, the question is why do you take so many Christian posts that don't agree with you as an insult?

Perhaps you will just reply "May God bless you" and then exit the exchange again?

 

[Triumph1300]

I suggest "we hold the rope".
Acts 9:23
Strong people held/held the rope.
Don't kill the one who brings the Good News.
Let go of the insults, insults bring no good news.

 

[Jim B]

I think part of it is that people in today's feminized society are so easily offended. In Biblical terms, this what rebuking and sharpening iron looks like.

Deepak Chopra said to be complimented or insulted is a choice. So, the question is why do you take so many Christian posts that don't agree with you as an insult?

Perhaps you will just reply "May God bless you" and then exit the exchange again?

I really was amused by your writing "today's feminized society". Thanks for the good laugh!

 

[Jim B]

I suggest "we hold the rope".
Acts 9:23
Strong people held/held the rope.
Don't kill the one who brings the Good News.
Let go of the insults, insults bring no good news.

Acts 9:23? Really?

It's never a good idea to take a single verse out of context to prove anything.

Acts 9:23-25, "After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall."

I would hardly equate that with criticizing another person.

As I have shown in other posts, Jesus, John the Baptist, and Paul -- three significant people -- severely criticized those who were wrong. That is not to justify it being done all the time but it does have its appropriate use.

 

[BarneyFife]

I think part of it is that people in today's feminized society are so easily offended. In Biblical terms, this what rebuking and sharpening iron looks like.

Deepak Chopra said to be complimented or insulted is a choice. So, the question is why do you take so many Christian posts that don't agree with you as an insult?

Perhaps you will just reply "May God bless you" and then exit the exchange again?

If an insult is hurled in the midst of the forest where no one can hear it, is it still an insult?

 

[Jim B]

If an insult is hurled in the midst of the forest where no one can hear it, is it still an insult?

Yes, because God hears it.

 

[Jay Ross]

@Patrick1966 you know the expression, "You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force the horse to drink."

You remind me of the horse, stubborn in your false understanding of the Scriptures and will not drink the water that will heal you.

May God Bless you.

 

[Pearl]

When I'm at an irreconcilable impasse with another I'll say something like "May God bless you" and then exit the exchange with them.

We need to remember that not everyone on the site is a true disciple, some have their own agenda.

1. Matthew 7:21
   

   True and False Disciples​

   “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
   
   
2. 2 Timothy 2:24
   And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
   

 

[Triumph1300]

Hold the Rope, be friendly, Christ like, and move on.

 

[Patrick1966]

@Patrick1966 you know the expression, "You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot force the horse to drink."

You remind me of the horse, stubborn in your false understanding of the Scriptures and will not drink the water that will heal you.

May God Bless you.

Thanks...I think.

 

[Jay Ross]

Thanks...I think. View attachment 34028

Ah Patrick you have just confirmed my point.

May the Lord include you among those whom He is drawing to Himself before the final judgement at the end of the seventh age.

Patrick, I assume that you know the Parable of Lazarus and the Rich man, in Hades. The rich man wanted someone to leave Hades to go to his relatives to warn them before they also die and end up in hades like he has. You know what the response was, don't you? A big fat NO. They have the Scriptures to read and understand properly just like he did.

Oh well, the horse if it will not drink the water it has been shown will die of thirst.

 

[JosephZ]

Muslims Do not worship the same GOD we do jim .
You are wrong about that too .

Below are a few verses from the Qur'an:

"Abraham, when he said to his people, “Worship God, and fear Him. That is better for you, if you only knew. You worship idols besides God, and you fabricate falsehoods. Those you worship, instead of God, cannot provide you with livelihood. So seek your livelihood from God, and worship Him, and thank Him. To Him you will be returned.” (Qur'an 29:16-17)

“We believe in God; and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus; and in what was given to the prophets—from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we surrender.” (Qur'an 2:136)

"...there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal. He sent down to you the Book with the Truth, confirming what came before it; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel." (Qur'an 3:2-3)

"All food was permissible to the Children of Israel, except what Israel forbade for himself before the Torah was revealed. Say, “Bring the Torah, and read it, if you are truthful.” Whoever forges lies about God after that—these are the unjust. Say, “God has spoken the truth, so follow the religion of Abraham..." (Qur'an 3:93-95)

“Follow the religion of Abraham, the Monotheist. He was not an idol-worshiper.” (Qur'an 16:123)

"We will worship thy God, the God of our forefathers Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, the One God; and unto Him will we surrender ourselves." (Qur'an 2:133)

As we we know, Abraham worshiped the one true God, so what other god could the verses above be describing?

Muslims may reject the deity of Christ, but that in no way changes who the one true God is, hence, Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all worshiping the same God. The God of Abraham... Muslims just have a different understanding of who God is and how salvation is found through Christ based on the teachings of Muhammad and the Qur'an. Muslims reject the Trinity as a result of these teachings, but this doesn't mean that a Muslim can't or isn't worshiping God the Father."

 

[Triumph1300]

but this doesn't mean that a Muslim can't or isn't worshiping God the Father.

Without Christ they worship in vain.
Thats the bottom line.

 

[friend of]

Yeah let's all just take a chill pill

 

[ScottA]

So many here are what I would describe as legalist zealots that don't believe in Jesus's commandment to love one another. When I read their insults, against me or another, I glean that they lack discernment and usually put them on "ignore". If you're quoting me and not getting a response, it's probably because I am no longer reading your posts.

Matthew 5:22
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[c] of fire.

Obviously it's all in the mix.

I mean Jesus commanded that we love one another, but also said "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

The good news however, is still the good news, and indeed, we ought to love even our enemies to boot. It all brings a new meaning to "But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

We are all different, some exercising gifts of the Holy Spirit working from different areas toward the same end, some not, some not there yet and perhaps easily offended, or more likely to offend. Personally, I know my gift and spend most of my time here with a plumb line usually ending in a declaration not my own...which of course comes across quite offensive to many, and yet that is exactly what Jesus said would come to those who follow Him and are of the same spirit. Indeed there is a difference between tough love and actions born out of evil. Both are in the mix. Because of this, my advice...is that rejection, criticism, and even harsh words should be cautiously considered as if your life depends on it--because it does.

 

[Jim B]

Below are a few verses from the Qur'an:

"Abraham, when he said to his people, “Worship God, and fear Him. That is better for you, if you only knew. You worship idols besides God, and you fabricate falsehoods. Those you worship, instead of God, cannot provide you with livelihood. So seek your livelihood from God, and worship Him, and thank Him. To Him you will be returned.” (Qur'an 29:16-17)

“We believe in God; and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus; and in what was given to the prophets—from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we surrender.” (Qur'an 2:136)

"...there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal. He sent down to you the Book with the Truth, confirming what came before it; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel." (Qur'an 3:2-3)

"All food was permissible to the Children of Israel, except what Israel forbade for himself before the Torah was revealed. Say, “Bring the Torah, and read it, if you are truthful.” Whoever forges lies about God after that—these are the unjust. Say, “God has spoken the truth, so follow the religion of Abraham..." (Qur'an 3:93-95)

“Follow the religion of Abraham, the Monotheist. He was not an idol-worshiper.” (Qur'an 16:123)

"We will worship thy God, the God of our forefathers Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, the One God; and unto Him will we surrender ourselves." (Qur'an 2:133)

As we we know, Abraham worshiped the one true God, so what other god could the verses above be describing?

Muslims may reject the deity of Christ, but that in no way changes who the one true God is, hence, Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all worshiping the same God. The God of Abraham... Muslims just have a different understanding of who God is and how salvation is found through Christ based on the teachings of Muhammad and the Qur'an. Muslims reject the Trinity as a result of these teachings, but this doesn't mean that a Muslim can't or isn't worshiping God the Father."

GREAT POST!!! THANKS SO MUCH!