He who hates his brother in his heart is in the darkness still.
Getting personal with each other.
- Thread starter Ritajanice
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Wrangler
Well-Known Member
I hold this sentiment not able to withstand scrutiny. There is something schizophrenic about it. Personal statements should be taken personally. To say otherwise is to invite cognitive dissonance.
As I wrote in my previous post, there is either truth in the personal statement or there is not. Either way, it is something to take personally, either about yourself or the speaker.
BlessedPeace
Well-Known Member
Well really can we be surprised pride is an issue? After all, there are said to be several billion individuals currently living on earth. And in that number over 1 billion are taught and in turn teach that they,we,are personally elected by God to be saved from that eternal fate faced by the rest.
Of all the religions, beliefs,faith doctrines on earth ours is the only truth.
That is Elitist. Which naturally engenders ego and pride within the faithful.
Is it any wonder we passionately defend our personal understanding of our belief when we as members of that faith group gather together to discuss what we,the I,self,believe as a member of the faith we passionately hold as true?
I think there to be far too much criticism of personality. We're not to be like Vulcans. It's bad enough some think we're tantamount to the Borg.
- Jan 27, 2021
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Jesus told us to respond to cursing with blessing. I definitely failed to do this. (Sorry @Behold
for the sarcasm. Ill remove that comment I made now)
I find the verses saying to not return evil for evil or insult for insult the hardest to follow of all.
I usually only manage to ignore insults. Ive only been able to do this to some degree with my husband on rare occasions. The Holy Spirit can give us the strength if we have the faith.
for the sarcasm. Ill remove that comment I made now)
I find the verses saying to not return evil for evil or insult for insult the hardest to follow of all.
I usually only manage to ignore insults. Ive only been able to do this to some degree with my husband on rare occasions. The Holy Spirit can give us the strength if we have the faith.
I have a different experience of it.
All of that pales to insignificance compared to seeing myself as God sees me. Using spiritual eyes on myself, I see my weakness, my failing, the damage done, and yes, I see God's forgiveness, Christ's reconciliation of me to the Father. I see His immense love for me, and His power in my life. I see how completely desolate I am without what He gives to me. I see the rot in my flesh. I bring nothing to the table! Yet here He is, loving me, caring for me, holding me to Himself.
This is on such an wholely different level than "am I in an elite group", that doesn't even enter my mind! Only, I'm certain most others are more righteous than I!
Who am I to interject my opinions of my perceptions of people I've never even met? I'm not the one to say! I need to attend to my own self.
Speaking in generalities:
Interjecting opinions of others is to serve some ulterior motive. I don't think people call each other stupid, or "you ignore" "you don't want to know" "you are being carnal" "you pander to your flesh" and all the endless variations because they honestly at heart believe they are doing something helpful, something righteous.
It's to manipulate others, or self-affirm. That's how I see it. Bully someone into shutting up, or misdirect attention away from the thing you cannot answer, or prove to yourself how much better you are than that poor slob there!
~
We are to correct each other with meekness - which includes the idea of moderating yourself, seeking restoration, reconciliation, and with humility, because we recognize the truth about ourselves. I know what I am. To me humility is another way to say "being aware and honest with yourself about yourself."
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. This is with whom He will live, the contrite and the humble. The one who trembles at His Word. I know what I am. I know what His Word demands. It is by His mercy alone that I live, and breathe, in amazing grace, that I may even know Him as my Father.
The one thing I can do is to choose at this moment to bring His love to others through a holy response to what is in front of me. I find that doesn't tend to include derision, or misrepresentation, or any of the little jabs our flesh likes to get in.
And when I see someone who cannot seem to hold back from acting that way, I pray they will come to know God in a more meaningful way, so they can live in His love. And while we're talking about it, pray for me too, because I'm not "there" yet!
Much love!
I don't know if I understand completely what this thread is seeking. But I'll say it does get chippy and personal on here in this forum.
Ok, I appreciate your input and seeing it from another perspective.
How can I grow as a person or in Christ, if I take what some people/ members say to me personally?
Why would I take what they say to me personally as in negative/ destructive on board into my heart/ spirit?
What would happen if one did that to a child growing up....do you think they could end up with mental health problems ?
Why is there so much mental health problems in the world?
If one’s parents kept telling their daughter/ son that they were thick....didn’t you believe what your parents said to you growing up? I did.
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YES!...what I’m trying to say Wrangler, growing up from a tiny tot, I believed everything my parents said about me as truth.
It wasn’t until I became Born Again that I realised with the Spirit help of course that most of what they fed into my heart/ spirit were = un- truths.
I grew up mentally disturbed...I’m not complaining because God saw it all and he was drawing me to Jesus...what I went through was all meant to happen imo....and “ NOW” in retrospect I thank God so much for it...I learnt SO much from all of that garbage that was fed into my heart/ spirit...
What the enemy wanted was to destroy me, God who is in CONTROL had different ideas...look what came out of all that emotional garbage.
I became “ BORN OF THE SPIRIT “....biggest Honour and Privilege in my entire life to become a child of the Most High.
“ MIND BLOWING “!!!
I’ve been offloading my thoughts onto the forum/ board.....as I’ve been asking God to help me understand “ personal insults “...that is all...so thought I would share.
My testimony to the Living God....thank yo Father you have healed me of so much ...that I could never thank you enough.
All I can do is Praise your Living Holy Name and let you use me as your vessel, for whatever is pleasing to you, In Jesus Name...Amen!!
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quietthinker
Well-Known Member
Getting personal with each other.
I get personal pretty regularly with folk.....like, I love you....or, do you love me today? I know, it's pretty bleedin' shocking but what can I do? star struck is a terrible affliction!
Yes, your posts always help to see it from a different perspective.
Amen!..to what you say above.
I think favouritism is wrong also.."I have been guilty of that.....I see it here also on the board,imo.
That’s another reason why I left my church, I could see the favouritism...I could see how some seemed to hold those in authority with higher regard than those who had no authority.
ANSWER
Favoritism is partiality or bias. To show favoritism is to give preference to one person over others with equal claims. It is similar to discrimination and may be based on conditions such as social class, wealth, clothing, actions, etc.
The Bible is clear that favoritism is not God’s will for our lives. First, favoritism is incongruent with God’s character: “God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11). All are equal before Him. Ephesians 6:9 says, “There is no favoritism with him.” Colossians 3:25 teaches God’s fairness in judgment: “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”
Second, the Bible teaches Christians are not to show favoritism: “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism” (James 2:1). The context concerns the treatment of rich and poor in the church. James points out that treating someone differently based on his financial status or how he is dressed is wrong.
I’ve done that myself....only God is to be revered.....we are all “,EQUAL “ as “ human beings”.....
That’s another reason why I left my church, I could see the favouritism...I could see how some seemed to hold those in authority with higher regard than those who had no authority.
What does the Bible say about favoritism?
ANSWER
Favoritism is partiality or bias. To show favoritism is to give preference to one person over others with equal claims. It is similar to discrimination and may be based on conditions such as social class, wealth, clothing, actions, etc.
The Bible is clear that favoritism is not God’s will for our lives. First, favoritism is incongruent with God’s character: “God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11). All are equal before Him. Ephesians 6:9 says, “There is no favoritism with him.” Colossians 3:25 teaches God’s fairness in judgment: “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.”
Second, the Bible teaches Christians are not to show favoritism: “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism” (James 2:1). The context concerns the treatment of rich and poor in the church. James points out that treating someone differently based on his financial status or how he is dressed is wrong.
I’ve done that myself....only God is to be revered.....we are all “,EQUAL “ as “ human beings”.....
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Thank you everyone for posting your perspectives on “ getting personal”.....lots of food for thought on the subject.
Short commentary.
Mark 7:20-23 is clear that our acts flow from our heart; an abusive person chooses to do what they do because they want what they want (James 4:1). Control/oppression violates God's design for our relationships.
Mark 7:20-23 is clear that our acts flow from our heart; an abusive person chooses to do what they do because they want what they want (James 4:1). Control/oppression violates God's design for our relationships.
Wrangler
Well-Known Member
How can you grow as a person or in Christ, if you DON'T take what some people/ members say to you personally?
The notion of "don't take it personally" is BS (when what is said is true). The subject is personal! The subject is you. What kind of twisted mind expects themselves to take personal statements in some other way other than personally? What ways are there to take a statement about you in a non-personal way? How can you even expect yourself to separate a statement about you from yourself? It is impossible if one is rational.
I've already given you the tools on the proper way to handle it. Regarding negative/destructive into your heart/spirit; we are commanded to die to self! Another poster made this point. What is it about your ego that you automatically hold there is not possibly one single thing about yourself that is negative/destructive for another person to point out? That implies a HUGE EGO.
Keep in mind the dynamic. It is wholly possible that you are getting EXACTLY the feedback you need. It is possible that there is already something negative/ destructive in your heart/ spirit. The other person is merely observing this and loves you enough to hold a mirror up to you. It is a great way to grow. In fact, there is hardly a better way to grow - when what is said to you is true AND you react humbly.
Now, I know you already altered the subject of this thread. What I wrote above does not apply if what the person is saying is false or malicious. It is vital to have discernment between what is true and what is false. Not all negative feedback is false, period. Frankly, as a Christian, that is a far less important and less powerful topic to discuss. As a Christian, transformation is necessary and that transformation begins by humbly accepting the truth, the life and the way. It starts with truth. And that truth may be that there is already something negative/ destructive in your heart/ spirit. The other person is merely observing this and giving you proper, honest and brave feedback.
Wrangler
Well-Known Member
Ritajanice,
I'm afraid this post lacks discernment.
I've long observed in our society what I call THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. Not all claims are equal. And it is proper to show "favoritism" and to properly discriminate those with unequal virtue. A judge properly decides cases along these lines.
1. What is reserved for God is worship and 1st in your heart, mind and soul. All image bearers of God should be revered on some level.
It is irrational to revere the human being Jesus Christ as much as a mass murderer, don't you think?
2. There is genus and differentia. Falling back to genus in that we are all equal as human beings denies the differentia. Whales and mice are all equal as "mammals."
Enter the next level of analysis. Being equal in some ways does not mean equality, does not mean equal in all ways. And in those ways, it is proper to revere some more than others. People don't cheer for me when I step onto a basketball court as loudly as LeBron James - and with good reason.
In Scripture, Paul talks about getting a reward for our work. This is earned individually, not bestowed equally. See Parable of the Talents. Two were revered as "good and faithful servants." The 3rd was not equally revered but rebuked.
Hope this helps.
I'm afraid this post lacks discernment.
I've long observed in our society what I call THE PERVERSION OF EQUALITY. Not all claims are equal. And it is proper to show "favoritism" and to properly discriminate those with unequal virtue. A judge properly decides cases along these lines.
This is untrue on 2 grounds.
1. What is reserved for God is worship and 1st in your heart, mind and soul. All image bearers of God should be revered on some level.
It is irrational to revere the human being Jesus Christ as much as a mass murderer, don't you think?
2. There is genus and differentia. Falling back to genus in that we are all equal as human beings denies the differentia. Whales and mice are all equal as "mammals."
Enter the next level of analysis. Being equal in some ways does not mean equality, does not mean equal in all ways. And in those ways, it is proper to revere some more than others. People don't cheer for me when I step onto a basketball court as loudly as LeBron James - and with good reason.
In Scripture, Paul talks about getting a reward for our work. This is earned individually, not bestowed equally. See Parable of the Talents. Two were revered as "good and faithful servants." The 3rd was not equally revered but rebuked.
Hope this helps.
Have you been Born Of The Spirit?
Jesus was Divine..he wasn’t an ordinary human being.
You have given me your tools.plus you have voiced your own opinion on the subject matter.
I can only look to the Spirit for understanding..I can’t understand “ human logic” it makes no sense to my heart/ spirit.
I can only be led by the Spirit because I belong to God...I learn from His witness the Living Holy Spirit.
I appreciate all of your input though, a lot makes sense..a lot of it doesn’t.
As I’m sure a lot of what I say doesn’t make sense to you?
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Discernment can only come from God’s Living witness, His Holy Spirit...it’s a gift from the Spirit.
