Unity in Christ...

[rentasquid]

One of the things I really like about the church movement I attend is its inclusiveness. Our unofficial motto or saying is that we reach out in fellowship to all blood-washed believers. That doesn't mean that we necessarily believe and agree with each others minutia or even sometimes their theology, but we recognize that we are all part of a bigger body of believers. It makes me sad to see fellow believers attack each other over personal convictions. I know a few fellow Christians that drink alcohol, but God has convicted my heart not to. I don't condemn them in what they are doing. Thats Gods business, not mine. I try to encourage them in different manners, but don't do the Spirits work. I do believe that we are to lead holy lives and to try to do our best to put things that cloud our mind, behind us, but there again, what God has led me to do might not be what God is working on in your life. I'm kind of rambling now, but I just had to say that our enemy wants us to be fractured and divided. God wants us to have a fellowship with each other...one that consists of encouragement, teaching, love and every once in a while rebuke(but I think the rebuke is reserved for those we are very familiar with). After rereading the body of this text, it sounds as if I am rebuking someone who has laid out his heart, but that is not the case. What I am trying to do is just remind us all that we are all separate, but the same. Different people but of the same body.

In the words of Jack Nicholson in the movie "Mars Attacks!"..."Why cant we all just get along?"

J.

 

[Pete in MI]

J,
One of the things we learn in military training...and Satan uses the same tactics...is divide and conquer. Doesn't matter how you divide the forces, such as greed, jealousy, in-fighting, etc., once divided they no longer pose a threat to the enemy and the enemy can take the smaller forces easier.

Satan hates us. What a better way to get even with God than for him (Satan) to get God's kids arguing with one another. Who wins the battle? Certainly not God's kids who give each other a blackened eye. God gets no pleasure from His kids fighting. The winner of this battle is Satan.

Let us not let Satan win any more battles against God by letting Satan use God's kids against each other.

'Nough said from me.

Holy Spirit, in the name of Jesus, please show us the truth. Help us to do that which is right in God's eyes. Let us not show the unsaved how un-Jesus like we can be. Thank you Jesus for your example. Thank you for giving us life from your death. Thank you Jesus for making us heirs to the kingdom. Thank you Jesus for your blood, the blood of the spotless Lamb who gave His life, not to condemn the world but to save us. In Jesus prescious name. Amen

 

[garybrun]

(but I think the rebuke is reserved for those we are very familiar with).

Why is that???
So your not going to tell a person on the street about Jesus becasue your not familiar with him?

Thanks you Jesus that your word is sharper than a two edge sword.
You will be done in all things! Amen.

 

[rentasquid]

But if he is my brother that I can see straying from his faith, yes I will. There is a difference between preaching the gospel and telling someone that they are going astray in their faith. Somehow, I get the feeling you are going to pick apart what I am gonna say, no matter what, since I dont see exactly the things you see, but oh well.

J.

 

[garybrun]

Not going to pick anything apart.
We have a duty to tell people when they are going astray.
I will move on and leave you all to your comfiness.

God Bless

Gary

 

[dlkamp]

It is by God's grace thru faith in Christ that we are saved!! Let's edify each other and not put each other down. We all have some different views and opinions on different subjects......that makes us human, I guess. I can see both opinions and can respect both in a loving Christ like manner. It is how we take things out of context I guess. God bless!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi J.....it is good to see you posting more, as I missed you and wondered what was going on with you!

 

[rentasquid]

No, we havent made our trip back east yet. We just went through graduation of our oldest. As soon as he's ready to go off to school, we are going to take him to college. Thats in August. I told my wife that we need to go visit you, but she told me its gonna be a pretty tight schedule. I hope I can visit you, but that remains to be seen whether we will get to or not.
I havent been posting much lately, because I have been pretty busy. I did come across Loraines messages saying she was dropping out of the forum, and wondered why. Did some back reading to find out why she would just walk away from friends. I dont totally disagree with the points that Gary made. I just dont feel that you can tell someone else they are wrong for doing something that God hasnt convicted them of. And the only way that you can know if God has been speaking to them is if you know them. I have many Steven King novels that I read many years ago. I dont read his stuff anymore, because I dont feel as that is what God would want me to read. That is what He told me. Did He tell others that? Perhaps, but I'll let him clean the fish, rather than me.
As always, you made very good points, and I agree with what you have said. I can tell that you put much thought into what you type and/or print. I tend to be much more impulsive about what I type and many times it comes out much more harsh than I intended. I dont turn my back on those who I disagree with, I just disagree with them. Hopefully all will just accept each other as Gods children that, like you said, is at different stages of our walks.

God Bless and hope to see you in August(if all works out)

ps. I remember Pastor Rice from when I lived back there. He did some tremendous work with the homeless, and I really respect him for that work!

J.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks J for your reply and I hope you can get by to see Cliff and I but I know how tightly scheduled vacations are, as my ex and I used to take them!

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

Well said!

 

[rentasquid]

Unfortunately, the sentiment is for naught! Having someone banned is worse to me than having a disagreement. I'm sorry for any word that I may have input into this whole sorid affair.

J.

 

[Anonymous]

You are loved, J, in the name of Jesus.....please keep on posting and I am sorry too for the banning of any Brother or Sister and also I sure want them who have left to stay with us and not leave, as we all need to be posting here for our Lord!


God Bless!
Betty