Forum Rule #1
Before you post a comment, consider this...
1. Be nice. Don’t get personal with a user simply because they have a different opinion. Debate without attacking.
Such a shame. Snide remarks, hateful comments, slams, etc. Coming from all sides. If I was looking in on this forum as a non-believer I would not care to know a Jesus who has followers who behave like this. No matter the denomination or the belief. Yes you are just playing into the hand of Satan by volleying ugly remarks back and forth. I am sure he is laughing and enjoying this knowing that nonbelievers are reading this and finding no enouragement or hope here. Oh yes parts of the Gospel are being shared but they are threaded in amongst insults and arguments over things that are unimportant to the Kingdom of God. I am sure He is shaking His head and stating that is not part of Me.
I would like to suggest that a truce of sorts to be called but I am sure it will be ignored because anything good that is shared here is ignored. However if it isn't ignored it will there will be posts such as, "Well if you don't like it you don't have to come here." No I don't. But others will and read all of this and that is what I worry about. I do not want people to believe that this is what Christianity is all about. Do you?
So if you are a beleiver who takes offense with this thread then you must take offense with the scripture that follows because it applies here:
"giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited," 2nd Corinthians 6:3
"Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;" 1 Corinthians 10:32
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Mathew 5:13
So if you are a nonbeliever yes Christians do act like this sometimes. It is a pity and a sorrow that it happens. Especially when it is this publicly shown. Please remember that Christians make mistakes too because we are afterall just humans and not a perfect people either. Please know that there is a Jesus who loves you and will accept you no matter what you have and what you are. He just wants you to come as you are. Rich, poor, sick, healthy. It doesn't matter. The invitation is open to all. It is just up to you to inquire about it and to accept it. He doesn't promise to relieve you of your burdens here on earth but there will come a day where you will experience peace that is unknown in this world.
And the last thing I have to say about the trading of each snide comments here on this forum....
Luke 6:29
"If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also."
No it is not what the world preaches. But I am more concerned about what my Jesus preaches. If you can't agree theologically at least share your testimony about the peace you have found in Jesus. Your personal testimony might be what someone needs to hear to lead them to Jesus. Oh and I want to say I do appreciate people sharing what they do in their churches. It has brought to the path to discover why I do what I do. I am reading about my beliefs and deciding for myself why I think the way I do. It is not man I follow but God. Thank you for bringing this revelation to me. It is a path God has brought me to and I am glad that He has. I need to know what I believe because He told me not because someone else told me to believe it.
God bless.
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