You are correct about my sarcasm�it is something I need to work on. I�ve decided that I will no longer post or add to any posts in this Forum. You and I have gotten into a �feud� that started when you made false statements about my Church and it has gotten way out of hand.
I never intended to have to defend my Church and my Beliefs to my own Brothers and Sisters in Christ. All along I have asked for research to be done before making statements. It seems that The Truth is of no Importance and what is more important is justifying one�s position.
Ever since Luther Rebelled and started his own church, we Christians have been bickering and fighting amongst ourselves. Ever since the Authority of the Church has been usurped and given to individuals�Sacred Scripture has undergone numerous different interpretations and is still a point of contention today.
Men will always be able to use clever logic and subterfuge to disrupt Light and Clarity. I find that as I grow older that my ability to put up with ignorance and plain stupidity has diminished tremendously. Being smart is no guarantee that you will do or say �the right thing�. Common Sense is what is needed. Calling yourself a Christian does not offer any guarantee either (in fact I am a Christian because I tend to do and say stupid things and need forgiveness).
I will say a prayer for you Chuck and (here comes my sarcasm) when God speaks to you on your own personal �walkie talkie��please ask Him to help me.
I will also pray for all of the other Christians here on this site that have to put up with your childish need to be the center of attention and your �Righteous Retribution�.
As for those that I have offended�I apologize (except for PC�Man, he�s Weird!) There are some Outstanding and Wonderful Christians on this site. I will miss you.
Amen Silver, you will not have change without confrontation at some point. It must be kept out of the anger/rage/ arena, but we do have the right to ask questions and disagree. Even Elijah mocked his opposers, not to say this is common practice but it happens and we should not be wearing Pampers in this forum as it is a place to learn and fellowship. Those who don't like the heat should just get out the "kitchen" (thread) Look at some of the things Jesus said to the disciples~he wasn't all sugary all the time. "Oh ye of little faith!" He said to his boys~
I see TS trying to help Arch from his past Catholic background out a heart of love for his brother, even though he is rough around the edges, he is real. I see Arch trying to defend a church that he sees as the head over us all and that is dangerous doctrine in my opinion. Arch is a nice guy and admits he gets sarcastic~kudos to him for admitting his weak spot. That is how we all grow up. If Ts saves Arch from a wrong trail in the end, then it is worth it all.
My dad persecuted me severely for converting to Christianity at 17 from his and my belief system of "New Age" all religions lead to God. Sometimes it got heated, he mocked me, pointed his finger and yelled and cause some real heartbreak in me. I suffered long with it, cried privately, and still stood my lone ground on the truth. When he was on his deathbed, a heavy repentance came over him and he apologized in tears. What a consolation for me after all those years~and I was privileged to hold his hand as he spoke of "Florida street" and took his flight home to Jesus. The pastor surprised us all at the memorial with a credit to Ken's 17 year old daughter who witnessed to him and never gave up on her dad. It was worth all of the hellish persecution in the end to see dad make it home. :yay:
Too many Christians like the Tupperware parties where everyone is smiling and robotic like a "Joel Olsteen". Sorry, I am not judging Joel's heart but it is superficial and imbalanced to present Christianity the way he does. Our hymns of yesterday were birthed out of heavy trials, anguish, suffering and loss. Horatio Spafford is a good example~He wrote "It is Well with My Soul" on the heels of his children all drowning in a ship wreck. That is real~yet he had inner joy.
Cited from Jesus Walk site~
Luke 9:41- "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here." [54] When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" [55] But Jesus turned and rebuked them, [56] and they went to another village.
Rebuke in Christian Ministry
In Greek, the common word for rebuke is epitimao, " 'rebuke, reprove, censure,' also 'speak seriously, warn' in order to prevent an action or bring one to an end."[3] Jesus uses the same word in rebuking the disciples in 9:55. It is a word of authority. Jesus rebukes evil spirits (Luke 9:41-43; Mark 3:12; 9:25), diseases (Luke 4:39) , and the elemental forces of nature (Mark 4:39).
It is also a word describing how Christians brothers are to relate to each other in a spirit of forgiveness: "So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke (epitimao) him, and if he repents, forgive him." (Luke 17:3). Pastors are to minister with correction and rebuke where appropriate. Paul says to young Timothy: "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct (elegcho), rebuke (epitimao) and encourage -- with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).
A related word is Greek elegcho, which has the root meaning "bring to light, expose" and is used to mean "convict or convince someone of something, point something out to someone" and "reprove, correct."[4] This word, too, describes the ministry of Christian leaders.
"Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning." (1 Timothy 5:20)
"He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute (elegcho) those who oppose it... Therefore, rebuke (elegcho) them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith." (Titus 1:9, 13)
"These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke (elegcho) with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you." (Titus 2:15)
"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes (elegcho) you...' " (Hebrews 12:5)
"Those whom I love I rebuke (elegcho) and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." (Revelation 3:19)
Do you allow the Lord to correct you? Do you allow the Lord to correct you through your pastor or another Christian brother or sister? If part of being a Christian leader is loving our Christian brothers and sisters enough to rebuke them in Christ when appropriate, we must be able to receive a rebuke graciously ourselves and learn from it rather than bristle at it. Pride prevents us from receiving a rebuke; humility allows us to receive, learn, and grow.
As one who is disciplined by Lord using circumstances, incidents, animals and people...Great Post. Thank You for sharing, especially about your father; a reminder never to give up hope!
See ya later, Arch. And don't forget to take any false doctrines w/ you such as Mary being sinless, a perpetual virgin, and co-redeemer w/ Jesus, the pope taking the place of Christ on earth, and some frock in a box can forgive man's sins. If you believe these things, you are not a brother of Christians.
