Riverwalker

Before the can understand the good news, they have to know the bad news.

Define Rude

No...that part is up to God....you just have to say it

Walking in mercy grace and forgiveness alone also accomplishes nothing. We can't just sit back an model Christianity(though that is important) we must proclaim the truth Unless they hear the word of God from us....how will they ever know to call on the name of the Lord Romans 10: 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Israel Rejects the Gospel 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We are so programmed by society today to thinking that we MUST NOT OFFEND that I think many Christian's are modifying the message and the truth, so as not to offend. I would suggest this approach is doing more harm than good. To make someone comfy on the road to hell is not our calling. This world has veered so far off of Gods path that we have justified killing babies in the womb, verifying numerous lifestyle choices, and vilified those who will tell the truth. I am hear to tell you that it is okay to be such a "Villain" The New Testament is full of men who "offended" Of men and women who defied the evil edicts of the established leadership (both church and state) who demanded they shut up or face punishment. From John the Baptist, to the Apostles, to many saints named and unnamed. They faced death. All of the Apostles save John were martyred, Peter, Paul, James Matthew, et all died as a direct result of not being quiet. They did not engage in rebellion to the established authority, but when the established authority required them to disobey God, they refused. And of course the ultimate example is Jesus Himself....put to death by those who could not hear his voice and would not change. Today each of us face a much softer opposition, but If we proclaim the truth we are called haters, homophobes, racists, and whatever else they can think of, to try and get us to shut up. But we must not shut up. Because it is better to save souls, than to save feelings. And I would rather be called a hater by man, and faithful servant by God, than to stand before God at the end of all things and try and explain why I let so many people pass by me on the way to hell without warning ------------------ John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ---------------- Matthew 5:11-13 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. --------------- Jesus is our example. He told the hard truth in love, never condemning, but never compromising the truth and ALWAYS calling us to repentance, So never compromise the message of Christ because it is an offense to this world. It has ALWAYS been an offense to the world . Besides, if we step on a few toes we can always pray for healing:)

Agreed, better to not be a snail sliding along the razor's edge of neutrality. If you are doing it right, you are going to offend someone, just as Jesus did

I love this ....yes James 5:16 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. I find as I get older, my prayers become simpler. Thy Will be done. God knows what I want, God knows what I need and God knows what is best for me, who better to allow to direct my life than the one who sees every paths end, when for me they all are shrouded in a mist. Matthew 6: 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. To me prayer should be mostly working things out with God, yes give him your needs, and anxieties and worry's and wants, but then listen and adjust, He will direct you. Romans 8: 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Jesus laid down His physical life. Physical life and spiritual (soulish) life are twop different things His body died, His Spirit lived on John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Then that is what I would do.....he suffered in life, prospered in eternity and we are STILL talking about him

you lost me when I read the link had "white" in it. to my mind God made one race. Decided not to go there Evangelicals - Serious Christians Lives "Church" Mainline - Casual Christian Goes to "Church" on Sundays would be my take

God knows (omniscience) the choices WE will make (freewill) and while he may set a path before us (predetermination) we still have to walk it

But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” 10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. 11 And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. 12 He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. 14 And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. 16 And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest [a]young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. 18 And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.” 9 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

I would quite disagree here, God set up a series of Judges who would administrate HIS rule.....but the people wanted a king so they got one, a stinker name Saul

I do agree with what you are saying here, but I would just add that there is room for all 4 in the house of our Lord. But yes it all starts with prayer and tying ourselves to the will of God

When it has all been said....as your OP did....what is there left to say

Everybody has something to do. Something God has slated them for. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them The bible sets out 3 Types of Gifts and Calling The first set are the Ministry gifts, AKA the 5 fold Ministry Apostle Prophet Evangelist Pastor Teacher Not everyone is called to these callings, they take a special commitment and God chooses these people Carefully Then there are Spiritual gifts. Gifts given by God for a specific time and specific person because God wants to use you to reach someone. We often misspeak and say I have this and that Spiritual Gift. Well no you don't It is the Holy Spirit trying to reach some one. We are merely the vessel, not the source. The Spiritual Gifts are in 1 Corinthians 12 Word Of Knowledge (Supernatural Revelation) Word Of Wisdom (Supernatural Direction) Faith Healings Miracles Prophecy Discerning Of Spirits Tongues Interpretation of Tongues The Third set of gifts are listed in Romans 12. These are called the motivational gifts Prophecy (Proclaiming the truth) Ministry (service) Teaching Exhortation (Encouraging) Giving Leading Mercy And every0ne has one of these (at least) they are how we operate, what drives us and these can operate in many ways Pulpit preaching Individual preaching Children Ministry Being ready with a kind word Being a good spouse Being a good parent Filling the need Offering a shoulder to cry on Just listening etc This we can all do and all fulfill as God leads us, Not all of us are lead to tear the plaster off the wall, or preach fiery sermons. Some of us are called just to be there, to be the example. to be the one who cares. To show God's love God has set your path before you, and do what you find in front of you to do, whether that is to be the next Billy Graham, or a Mom or Dad who tends their children and shows them the right way to go.

I think this parable speaks to that The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25: 14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. We have all been given "talents" or something to do. Some of us to do great things, some of us to do small things. But all of us to do SOMETHING....if we do nothing, the seed of faith dies, and we find ourselves holding nothing

Amen. Sometimes the wisest approach is also the simplest Thank you for posting and your faithfulness. Your posts strengthen me

I am just talking about what our attitude should be

Time has always seemed like an Illusion I have lived on this earth for 62 years......and yet no matter what time of my life, it is always now. this now, is eternity starting now. For the lost their time will come to an end at the second death Revelation 20 speaks of. But for us, it will always be now

Well said, we must always remember that

I wouldn't define any of that as getting, in the context given

But we give....to give, not to get

Step one, you have to see them as they are While I am no one's judge. The bible is very clear on its stance regarding sexual sin and murder (abortion) and other liberal issues. So I would have to say by all appearance these people are not Christian in their hearts. The final call is of course God's but He did say this about compromising Christians Revelation 3: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Once you realize these people are not walking on the same path you are, then you can begin to deal with them

That is the true version. Of the corrupt version I told And yes....The Lord does provide "enough" It's when we start chasing more and think we can manipulate God by giving that the error occurs